Thinking about Therapy?
Take our quiz to see therapists who are a good match for you.
Take our quiz to see therapists who are a good match for you.
Nearly all the mental health folks you meet are great people and effective clinicians. They’re empathic, kind, and good listeners. And it takes 6 to 10 years of school to become a clinical therapist (like an LMSW or psychologist), so they bring a wealth of academic knowledge to the office. But therapists, being humans themselves, can fall into traps that reduce their ability to help in the most effective ways. Here are three warning signs which may indicate you should look for psychotherapy elsewhere:
Psychotherapy Branding. Having a coherent theory and technique as a therapist is essential. However, be wary of therapists who identify too heavily with any one method, particularly if it’s their own trademark. This means there’s money invested in validating their treatment approach, which may not lead to therapy success with everyone. Some psychotherapists become enamored with proliferating their brand and have already decided who you are and how you’ll heal before you enter the office.
DSM/ICD-10 Diagnoses Are (Almost) Entirely Meaningless. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is important, and you have a right to know your diagnosis. With few exceptions, psychiatric diagnostic labels only tell a small part of the story. At best, a term like Generalized Anxiety or Persistent Depression is just a rough estimate of the cluster of symptoms you experience. Usually, the “real diagnosis,” or the one with the most explanatory power, is why you feel anxious or depressed. For example, you may have experienced a painful loss or harbored deep self-doubt or your growing up was really difficult. Others are in emotional pain and don’t know why, which can be painful in and of itself. If your therapist is using a diagnosis like GAD as a sole measure for how your treatment should progress, be suspicious of their ability to really understand and help.
An Expert in Everything. No therapist can work with every patient or issue presented to them. Think of your primary care doctor. Occasionally they say, “I’m not sure about this. Let’s have you see Dr. [Specialist].” Any therapist claiming to work with every condition in the book and then some is likely more concerned with filling their schedule than offering expert, focused treatment within a range of acquired skills. Stick to clinicians who have a strong sense of who they work well with and who they don’t. Anyone who says “my therapy approach works with everyone” is kidding themselves. And you.
Best wishes in your future therapy!
