“Picking a therapist can seem like a daunting and time-consuming task. As clinical psychologist Christina G. Hibbert, Psy.D, said, ‘It’s hard enough to get yourself to therapy when you need it, but to have to then ‘shop around’ for the right therapist can make many people either quit or settle for the first one they find, even if it’s not a right fit.’
But it’s vital to keep looking until you feel a sense of connection and trust with your therapist, said John Duffy,Ph.D, a clinical psychologist and author of the book The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens. If you don’t, find ‘someone else to work with. Period,’ he said.
Hibbert also underscored the importance of believing your therapist can help you. But these signs aren’t necessarily that obvious. In fact, knowing when a potential therapist might not be helpful is just as useful.
That’s why in this month’s ‘Therapists Spill’ series, we asked clinicians to shed light on when a therapist isn’t right for you. Below, they share 11 warning signs that it’s time to find another clinician.”