Feeling worse after visit with psychologist

[PMilne]

First time in therapy and I came out of the second session feeling so much worse.

My therapist told me “It sounds like you want your cake and eat it”, amongst other conclusions of a similar nature they shared with me.
I cancelled the remainder of my appointments and don't feel able to go back to therapy but need help with anxiety, low self-esteem and depression.

Is this how a therapy session would normally run, and it is common to feel this way after therapy?

[Sophie_M]

Dear PMilne,

We would like to recognise your considerable inner strength. We commend your courage for posting after such a negative experience. We are a very supportive community, and we would like to welcome you here.

Just like there are many different medical specialties to address different parts of the body, we understand that there are many different mental health therapy approaches. Some approaches are quite direct, like what you experienced, whilst other approaches are very circumspect; gently guiding the client toward the client's own understanding. Whilst it is true that we can, and often do, feel challenged by a therapy session, we shouldn't feel traumatised after a therapy session.

Therefore, we would like to commend you for utilising your internal strength to realise that the psychologist you saw wasn't a good match for you.

We would also suggest you might try going to a different Mental Health Professional, and during your first session, explaining what happened previously so the new therapist will be able to let you know if he/she practices in the same, or a different way.

For now, we would encourage you to call our wonderful Beyond Blue counsellors on 1300 22 4636, or the excellent people with Lifeline on 13 1114.

Welcome to our forum, and know that we are always here for you.

Warm regards,

Sophie M.
 

[geoff]

Hello PMilne, I'm sorry this therapist has made these remarks, it's certainly not the most appropriate comments to make to a relatively new client, and perhaps other remarks as well and then expect you to return, I wouldn't just as you won't.

A therapist needs to gain trust within yourself so you feel comfortable in opening up to them, if this doesn't happen then counselling won't work with this person, because you're too worried about what you really want to say.

I understand how you feel, simply because it's happened with me years ago as well as with my last psychologist who I stopped seeing.

There are sessions where you may come out feeling 'let down', only because you might have been talking about a particular feeling/happening that you have had trouble coping with, but a psych should notice this before you leave and could give you some homework to do, to try and settle your mind.

I know that it's not easy but there are people out there who can form a comfortable psych/client relationship and can I please urge you to consult with your doctor and tell them exactly what has happened.

Please ask any question you'd like to know.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Beeee]

Hello PMilne,

I'm sorry your therapist has made such conclusions. As Sophie_M mentioned, every therapist has a different approach and part of the journey of therapy is finding the right match.

I think it's good you've cancelled future sessions with this therapist as they were clearly not the right fit for you. I saw 3 different psychologists before I found the one that I connected with best. To find the right person, you might need to do some research, think about what you need and what you're looking for. Some psychologists have a free initial consultation as well.

With the right therapist, I hope you'll be feeling better after sessions rather than worse.

Wishing you well,

Beeee

[Petal22]

Hi PMilne,

Im so sorry this happened to you in your therapy session I understand that these comments would have made you feel uncomfortable with this psychologist.

I promise you that there are some great psychologists available please try again with a different psychologist.

You could go back to your gp and ask to be referred to a different psychologist you could even explain to your gp what happened if you want to.

[smallwolf]

hello and welcome.

I am sorry to hear you have had a negative experience with your therapist. As much as I am don't understand the context in which that was said to you, it certainly does not sound very positive. As Petal22 said there are plenty of good ones.

With that said... I have had some sessions where I have felt bad afterwards, but that is on an emotional level due to the nature of what we spoke about.

So yeah... as the others have suggested, see if another is available. And if the therapist is part of a group practice, you could send an email to them describing your experience.

[geoff]

Hello PMilne, if someone does suggest to you that you should see person A (psychologist) because they were fabulous for them, doesn't mean that this person will be suitable for you, everybody has their own troubles and a different personality and what may have been advantageous for them, may not be so for you, however, you could still consider seeing them.

Geoff.

[blondguy]

Hello PMilne

I understand your feelings about visits with a therapist/counsellor

The initial appointments can sometimes be uncomfortable for sure especially when we have 'tired' mind

You mentioned 'it is common to feel this way after therapy?' Yes it is common as our counsellors sometimes have to ask questions that albeit are uncomfortable are necessary to help us with our recovery

I hope you can see your GP and let her know how you felt after your session 🙂

we are listening

Paul

[Qcountry]

Yes, typical of how "therapy/counselling " goes. My experience I have found them to be disespectful and feels like they work for themselves.  I once told a psychiatrist I wanted to be happy. Their response was that Happy was a dwarf. I walked out there and then.

[geoff]

Hello Qcountry, counselling given by a psychiatrist is completely different than from a psychologist, but this depends on what your condition has been diagnosed by your doctor.

I have seen psychiatrist's and found them to the same as what you've said, so I visited a psychologist for 20 years as it was a w/cover claim and she was terrific, so please consider getting your doctor to refer you to one.

Geoff.