Therapy is a tool that helps many manage symptoms of mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. It’s also effective for helping people cope with chronic stress, trauma, or challenging life transitions. However, the reality of therapy is that you may not connect with a therapist on the first try. When that happens, there’s a right and a wrong way to go about ending the professional relationship with your therapist.
Today, we’re going to discuss the therapeutic relationship. That includes how to be vulnerable, connect with a therapist, and determine if it’s time to break up with your therapist. With that, we’ll also consider the best way to end a therapeutic relationship. Of course, if you or someone you love is seeking help for a severe, active addiction, contact West Coast Recovery Centers for help today.
Things to Consider When Looking for a Therapist
First and foremost, looking for a therapist is in and of itself a significant first step in your path to wellness. So many of us neglect the importance of taking care of our mental wellness when looking at the entirety of our health. It’s necessary to know that therapy isn’t solely for individuals struggling with a mental health condition. Therapy can be an effective tool for anyone depending on the things they’re struggling with in life.
Before looking for a therapist, it’s critical that you self-analyze and determine what you hope to gain from therapy. Are you experiencing a lot of anxiety? Do you find yourself struggling with depression? Are you just having a hard time with the current season of your life as things change and transition? Answering questions such as these can help you in your search for a therapist.
Of course, there are also logistical factors to consider in your search. This includes financial and budgetary factors or ensuring you’re looking for providers covered by your insurance. However, once you’ve figured out these logistics, you can search for a therapist more finely based on your preferences.
Learning to Be Vulnerable With Your Therapist
Once you find a therapist and schedule an appointment, it helps to know what to expect from your initial meeting. Even if you’ve tried therapy before, an initial session with someone new can induce anxiety. However, it’s imperative that you learn to be vulnerable with your therapist. Therapists are only as effective as the information they receive. Without honesty and vulnerability, it’ll be harder for them to help you.
Learning to be vulnerable with your therapist is key to building a bond. Initially, your therapist will get to know you, but over time, you can also guide the conversation toward topics you want to examine. The more you talk and connect, the more comfortable you’ll become, but what happens when you can’t connect?
Is It Time to Break Up With Your Therapist?
Before beginning therapy, you should determine what your goals are for it. Ask yourself if you’re seeing progress toward those goals. The first sign that it might be time to break up with your therapist is if you feel like you’ve made no progress and that those goals aren’t being met.
Another reason it might be time to part ways with your therapist is if you’re not comfortable or not connecting with them. We must sometimes go from one therapist to the next until we find one that works for us. That’s okay. It’s better to cut the cord and try someone new.
Of course, individuals should consider parting ways with a therapist if they see any red flags. Those red flags may include crossing boundaries, excessive self-disclosure, ineffective communication, or more severe and unethical behavior.
How Can You Go About Ending a Therapeutic Relationship?
Any therapist knows that clients come and go. However, it can be hard for a therapist when a client completely ghosts them. They may grow worried or concerned, and so, there are ways you can cordially and respectfully end the relationship with your therapist. In general, it’s best to avoid ghosting as this is an unhealthy way to end any relationship.
Firstly, be open and honest with them. It’s okay if things weren’t clicking, and it’s also okay if you’d like to take a step back from therapy personally. Make a clear, concise goodbye and have a plan to continue treatment before leaving, if that’s what you desire. Additionally, it’s sometimes prudent to evaluate your decision over a few sessions. In some cases, bringing it up with your therapist may even allow them to make referrals or recommendations to colleagues they think might be a better fit for you.
Therapy is an invaluable tool for improving one’s mental state, but it can also help us simply untangle and understand our complex thoughts. Consider therapy today, even if you aren’t struggling with a mental health condition and substance use. For those who are in active addiction, contact West Coast Recovery Centers to learn more about the benefits of therapy and begin treatment today.
Therapy is an invaluable tool used by many to help them improve and manage symptoms of a mental health condition. It’s also instrumental in helping people find freedom from active addiction and maintain long-term recovery. However, therapy is only as effective as the relationships one builds with the therapist. For therapy to work, clients must learn to be vulnerable with their therapists, and making the right connection sometimes requires us to try more than one professional. Nevertheless, if you feel things aren’t working with your therapist, there is a right and wrong way to end that therapeutic relationship. Consider that when ending things with your therapist, and for professional help, call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509 today.