So it can seem awkwardif not impossibleto be the onegivingfeedback to the mental health professional in the room.
Maybe you’re just not sure if you’re meshing with your therapist or their style of therapy.
Or maybe they did or said something that really rubbed you the wrong way.
Renée Mathews
Maybe they’re consistently five minutes late, and that bugs you.
“Holding onto these feelings or these thoughts won’t help at all in that process.”
“Sometimes therapists will get things wrongthey’ll make incorrect observations or incorrect conclusions.”
So don’t be afraid to correct them when it feels appropriateyour therapist should actually welcome that feedback.
Or maybe after reflecting on your last session you wonder if your therapist actually “gets” you.
Or ‘I’m not quite sure if you understood exactly what I was trying to convey.
Can we dig deeper into that?’
And a good therapist is going to be delighted that you’re bringing this up."
“There’s never a right answer.
It’s more about exploring and figuring out what’s going on,” says Dr. Lakshmin.
In that case, it may be time to look for a better fit.
“Therapists are human beings too,” says Dr. Johnson.
“They’re not infallible.”
This is absolutely something to bring up with your therapist.
I felt offended by that statement.
Can we talk about this?"
I would appreciate it if we could explore that together."
Being direct, specific, and honest is key, says Dr. Johnson.
“Microaggressions can and do happen in therapy,” she says.
But it can also be really great practice for having these conversations out in the real world.
“Do they welcome that feedback?
Are they willing to explore that with you and do better next time?”
If that’s the case for you, definitely speak up.
“Remember, you are the consumer here,” says Dr. Stern.
“If you’re paying for a service, you should be satisfied with that service.”
“Because that’s the thing that’s most important to me.”
“There’s a phenomenon of ghosting in therapy,” says Dr. Lakshmin.
“I see a big part of therapy as a willingness to engage in experiments.
And I would see this as another experiment.
Yes, it might be uncomfortable, but…a lot of therapy is uncomfortable.
“This is what we’re here to do, says Dr. Johnson.
We’re here to help you work through awkward moments.”
See more from ourGuide to Caring for Your Mental Health here.
