We need to talk about bad therapists.

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If you or someone you know has been in therapy before, there's a deceent chance that you have a story about a "bad therapist". But how can you tell? And what can you do about it? Therapy is a complex process that combines the professional with the deeply personal, which can sometimes make it difficult to differentiate between discomfort that arises from the therapy process and discomfort that results from a bad therapist. Sometiems it's quite clear-cut. We need to talk about bad therapists, especially the difference between therapists who are the wrong fit versus therapists who are wrongdoers. And if you ever have an encounter with an unethical therapist, I'll tell you what to do to respond.

This video focuses on a lot of negative aspects that might be seen in a therapy setting, but it is worth reiterating that the vast majority of therapists do a good job and act in a legal and ethical manner.

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List of licensing boards in the U.S.: https://www.opencounseling.com/blog-p...

There is a wide range of bad behaviors that a therapist can engage in, but here is an (incomplete) list of signs that you're seeing a bad therapist:
They do not ask relevant questions or appear disorganized in their thoughts
They fall asleep in session
They fail to develop and enact a plan for therapy that aligns with your goals
They frequently miss, cancel, or show up late to appointments
They make frequent errors in scheduling or billing
Their personal problems interfere with their ability to provide proper treatment
They downplay or avoid exploring any of your emotional or vulnerable feelings
They act as though they have all the answers and tell you what to do to fix things
They are frequently contentious or confrontational
They encourage you to blame your friends, family, or partner for your problems
They talk excessively about their personal issues without any therapeutic purpose
They’re not sensitive to beliefs or background
They misdiagnose you or overdiagnose you
They involve authorities when not necessary or do not when needed
They keep pushing a particular therapeutic approach that you aren’t interested in
They judge or criticize your behavior, lifestyle, or problems
They shame you for your mental illness
They force you to talk about something you’re not prepared to talk about
They impose their religious, spiritual, political, or social beliefs on you
They get angry or defensive with you if you try to challenge them or give feedback
They don’t tell you they’re a trainee or don’t have a proper license
They try to keep you in therapy against your will
They try to provide a service they’re not qualified or trained to provide
They break confidentiality and share your information or the info of other clients
They’re trying to be your friend
They abandon you by stopping service without giving you any time to find a new therapist
They try to convince you to get involved in another venture or business of theirs that isn’t related to therapy
They say things or take actions towards you that are clearly racist, homophobic, sexist, or otherwise overtly discriminatory
They’re trying to have a sexual relationship with you
They try to involve you in illegal behavior or engage in illegal behavior in front of you, such as insurance fraud
They are practicing without a license
They provide services that aren’t therapy or that are experimental, harmful, or dangerous
They sexually harass or assault you

Timestamps:
0:00 My last therapy session
2:41 We need to talk about bad therapists
4:28 The two kinds of "bad therapists"
7:07 "Wrong fit" Therapists
10:16 Signs that your therapist is the wrong fit
11:36 What to do if your therapist is the wrong fit
13:19 "Wrongdoer" Therapists
14:38 The First Circle of Bad Therapist Hell
15:46 Brilliant Ad
17:26 The Second Circle of Bad Therapist Hell
19:13 The Third Circle of Bad Therapist Hell
20:06 What bad stuff can therapists do?
21:02 What can you do if you have a bad therapist
25:28 In conclusion

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