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Can therapists turn down clients?
There are various reasons a therapist might be unable to work with you, such as lacking expertise in a key area you need support with, what insurance they accept, or conflicts of interest. There are various reasons a therapist may refuse treatment. Although it may feel like rejection, it’s typically not personal. Although being a therapist is hard work, it is not a thankless job. In fact, there are many reasons to thank the individuals we serve. Every day, we get to work with individuals who are smart, caring, and considerate. All therapists are legally required to maintain confidentiality for their clients. Confidentiality means that a therapist cannot confirm or deny even treating the client if someone asks. Furthermore, they cannot discuss any revealing contact information, such as a client’s name or demographics, outside of the session. Therapists do have a high turnover rate, with about 35% staying in a job for just 1 to 2 years. Another 24% of therapists quit their jobs after less than a year, meaning that over 50% of the population remains in one job for less than 2 years. It makes sense, then, that patients who don’t feel felt might cut things off. The reverse, however, is also true: Sometimes therapists break up with their patients. You may not consider this when you first step into a therapist’s office, but our goal is to stop seeing you.
Can therapists drop you as a client?
It makes sense, then, that patients who don’t feel felt might cut things off. The reverse, however, is also true: Sometimes therapists break up with their patients. You may not consider this when you first step into a therapist’s office, but our goal is to stop seeing you. Stopping therapy may be an option if you feel you have achieved all the goals you set and you’ve developed the skills to move on. You’ve learned how to manage your symptoms or have found a way to move through a challenge. If someone is experiencing dissociation during a therapy session, it may show up through a certain eye expression or through shallow breathing. Or when the attention fades or there is agitation, or other behaviors.
Do therapists get frustrated with clients?
Therapists do get frustrated with clients from time to time, but some can handle difficult clients better than others. This may be due to training or inherent personality traits. There are various reasons a therapist might be unable to work with you, such as lacking expertise in a key area you need support with, what insurance they accept, or conflicts of interest. There are various reasons a therapist may refuse treatment. Although it may feel like rejection, it’s typically not personal. Depending on which study you read, between 20 and 57% of therapy clients do not return after their initial session. Another 37 to 45% only attend therapy a total of two times. Although many factors contribute to premature client termination, the number one cited reason by clients is dissatisfaction with the therapist. Psychotherapy is not supposed to be like a regular conversation. Over-talking, whether therapists are talking about you or—even worse—themselves, is one of the most common therapeutic blunders. Research shows a generally high job satisfaction among the profession, but everyone can have bad days. Counseling is an emotionally taxing job and sometimes the clients’ problems can hit too close to home. With adequate self-care, however, counselors are happy (and happy to help). Ask your therapists to communicate with each other. If you work with two therapists it’s in your best interest that they communicate with each other. This coordination helps your therapists plan your treatment and diminish any confusion or harm that could occur when working with two professionals at the same time.
Do therapists Miss clients?
We walk a fine line of being on your side but making sure that you are grounded and can maintain proper boundaries. So yes, we as therapists do talk about our clients (clinically) and we do miss our clients because we have entered into this field because we remain hopeful for others. Your therapist’s relationship with you exists between sessions, even if you don’t communicate with each other. She thinks of your conversations, as well, continuing to reflect on key moments as the week unfolds. She may even reconsider an opinion she had or an intervention she made during a session. Knowing that you can say anything to your therapist and it will remain in the room helps you feel safe and builds trust between you and the therapist. For this reason, all therapists are legally and ethically bound to keep their sessions confidential and not share with anyone else what was talked about. Professional boundaries are in place not only to protect the patient but to protect you too. As a nurse, it’s fine to say hello to former patient you see on the street but that is it. Do not establish a relationship or friendship with that person. They may not be ready for the emotional pain, insight, or depth that is often required for healing. They may have thought they were ready, but after an initial therapy session they may have come to the realization that they’re not, resulting in premature dropout.