Signs You Have a Bad Therapist

Bad Therapy Happens

As a Denver therapist myself, and someone who has also worked in coaching and online therapy, I know that not every match is going to be the best. I want to help you avoid getting into a situation that does not properly serve you.

How to avoid bad therapy: Not all therapists, marriage counselors, and life coaches are created equally. Don’t get me wrong, most therapists who are in practice are wonderful, and at the very least, well-meaning.

However, even lovely, well-intended therapists and marriage counselors can be ineffective. While it may not be harmful to get involved with a therapist who isn’t going to move the needle for you, it can still be a waste of time and money. Even though therapy and life coaching might not be as expensive as you think, it’s still always an investment in your life.

There is a dark side though. Getting involved with the wrong therapist can have consequences. If you go to mediocre individual therapy that (unsurprisingly) doesn’t work for you, you may begin to believe that you’re doomed to repeat the same old patterns in your life or relationship. Maybe you stop trying, or settle for what you have come to believe is ‘as good as it gets’ for you.

There is also a big risk for couples at a fork-in-the-road moment in their relationship. Couples who get involved with a practitioner who advertises couples therapy (but doesn’t really have the education and training to provide high-quality couples counseling) and then “fail” may believe that because couples therapy was unsuccessful for them that divorce is the only answer. That is a tragedy, especially when you consider that getting involved with effective marriage counseling could have had a completely different outcome. 

I’m here to tell you that it might not be you. You could move forward. Your relationship can be repaired. The problem might be your therapist.

Signs You Have a Bad Therapist

There is a wide variety when it comes to quality in therapists (and by “therapists” I’m also lumping in Marriage Counselors and Life Coaches too). Education and experience matter when it comes to finding a therapist that will help you reach your goals. For that matter, so do personality, approach, and the level of energy they put into your success.

Today on the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast, I’m going to be talking you through the signs that you might have a bad therapist. I’ll also be talking about subtle signs that your therapist might be nice, but ineffective. 

There are also shady therapists out there; I’ll be talking about how to spot unethical therapists from a mile away.

Therapy works, but if you have a bad therapist you might feel like giving up on the idea altogether. You deserve clarity, direction, and accountability when it comes to your experience with therapy. 

We’ll be talking about:

The top nine clues your therapist might be ineffective.

Six signs that your therapist may have crossed over to the dark side, and is engaging in unethical behavior.

Lastly, it’s also true that there are fantastic, effective, and impeccably ethical therapists and marriage counselors out there. I’ll be sharing some tips on how to find a good therapist and how to choose a marriage counselor. Then you’ll know what to look for so you can connect with a dynamic professional who can help you make real and lasting changes in your life.

I hope that these insights help support you on your journey of growth.

Warmly,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

P.S. At Growing Self, we’re all about scouring the earth to bring you the very best therapists and marriage counselors in order to ensure that working with us means the highest quality evidence-based therapy, marriage counseling and coaching. But… we all know “meh” or downright scary therapists are out there. I shared a couple of my own scary therapist stories in this episode, but if you have your own cautionary tales to share, gather ’round the campfire of our comments section and tell us what happened!

Xo, LMB

Lisa Marie Bobby, PhD, LMFT, BCC( PhD, LP, LMFT, BCC )

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is the founder and clinical director of Growing Self. She is a licensed psychologist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and a board-certified coach, as well as the author of “Exaholics: Breaking Your Addiction to Your Ex Love,” and the host of The Love, Happiness & Success Podcast.

Learn more about Dr. Lisa