Depressing
After 12 sessions, my therapist gave up on me and told me to talk to another therapist.
Hi @GreenOrange31 ✨
I am really sorry to read this happened to you…
That's really a bummer. Sorry that happened. Can you tell us more about the situation?
@tolaklaw I knew therapy wasn’t going to help me, but I still went for it because everyone told me to. She tried to convince me to do something I didn’t want to, and when she couldn’t get me to do it, even after 12 sessions, she told me I was wasting my money on her and that I should talk to another, better therapist.
@GreenOrange31
I think she did the right thing in recommending that you seek someone else. What was it that she was asking you to do ?
@tolaklaw
To move on
@GreenOrange31
What was she asking you to move on from ?
What!!!
@GreenOrange31
I'm sorry that happened to you. I can see how that must've felt terrible.
Please don't let it discourage you to continue seeking professional help and improving your mental health!
You deserve another therapist who is capable of helping and supporting you!
Hi @GreenOrange31
Thanks for using this space to share your experience with us. And if it feels okay, I hope you continue to use the forum section to talk about anything on your mind
I'm sorry to hear that your therapy sessions ended really abruptly. It makes sense that you'd feel let down or even abandoned after spending 12 sessions with someone to then be told to look elsewhere. That's a lot of time, energy and trust to give and how things ended sounds hurtful and confusing
You shared more context within one of your replies and it seems like you gave therapy a chance despite feeling that it might not be helpful to you. That open-mindedness takes curiosity to explore. It's completely okay to find out that therapy, whether this therapist or at this time of your life, didn't feel quite right. Many people don't give themselves the opportunity to discover that part about themselves. You did, and that's worth acknowledging
There are many therapists, and sometimes it's just as important to find a therapist you 'click' with as it is to explore coping techniques or suggestions being offered. Some people also find therapy more helpful when they feel ready to explore certain things at their own pace. There's no right or wrong timing, just whatever feels comfortable for you
If it feels helpful here are a few questions you can choose to answer for yourself, at your own pace, if you'd like:
What did you hope therapy might help you with when you first started?
Has this experience changed how you think about what support you want or don’t want right now?
Are there any free or lower-priced therapy sessions available to you online or face-to-face in your area? (in case you ever decide to try again with someone new)
You've taken a real step by giving therapy a fair shot. 12 sessions shows enormous dedication on your behalf, especially when it sounds like the fit wasn't quite right. You've shown yourself that if you ever decide to explore therapy again that you have the strength and commitment to do it💛
Finding a good therapist is incredibly hard. It sounds like she couldn't meet you where you are. Please don't think this experience reflects anything negative about you. To me, it is impressive that you were clear about your boundaries.
It is not always a bad thing that a therapist tells you to seek a different therapist. In different spaces, we need to see which people are suitable for us. Ypur therapist has probably tried and tried but could not see progress so they want to make you find a different therapist. Not because it's to blame yu, but it may be because you to are not compatible with each other they are not equipped to handle you anymore (and that you need someone who specializes in your specific case) or that the therapist is just... human. They probably also saw that you two were just going in circles... you told them again and again (probably) and they probably tried different methods or advice and the progress just wasn't showing up. In this case, it is actually for YOUR benefit to find someone else. After those sessions and back and forths they probably discovered they and their methods aren't for you.
It is like finding clothes that suit you. You find the clothes not fit you, not change to fit the clothes. You find the therapist that suits you and actually is beneficial for you. If after 12 sessions nothing has changed then it is for your benefit you seek someone else. Let's pray that you find that therapist ❤️ God bless
Therapists need therapy too... I wont let such a thing break me. It reflects on their incompetence. Not yours.