Your psychotherapist is someone that you should feel comfortable around and be able to tell all your issues too. Having the right therapist is extremely important to your well-being and your confidence.
While, most psychotherapists are great at what they do and have a caring attitude, there are times when they fall down on the job. If you feel like your psychotherapist is steering you wrong or doesn’t have your best interest at heart, then it may be time to seek help elsewhere. The list below will give you some clear signs to look for and will show you when it’s time to get a new psychotherapist right away.
1. Doesn’t Respond or Listen to You
This is the most common, and most transparent sign that something isn’t right between you and your therapist. He is supposed to listen intently to what you have to say and then respond in a way that tries to guide you. That is his goal and if he isn’t doing that to the best of his ability, it’s time to look elsewhere for help.
2. Constantly Judging You
The last thing you need is a therapist that is judging you for the very thing you are there to get help for. Judging in a way that hurts or shames you is counterproductive and doesn’t help with your healing process. It is time to find someone else who can help you, if you are experiencing this at your current therapist appointments.
3. The Connection Between You is Missing
Studies have shown that the connection made between the patient and their psychotherapist is one of the biggest predictors of success in therapy. If you feel that the connection is gone between the two of you or that the trust isn’t there anymore, it may be time to find someone else to treat you.
4. You’re Seeing No Improvement
If you have been seeing your therapist for a while now, usually several months, and feel that you are making no improvements, then it might be time to move on. If you feel that you are getting steadily worse, then you need to find a new therapist as soon as possible, so you can get the help you need.
5. You’re Seeing a Lack of Boundaries
It’s never a good thing when a therapist starts to cross the line. If you find that your therapist is trying to be more of a friend than a doctor, talking about his own personal problems, seems over interested in your sex life, or even suggests that you hang out sometimes when you’re not in session, it’s best to find another psychotherapist to treat you.
6. Violating Your Beliefs
One of the golden rules of being a therapist is that you should never violate a client’s belief system. Therapists, of course, have their own beliefs, but they are not allowed to force those beliefs on others, or try to convert you to believing what they believe.
7. Never on Time or is Constantly Cancelling
Everyone, even a therapist is going to run late or have to cancel a session from time to time. However, it shouldn’t become a habit and it shouldn’t interfere with your treatment. If this is happening to you on a constant basis, it shows that your therapist doesn’t respect you or your time, meaning you need to find another person to see you right away.
These are just seven signs that it might be time for you to find a new psychotherapist. If you see any of the signs above in your own sessions, please seek help elsewhere as soon as possible.
