Why Therapy Doesn't Work for Everyone

Therapy can be a wonderful solution for a range of mental health conditions. Feeling connected to another person and having the opportunity to share your innermost thoughts is something many find healing. 

Therapy is, at its base, a collaboration between the therapist and client. It is not a cure-all, but a pathway into a healthier frame of mind. Through the therapeutic process, the client is guided by the therapist to make positive changes to their life. Having this base understanding of therapy prior to commencing sessions is important – it helps to set the expectation of what will happen during and after the therapy sessions.

That being said – choosing the right therapist is as important as the therapy itself. Without a good relationship with your therapist, you may feel a level of distrust during your sessions, or perhaps as though the therapy isn’t helping at all. You may feel as though you’re ‘beyond help.’ But at this point, it’s important to consider if therapy itself isn’t working, or if you need to alter the way in which you experience the therapeutic process and ensure you’re matched with the therapist that's right for you.

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Overstepping of Boundaries

Therapists are ethically bound to ‘do no harm.’ The vast majority of therapists will not cross an ethical or professional boundary with their clients, but on the rare occasion, this can happen. Some signs of this overstepping of boundaries include:

• Attempts are made to engage in a sexual relationship with you
• Attempts are made to engage in a social friendship with you
• They are attempting to use their power to exploit you

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Violating these boundaries as a therapist can cause significant harm to the wellbeing of the client. Overstepping these boundaries can actually be considered illegal and lead to serious consequences for the therapist. Choosing a therapist with established credentials and reputation ensures you feel safe and connected during your sessions.

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Distrust in the Therapist

Therapy should be delivered in an unbiased, nonjudgmental way. Within therapy, you should feel you are in a safe space to be honest and genuine about your thoughts and feelings. If you don’t feel this way, perhaps you haven’t developed the necessary bond needed to be open and vulnerable. 

An important thing to note is that your therapist has a duty to keep your sessions confidential, but there are a few exceptions to this rule:

• If you pose a risk of harming yourself or others
• If you’re a minor and your parents have the right to know about your therapeutic treatment
• If your therapist suspects potential abuse of a child or vulnerable person

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Lack of Understanding About Therapy

If it’s your first time getting therapy, you’re likely to have some misconceptions about how the process works. You might feel apprehensive, maybe even scared. Or perhaps you have unrealistic expectations about how the sessions are going to benefit your life. When therapy doesn’t work, or the experience is underwhelming, it can lead to feelings of disillusionment about the process. 

A reputable and worthy therapist should take the time to explain what your therapy sessions will look like and how they will work. Prior to commencing the sessions, it’s worth setting a list of goals together to help you get the most out of your therapy sessions.

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Take Our Quiz

To ensure that therapy works for you, Westchester Therapy Match wants to make sure that you’re matched with the right therapist for your needs. 

We have created a simple quiz that takes less than five minutes to complete. We will use your answers to better understand who you are and what you’re looking for so we can match you with a top-ranked therapist. Click here to take the quiz. 

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