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Is it OK to switch therapists?
First and foremost, there’s nothing wrong with switching therapists if the care provider you’re seeing isn’t a good fit. For multiple reasons — whether it be the therapist needs to step away or it’s the patient’s choice — thousands of people change therapists every year. “It’s totally okay to switch to a new therapist. Here’s something that not a lot of people know: A good therapist is totally OK with you saying that therapy isn’t working for you or that you no longer need therapy. Therapy is completely voluntary. You can decide you no longer want to go to therapy at any time. You don’t even need a reason. Turns out it’s pretty easy to find resources and articles that say no, it’s not recommended. The reasons given (often by therapists) include splitting, conflicting treatment plans, creating secrets (especially if they aren’t aware of each other or aren’t in communication). Some signs of a bad therapist are easy to spot. If your therapist insults or shames you, it’s time to find someone new. Others are more difficult. The therapist might encourage you to blame others or become overly defensive about a criticism. Biweekly Sessions Often you’re only able to discuss one area or thing that happened to you. Therapy twice a week on the other hand allows you to go much deeper. We recommend this option for people who want to take the skills they’ve learned in therapy and apply them to their life in a more practical way.
Is it OK to try multiple therapists?
YSK: It’s normal to try multiple therapists before finding the right one for you. If you’re trying therapy and it isn’t helping, you may just need a different therapist. There are also numerous kinds of therapy, and if one isn’t working for you, there are others available to try. If you feel like you just aren’t “clicking” with your therapist after five or six sessions, consider looking for someone else: It’s much easier to switch early on in the treatment process than it is after months of therapy. Reasons, such as lack of trust or feeling misunderstood, may make you feel like therapy isn’t helping. Here’s how you can improve your experience. There are many reasons why therapy may not be working for you. Your therapist, the type of therapy they provide, and how they relate to you may be the reasons. 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. Ruth Wyatt, MA, LCSW: With therapy, there usually is no set length of treatment. Therapy can last anywhere from one session to several months or even years. It all depends on what you want and need.
Is it OK to see the same therapist?
There is no law that prohibits therapists from seeing two people who know each other, or even two members of the same family. In some small communities, there may not even be a choice. For example, a high school or college may only have one mental health therapist on-site. Turns out it’s pretty easy to find resources and articles that say no, it’s not recommended. The reasons given (often by therapists) include splitting, conflicting treatment plans, creating secrets (especially if they aren’t aware of each other or aren’t in communication). Turns out it’s pretty easy to find resources and articles that say no, it’s not recommended. The reasons given (often by therapists) include splitting, conflicting treatment plans, creating secrets (especially if they aren’t aware of each other or aren’t in communication). Average person goes through 3 therapists before finding ‘the one’ – Study Finds. You have specific rights when disclosing your diagnosis as a client receiving therapy. For example, it’s your right to ask your therapist to tell you if they believe you have a mental health condition. If you want a diagnosis, you can ask your therapist upfront. The short answer is that you can tell your therapist anything – and they hope that you do. It’s a good idea to share as much as possible, because that’s the only way they can help you.
Can a therapist go to another therapist?
There is no law that prohibits therapists from seeing two people who know each other, or even two members of the same family. In some small communities, there may not even be a choice. Indeed, like therapists, patients may develop sexual or romantic feelings for the person with whom they are working so closely and intimately, sometimes for months or years. 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. What can I tell my therapist? The short answer is that you can tell your therapist anything – and they hope that you do. It’s a good idea to share as much as possible, because that’s the only way they can help you. If you find you truly don’t like the therapist, simply tell him or her at the end of the session that you don’t feel like it’s a good fit and that you will continue looking elsewhere.
Do therapists go see other therapists?
Good Psychotherapists Do, and Should, Go To Therapy. Many therapists go to therapy, as a standard practice, or at different junctures in their life. I would never refer a client to a therapist who had never been in extensive therapy. 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. Therapy has been found to be most productive when incorporated into a client’s lifestyle for approximately 12-16 sessions, most typically delivered in once weekly sessions for 45 minutes each. For most folks that turns out to be about 3-4 months of once weekly sessions. Long-term psychotherapy is typically referred to as psychotherapy that exceeds the normal parameters of time allotted for the treatment of most psychological disorders. An interesting aspect of therapy is an experience called “transference.” Transference means that the feelings you have for someone important in your life are unconsciously transferred to another person—in this case the therapist. We all have feelings like that; it’s quite normal.
How long should you stay with the same therapist?
According to Laura Osinoff, executive director of the National Institute for the Psychotherapies in Manhattan, “On average, you can expect to spend one to three years [in therapy] if you are having, for example, relationship problems. The number of recommended sessions varies by condition and treatment type, however, the majority of psychotherapy clients report feeling better after 3 months; those with depression and anxiety experience significant improvement after short and longer time frames, 1-2 months & 3-4. In fact, according to one psychotherapist, some patients actually suffer from too much therapy. Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author of Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days, contends that in many cases, the more therapy sessions someone attends, the less likely they are to be effective. But it should ultimately come to an end — and that’s by design. “Therapy isn’t supposed to be forever,” says licensed therapist Keir Gaines. But in general, Dr. Bradford says that people usually are in therapy once a week or every other week, especially if you’re just starting treatment. Many people start to feel better and believe that it’s okay to leave therapy. Sometimes clients have unrealistic expectations about how treatment works and discontinue therapy when the reality doesn’t match up. The cost of treatment can be a barrier to keeping clients in therapy.
Am I too dependent on my therapist?
If your therapist is the first person you want to talk to about it and you hesitate to take action before talking to her, you may have become too dependent. If you feel like you cannot live your life without your therapist’s involvement, you may have an unhealthy attachment. Try telling your therapist that it’s hard to talk to them because you feel weird that you told them so much in a previous session. A good therapist will validate these feelings and support you in expressing them. You’re upset with your therapist. Check in with yourself. One way to determine if you are done with therapy (or your current therapist) is if you are no longer concerned about the mental health problems that brought you to therapy in the first place. You may feel like what you initially came in about has changed. The best way tell a therapist it isn’t working is to be open and honest. At the end of the session, when they ask if you want to schedule another appointment, say: “I really appreciate the time you’ve spent with me, but I don’t think it’s a good fit and am going to try to find a different therapist.” Talk to Your Doctor If therapy’s not working, it’s time to consider taking medication. But medication is not the only thing your doctor can help you with. Health problems can interfere with your progress, and some physical health problems masquerade as mental health problems.