4 Reasons Why Therapy Isn’t Working for You

Do you feel held back from getting the most out of your  therapy sessions? Wondering why therapy isn’t working for you?

Deciding to go to therapy can be nerve wracking, and finding the right fit therapist can be incredibly vulnerable. It takes time to find the right therapist for you. If you feel uncomfortable during your sessions, or a vague sense that something is “off,” therapy might not be working for you, and here’s why this can happen:

You are focusing only on relieving your symptoms and that is why therapy isn’t working 

You might go into therapy because you are experiencing panic attacks or intense bouts of depression that keep you from getting out of bed. Your therapist can help you through a panic attack and give you the tools you need to help yourself when a panic attack comes on. However, if you’re focused solely on symptom relief and don’t want to do the deeper work to figure out why those panic attacks are happening, therapy will not work for you. You must be ready and willing to do the work, even when it’s uncomfortable.

You are expecting your therapist to tell you what to do

Your therapist is not going to tell you what to do. Your therapist is the co-pilot–you are the pilot. You know yourself and your story better than anyone else. You will never grow if you expect another person to tell  you what to do. Your therapist will ask you the right questions so you can get to the root of what is bothering you and give you the tools you need to get through it. They will also offer their own insights and help you check your blind spots.

 If your therapist is too quick to tell you what to do, they might be projecting onto you.  

Your therapist is projecting onto you 

Humans project all the time, and we are constantly creating our own reality based on how we see people, our past experiences, our prejudices and judgments, our expectations, etc. A lot of the material we use to construct our reality comes from the unconscious mind. If you aren’t observing the way you feel, or you find that your feelings are extremely difficult to deal with, you are more vulnerable to projecting your feelings onto another person. 

This is something a therapist can fall into if they haven’t fully healed a particular area of their life and are sensitive to seeing those same traits in a client. They might get overly invested in the situation and attempt to become the pilot rather than the co-pilot.  If this is happening, talk about this with your therapist with an open mind and see if there are any narratives that need to be altered.

Your therapist won’t adjust their approach to fit  your needs 

Therapy should be about you, and you deserve to work with a therapist who will adjust their approach to meet your needs. Every human being is unique and requires different care, and if your therapist is unable to adapt or they want to sell you on their way of doing things, your relationship with that therapist won’t work out.

At Integrative Counsel, we want to meet you where you are on your journey.  We understand that mental health is more than just its symptoms, and we focus on the meaning and growth gained from our journey towards wellness. We offer an eclectic style of treatment that integrates the mind, body, and spirit. Our “special sauce” is a unique blend of creativity, evidence-based modalities, movement, and eastern/western philosophy.

 If you feel stuck on your healing journey, working with a therapist can help. Based on your needs, our intake specialist will help you get matched up with your perfect therapist. Click here to schedule a consultation.

Starting with a creative written voice and a BA in English from ASU, Alli Cravener has become so much more than Integrative Counsel’s voice! Not only is she a writer who is passionate about connecting concepts and content, Alli is also currently a grad student working towards her Master’s in Counseling. She is also the editor-in-chief, office manager, AND intake specialist at Integrative Counsel. When you call us, you’ll talk to Alli! Alli’s interests include painting, history, learning about other people, and wearing the color pink. She likens herself to a “mouse in a palm tree”, and she loves it that way.