Bad experience with therapists

It's a common thread here, @Mrsomebody. I'm in recovery phase without recovering, myself. I really don't know what to say to help. We expect that the person we see has our best interest at heart, we put our trust in them, confide in them, enrich them—then get further damaged. There is no accountability and no conscience.

I have no words of advice. I wish I could make the whole situation fix itself, but I can't. I can only say I understand how you feel. I could talk at length about what is going on in these fields, but I wonder if I'm just becoming bothersome to others who want me to be more cheerful. I can't be. Too many good people are being hurt.

Sending best wishes to you in your distress, @Mrsomebody. Good title, you are SOMEBODY!

Hey @Historylover and @Mrsomebody , just wanted to jump in and say that I am honestly so sorry to hear about how you have both had such unfortunate experiences with the mental health system. I really wish it was more of a rarity for this kind of thing happen than it is, but sadly you aren't alone on this one.

I think it is a very multi-layered and complex issue though, because I do believe the majority of professionals working in this field really do want what is best for their clients. Sometimes their hands are tied by policy. Sometimes it's about the training they've received, or lack thereof. Sometimes it is about the ways that mental health stigma still pervades societal norms, and how some professionals may not even be aware that they are reinforcing those harmful ideas. I think there does need to be more accountability, and more awareness of how power dynamics can have impact on the ability of a client or consumer to be able to feel empowered and advocate for themself.

Like any field, there will always be those who really shouldn't be in it. There are plenty of folks who can talk about incidents of finding themselves re-traumatised through the process of trying to heal. But to some degree, it can also be a bit of a numbers game. We don't get along with everyone we meet - far from it in fact - and the same goes for finding a good therapist with whom you mesh well, can feel safe, and can make progress. SANE has some helpful info for this process which you can find here and here.

I think it's important to talk about these experiences, and to acknowledge that a lot of work still needs to be done to provide some of the most vulnerable people in our society with the support they deserve. I also think it's just as important to not give up hope that we can all find a service, group, professional, or therapist that will be exactly what we need. 😊

Hi and welcome, @Mrsomebody .

I'm sorry you've had bad experiences with therapists. 😞

I've struggled with some therapists, but luckily I've had two now who have been great. (One retired) I hear the stories on here and think myself very lucky, but I did just want to write and say that good therapists who you click with are out there. Mine have been life-changing.

Am just saying that as I don't want everyone reading to completely give up hope of finding a good therapist.

A handy forum tip is if you type @ and click on a name in the drop-down box, that person will get a notification and won't miss your reply.

Hope is important for us all and the general community @NatureLover

My family and I have a range of experiences. I clung to hope with a particular therapist as I went through the worst years of my life.

False hope is a delusion and needs to be addressed.

Accountability and regulation in the field is pretty low considering it is becoming a booming industry.

I would like more attention to that .... as it might keep the ba**** honest. From my age 20 to 55 I was an informed believer. I now think I was too generous.... considering the sums made by them .... and the lack of effective interventions and strategies ....

It is important dissenting viewpoints are not silenced. I am re-evaluating my trust and learning to share less deeply ... and see what people come up with ....

@Mrsomebody @Historylover @-JJ- @Jynx

I have experienced some of what you describe and I believe it is a common experience.

Basically, I think either persevere with one therapist, change therapists, or stop visiting therapists. I believe each of these options is neither right nor wrong.

I will never see a therapist again. In theory therapy is good in reality just like all jobs most people are no good at it but they will still take your $200 for 45 minutes

Thank you everybody for your replies it's actually very helpful.

Unfortunately these therapists are seeing up to 7 people a day that's about 36 people a week not to mention at least half of them would be new faces sadly we are nothing but a Paycheck to these people. Psychology is Big Business big money everyone gets a cut. Think of it like this if you can't afford to pay they would never take the time to even give you a word. I think it's best we realise this rather than live on false hope