Have you ever decided not to see a therapist after the first session?

[blackandwhite2017]

Just curious, did this person complete graduate school or any reputable professional training in psychology/counselling? She seems to lack basic therapy knowledge...

 

[ms spock]

I wish I had! Multiple times!

 

[kilted]

Run a mile....

Any therapist who says therapists don't need therapy doesn't know much about therapy. Personal therapy is regarded as an essential part of quality therapy training. For a therapist to say "I have no problems" means they have a big problem. Therapy is not just for "problems", it's used to explore the bits of oneself that are currently out of awareness.... and even the Dalai Lama is not 100% self-aware.

Accounts of the greats of therapy and you'll find them in therapy with others, and not just while in training. Freud, Ferenci, Jung, Perls, Berne, Erikson, Rogers, Yalom..... regarded personal therapy as a vital part of their being a therapist.

Here are a few questions to ask a possible therapist.....
1) Which accreditation organisations are you a member of? (This gives the therapists Code of Conduct/Ethics & Complaints procedure)
2) Are you in supervision, and who with? (If no supervision.... the therapist is on dodgy ground ethically)
3) When were you last in personal therapy (Again... a vital part of being a therapist)
3) What modality was your main training in & how long was it. (Useful information to find out what kind of therapy you're likely to be getting)
4) What kinds of client will you not work with? (Useful information about what they see as their limitations)
5) What is your confidentiality policy? (This should give clear info on legally required disclosure and the therapists personal disclosure policy. Vagueness is not a good sign)
6) Who is your therapeutic executor? (This is the person who has access to the casefiles and will contact clients if anything happens to the therapist. If they don't have one it's not a good sign)

In short... if the therapist gives replies that are vague, or indicative that they think they are more sorted than anyone else then move on.

 

[Nessa7]

Just curious, did this person complete graduate school or any reputable professional training in psychology/counselling?

She did. We talked about it quite a bit, because we went to the same university. I think the issue comes from it being quite a while since she did any further professional training. She didn't start this practice until after she had retired from somewhere else. She didn't seem like she would enjoy taking classes or doing any further formal training.

 

[chaotic harmony]

Oh my. Run, and run fast! I've never known a therapist who didn't have their own therapist. My first T didn't see hers all the time, but she had one on call, always. My second T goes to hers once a week (she should go more often but that's a different story and I digress *sigh*). The T I have now also has one on call. Therapists need therapy probably more than any of us. Look at what they have to deal with every day!

Being able to see her clients' names, insurance, etc, is also a huge red flag. That's a breach in confidentiality right there.

I once had a session with a T that prided herself on her EMDR skills. I was in there for the first time and she threw me right into it. I had experienced that in an inpatient setting and I did not like the EMDR process and told this woman as much but she forced it on me. I got upset about it and tried to leave and she raised her voice at me. It wasn't quite a yell but her colleague next door heard it and came in the room to see if everything was ok. (Which it wasn't.) I took that opportunity to call that woman a few not so nice names and run out the door.

You seem very uncomfortable with this woman....trust your gut!!!

 

[Suzetig]

It sounds like you know your own mind here, your instincts are good and there will be someone else out there who is more suitable for you. Well done!

 

[provencepearl]

Run a mile....

Any therapist who says therapists don't need therapy doesn't know much about therapy. Pe...

Would this list of questions be suitable for a neuropsychologist? I have an appt coming up for a neuro psych eval. I am concerned about false evaluation results. It is not for ongoing therapy. Can the neuropsych falsify the results in any way?

 

[Deleted member 43031]

I've interviewed many therapists and not returned for a second session. It's a job interview and not al...

Wow Leah, your making me feel sane. I had been with a therapist for a number of years who I just "used" because she would accept my minimal insurance. She was awful. When I got into my 2nd car accident - along with other ptsd issues that just buried me - I had the insurance I needed to move forward. Now the bizarre dog and pony find a balanced therapist show begins. First therapist - charged wayyy too much, was an I, me, mine person - never mirrored back to me what I said so I knew she heard me which matters in my engagement with a therapist and told me what I was going to do and when and never asked if I was Ok with it. NEXT - I just saw another one Saturday, I blew that session because I was so full of issues, I just dove in and we processed an issue. I am iffy - as she operates out of her home. When I came in she mentioned that she has dizziness issues that keep her isolated..... I told her - to me if a therapist tells me her problems right off - that is a red flag for me. Later she apologized. hmm don't know yet. I realize now, I literally DO have to interview them - as I am paying them. I just was not prepared for this part of the equation. First therapist was horrific and I walked out after the 5th visit horrified and freaked out. 2nd - still very up in the air. I need to be held. I want you all to come over to my house for a pot-luck and I think we'd be a million times more helpful than the so called mental head bangers we are seeing or trying to see...........

 

[Deleted member 8714]

Here's a good resource for Link Removed. It lists subjects such as: The Interview, interviewing your therapist; what determines a helpful therapist; types of therapists; etc.

There's information on the website on how to evaluate a potential therapist.

I had my share of good and bad therapists. The best one I stayed with for 14 years. He was a gem. I integrated my DID while with him.

The worst three?
A woman who quit after seeing me for a short time. She couldn't handle my memories. And believe me, those were mild memories compared to now.

A woman who had great listening skills yet she violated boundaries and talked about her issues. It worsened as therapy went on. Started good and deteriorated into her asking me to attend a continuing education training seminar with her. That's when I quit. I gave her my review as well which she didn't appreciate and defended all of the things she had said to me except the seminar. She apologized for that. Too late.

A woman who thought she was the gift of all therapists everywhere. She got really pissed when I quit on her and told me I'd never heal, and I didn't know what I was doing, and only she had the answers, and after all the work she had done for me. Geesh. She sounded like a mother not a therapist! That was the healthiest thing I've ever done.

After quitting with her, I eventually ended up with the therapist who helped me get over that therapist and her controlling ways and eventually integrate. I had to spend four years in therapy getting over bad therapy with the haughty therapist.