did therapy make anyone else feel worse about themselves?

[wildflowers1996]

I feel like there's this common narrative that if therapy doesn't work, it's because you're "not ready" "don't want to get better" or "not willing to do the work"
so when therapy doesn't help, it just makes me feel even more ashamed

 

[cali22♡]

It is completely human if therapy does not help you. . . or can't help you in the process of healing maybe you should look for another way of healing . . .


sry

 

[bed]

yeah ive had therapists that were shitty and made me feel worse. it's hard to find a good therapist and even then maybe they don't have the right tools to help. also depending on what is making you feel this way therapy may not help at all, for example if you're living in an abusive household and can't move you're still going to feel like life is pointless regardless. yeah they can give you tools to cope better with the situation but the situation is still there. in this example you'd have to get out of the situation to feel better.
as cali pointed out there are a lot of other healing methods you can try, some are linked in the recovery section but you could also look online for ideas.

 

[soonatpeace777888]

It just seems like a waste of time. I mean, talking to someone about your problems can help but they don't have to have a degree for that... I mean, what do they do that another person couldn't do besides prescribe medication?

 

[juna]

It just seems like a waste of time. I mean, talking to someone about your problems can help but they don't have to have a degree for that... I mean, what do they do that another person couldn't do besides prescribe medication?

I concur with you. I feel therapists just validate people's feelings and that it is okay to feel what they feel.

 

[Grumble]

I concur with you. I feel therapists just validate people's feelings and that it is okay to feel what they feel.

If this is all the therapist is doing, then they are not the therapist for you.

If objectively observable progress isn't being made according to whatever goals were set out at the beginning of therapy, then they need to address this and figure out if there are any obstacles they can help break down or any alternative approaches in treatment they can try, or maybe a psychiatrist should be seen in conjunction with the therapy to adjust medication regimen. There are a lot of different factors that can slow down or stop progress. Many of these factors can be addressed. But if not, then they should be referring you elsewhere to someone who may be better equipped to help you move forward. As the patient, it is OK to initiate this conversation with them.

Expectations and general goals should be agreed upon very early on in the process, with a check-in on this subject once in a while to ensure that both patient and therapist are still in accordance.

While some people may benefit strictly from "just having someone to talk to each week and having their feelings validated," generally, both parties want to see consistent progress being made (while allowing for temporary setbacks), otherwise looking at what's inhibiting that progress or else referring out.