Does therapy make you feel worse?

We hear a lot about the unwelcome side-effects of psychiatric drugs, but not so much about the fact that therapy can also leave people feeling worse than they did already. Data is thin on the ground, but best estimates suggest that between 5 to 10 per cent of therapy clients experience a worsening of their symptoms.

Can I just stop going to therapy?

Most therapists will suggest that you have a few “close-out sessions” to end things. In these sessions, you might discuss the whole trajectory of what you covered, and what your hopes and fears are for the future. Most therapists will leave the door open for you to stay in touch should anything new come up.

Is it normal for a therapist to end therapy?

But for most people, there will come a time when therapy no longer feels necessary or progress has stalled. In most cases, the client will choose to end therapy; there are also situations in which a therapist decides to end sessions and refer a client elsewhere. Formally, ending therapy is called “termination.”

How long should you be in therapy?

There is no “right” length of time to be in therapy. But for most people, there will come a time when therapy no longer feels necessary or progress has stalled. In most cases, the client will choose to end therapy; there are also situations in which a therapist decides to end sessions and refer a client elsewhere.

What is it called when a therapist ends a session?

In most cases, the client will choose to end therapy; there are also situations in which a therapist decides to end sessions and refer a client elsewhere. Formally, ending therapy is called “termination.” How do I know it’s time to end therapy?

Why are we stuck with clients going nowhere in therapy?

Another reason we remain stuck with clients going nowhere in therapy is that most of us keep “progress notes” instead of tracking outcomes. I confess to this habit, especially when it came to a couple I’d been seeing for several years.