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Deciding to see a therapistis an important first step of a mental health journey.
If youve chosen to pursue therapy, it indicates that youre ready towork through your problemsand better yourself.
For whatever reason, you might not feel a genuine connection to certain therapists.
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Signs of a Bad Therapist
Your therapy should center your healing and recovery first and foremost.
Recognize when its time to find a new therapist with this overview of red flags and warning signs.
Your Therapist Is Unreliable
Mental health professionalshave busy and complicated lives just like their patients do.
A professional or family emergency might prompt them to reschedule appointments on occasion.
These actions show that the therapist has not prioritized you and is not committed to your care.
Youre certainly not obligated to find a solution for your therapists flakiness.
Your Therapist Is Unethical
Unethical therapists betray their patients trust and violateprofessional codes of conduct.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Therapists are forbidden from pursuing their patients sexually.
Theyre also forbidden from urging patients to harm themselves or others.
Still, they could engage in unethical behaviors all the same.
You sought therapy to get help for your problems.
Pretending you dont have any to avoid criticism from a judgmental provider will delay your progress.
Perhaps you and your therapist share different religious, racial, gender, or class backgrounds.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the therapist is “bad"they might just be bad foryou.
But its also important to be realistic.
If youre not sure that your therapist is qualified to help you, find out the provider’s specialties.
Your Therapist Is Pushy
Does your therapist listen to you?
Does your therapist push you to set loftier goals than youve established for yourself?
Some therapists simply talk too much.
On the other hand, be willing to broaden your search, if necessary.
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