Hello TheGamer,
The advice provided by my colleagues is worthwhile and accurate. Although I am in Australia, the issue is universal world wide - dating your therapist is a no no for the therapist. Marital status makes no difference.
You can be friends with a patient however romantic involvement is unethical - which means that a Physiotherapy registration board could revoke a therapists license to practice or impose penalties. The rules are generally so strict
that even if you found another therapist, there should be quite a long time span between the last appointment with the therapist and a relationship beginning. How long is long? The time varies but could be between one and two years dependent upon the attitude of the Board governing the issue. The only way for you to be sure is to check with the relevant registration Board. The rules governing such activities are strict due to the fact that therapists cannot remain objective when treating family or loved ones and serious errors of judgement can occur from either side. Such problems can end in expensive tears and ruined health or careers. If there really is a spark between the two of you that may have long term possibilities, then by all means change therapist, remain friends without taking the extra step until you are outside the danger zone. If you cannot trust yourself to remain just friends without benefits then change therapists and keep apart for awhile and see what happens. The only other option is to go for it and risk everything - something that I suspect you already know given your question to this forum.
All the best.
Cheers,
MrPhysio+