Table of Contents
Why would a therapist drop you?
In many cases, a therapist may decide to discontinue treatment for any number of reasons that have nothing to do with you or your particular mental health issues. Maybe a family problem means they need to cull their hours—and cull their client list. (a) Psychologists terminate therapy when it becomes reasonably clear that the client/patient no longer needs the service, is not likely to benefit, or is being harmed by continued service. 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. Along with causing patients to feel abandoned, ending treatment too abruptly—whether you decide your patient has met their goals or they decide they are ready to be done themselves—misses a crucial opportunity to cement therapeutic gains.
How do therapists drop clients?
Be clear, direct, and compassionate no matter why the client is leaving. Never blame the client, even if you must terminate therapy because the client is difficult or you are not a good fit. Be willing to answer questions about therapy termination, such as where a client can seek additional help if necessary. The end of a therapeutic relationship often offers an opportunity for the therapist and client to engage in the termination process, which can include looking back on the course of treatment, helping the client plan ahead and saying goodbye. I myself have often felt sad, even grief, when a long-term client has terminated, and a longing to know what has happened to them later on. I occasionally will receive a phone call, email or letter after they have terminated, letting me know how they are doing, and I always feel grateful to them for the communication. Studies show that 20-57% of individuals do not return to therapy after their initial appointment. There are various reasons for this, and for premature dropout rate in general.
When your therapist abandons you?
Process your feelings of abandonment WITH your therapist. Remember that therapy was a proof of concept that you can trust someone. Consider online therapy or telephone sessions. Work with your current therapist to establish a transition plan. Try starting by talking to your therapist and giving it some time to see how things change (or don’t change). If you don’t feel better about the relationship after a while, that might be the time to find another therapist to work with. There are a few common ways to assess your progress in therapy. Ultimately, successful therapy means that your symptoms seem better managed or are decreasing, and you feel like you’re accomplishing your current goal(s) or raising your self-awareness outside of therapy. 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. Examples of poor boundaries from a therapist are: Dominating your session by talking about their personal problems or accomplishments — and then you’re the one who has to give them advice! Pushing you to talk about things that you’re not ready to talk about, such as your sex life or the details of past trauma. 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.
Can a therapist just drop a client?
(a) Psychologists terminate therapy when it becomes reasonably clear that the client/patient no longer needs the service, is not likely to benefit, or is being harmed by continued service. Therapists are people just like you Most therapists entered the mental health field because they had to work on themselves or they experienced a life-changing event in the past. Therefore, they may be drawn to clients who can relate to their circumstances. 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. Long-term psychotherapy is typically referred to as psychotherapy that exceeds the normal parameters of time allotted for the treatment of most psychological disorders.
Can a therapist decline you?
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. 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. Even if you don’t plan to see anyone else for treatment while your therapist is gone, most therapists will provide the number of a clinician you can call in an emergency. There are also free hotlines for different mental health conditions. Check out this list from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Findings revealed that therapists have strong emotional and behavioral responses to a patient’s dissociation in session, which include anxiety, feelings of aloneness, retreat into one’s own subjectivity and alternating patterns of hyperarousal and mutual dissociation.