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How do you know if therapy is working?
You also know therapy is working if you’re using the skills you learned in session, outside of session. For example, are you better able to set boundaries with others, prioritize your own needs and demands, and effectively deal with situations without spiraling into a panic attack? These are great signs of progress. A psychologist and certain other mental health professionals can diagnose anxiety and provide counseling (psychotherapy). The process of therapy may cause you to experience uncomfortable or painful feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, or frustration. Counseling may bring up painful memories. It might disrupt relationships. Online therapy provides an equally effective option for mental health support as face-to-face therapy. People seeking therapeutic support for anxiety, depression, and other common mental health needs can use virtual or in-person therapy as a support.
What happens when therapy doesn’t work?
If therapy has failed you, you still have plenty of options for feeling better. If therapy isn’t working, the first person you should talk to is your therapist. She may opt to change her approach to treatment, pursue more “homework” options for you, or even refer you to another therapist. Yes, it’s more likely that therapy will do good than harm. But the dark secret in the mental health world is that therapy can cause harm. People who’ve been to a bad therapist can tell you: bad therapy is worse than no therapy at all. A bad therapist can shut down your healing process instead of helping it along. 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. There is a mismatch between the client’s struggle and the therapeutic approach used. Just as each person has personal opinions and preferences about all topics in life, therapists will impart their personal opinions and preferences on the therapeutic approaches they believe are helpful. The process of therapy may cause you to experience uncomfortable or painful feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, or frustration. Counseling may bring up painful memories. It might disrupt relationships. Broadly speaking, counseling tends to be focused on one specific issue and considered a short-term treatment. You may learn coping techniques and problem-solve the issue together. Psychotherapy tends to treat a broader range of issues and more complex problems. It can be a long-term treatment.