That being said, here are some common reasons why therapy might “fail”:
Client needs a higher level of treatment
. Some clients need a higher level of care than that therapist can provide, and this may not have been initially been clear to their therapist.
What if therapy isn't working?
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
. Be sure to ask the following questions: How long should it take for me to see results?
Does therapy not work for everyone?
Other factors can impact how effective therapy is.
There is no single, correct approach that works for everyone
. Not every therapist will work for everyone, either. Having a negative experience with a particular therapist or a certain type of treatment can make it hard to try therapy again, even if you want support.
What is the success rate of therapy?
The professional counselors' patients experienced a success rate of
85.6% with 14.4% recidivism
. Next were MDs, whose patients averaged 85.5% success and 14.5% recidivism rates. Finally were MSWs with 84.3% success and 15.7% recidivism and psychologists with 84.2% success and 15.8% recidivism rates.”
Is therapy always effective?
Treatments like cognitive behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy are
indeed effective
, the analysis found, but about 25 percent less so than previously thought.
What should I not tell my therapist?
- “I feel like I'm talking too much.” Remember, this hour or two hours of time with your therapist is your time and your space. …
- “I'm the worst. …
- “I'm sorry for my emotions.” …
- “I always just talk about myself.” …
- “I can't believe I told you that!” …
- “Therapy won't work for me.”
How do I know therapy is working?
- You start to feel better. …
- You feel like your therapist gets you. …
- You don't dread your sessions (maybe you even look forward to them!) …
- You feel like the wool has been pulled from your eyes. …
- You're doing more of the good stuff. …
- Maybe things get worse for a bit.
Why should I not see a therapist?
- “I'd rather talk to my friends.”
- “It costs too much.”
- “I don't have time.”
- “What good is talking going to do?”
- “I'd feel weird talking about this stuff to a stranger.”
- “Therapists don't say anything; they just sit there and judge you.”
- “Therapists don't really care about you; they do it for the money.”
What should I do if I don't like therapy?
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.
Should I go to a therapist or psychologist?
If you want to spend time talking about an issue and working through it in a one-on-one session, a
psychologist
might be a good fit. If you're interested in pursuing psychiatric medication for symptom relief for a mental health disorder, you may want to start by talking with a psychiatrist.
Is bad therapy better than no therapy?
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
. Sometimes “bad therapy” is simply ineffective. Even worse is when a therapist shuts down your healing process instead of helping it along.
Can therapy make you worse?
It is actually
normal to occasionally feel bad or worse after therapy
, especially during the beginning of your work with a therapist. It can be a sign of progress. As counterintuitive as it may sound, feeling bad during therapy can be good.
How long does the average person stay in therapy?
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.
Is therapy Effective yes or no?
Yes! Therapy
works for many of the mental health problems experienced by children. There are evidence-based treatments (EBTs) that are effective at reducing behavior problems such as tantrums, impulsivity, back-talking, and swearing.
Do therapists really care?
If you feel genuinely cared for by your therapist, it's real
. … And the truth is that most therapists (myself and the therapists I refer to) care too much. We do think about you outside of session.
Can I trust therapists?
Give yourself some time to develop a sense of trust in your therapist before you disclose anything that feels too private. Also, as you move through the process, don't be afraid to continue talking about any feeling you might have around trust between you and your therapist.
