• Mental Health
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • OCD
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • ADHD
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
  • Mental Health
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • OCD
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • ADHD
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
Skip to content

25 Signs of a Bad Therapist & How to Leave Them

Published: April 26, 2023 Updated: May 9, 2023
Published: 04/26/2023 Updated: 05/09/2023
Headshot of Iris Waichler MSW, LCSW
Written by:

Iris Waichler

MSW, LCSW
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD
  • Signs of a Bad Therapist25 Signs
  • Signs of a Bad Couples TherapistSigns of a Bad Couples Therapist
  • What Should I Do If My Therapist Makes Me Feel Worse?What to Do
  • How to Leave Your TherapistHow to Leave
  • How to Find Your Next TherapistFind Your Next Therapist
  • Final ThoughtsConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • Signs of a Bad Therapist & How to Leave Them InfographicsInfographics
Headshot of Iris Waichler MSW, LCSW
Written by:

Iris Waichler

MSW, LCSW
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD

People may choose to see a therapist for many reasons. But how do you know if the therapist you select is a good fit for you? Beyond fit, how do you know if they’re practicing bad therapy? Obvious signs include unwanted sexual behavior and being distracted during sessions, but other signs include responding badly to criticism or if you don’t feel like you’re improving.

Would you like to try therapy? BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy starting at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

25 Signs of a Bad Therapist

Therapy can be a life-changing experience. The more specific you can be about the desired changes in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, the easier it will be to identify the benefits of therapy to improve your personal progress toward your goals. If these changes don’t begin to happen after a few sessions, consider breaking up with that therapist.

Here are 25 signs you have a bad therapist:

1. The Therapist Is Unethical

All therapists are mandated to comply with a code of conduct ensuring professionalism. The most egregious unethical behavior is unwanted sexual exploitation by therapists, which can create ambivalence, cognitive dysfunction, emotional emptiness, isolation, impaired ability to trust, guilt, increased suicidal risk, role reversal and boundary confusion, sexual confusion, and suppressed anger.3 Sexual impropriety by a therapist is malpractice and against the law. It should immediately be reported.

2. The Therapist Is Judgemental

Therapists are human with their own beliefs and viewpoints. However, it is inappropriate for a therapist to impose these values and beliefs on you during a therapy session. Clients cannot allow themselves to be open and vulnerable if they are afraid of being judged by their therapist. This creates an unhealthy and unproductive environment.

3. Going to Therapy Feels Stressful

The purpose of therapy is to understand and manage stressors in your life. There are times when it is crucial to discuss challenging or stressful topics in therapy, but if seeing your therapist is a constant source of anxiety, then you’re seeing a bad therapist. A good therapist will create a climate of safety and comfort for their clients.

4. The Therapist Is Not Giving You the Attention You Deserve

If your therapist appears detached, responds with unhelpful comments, or asks you to repeat yourself multiple times, these are signs they’re not listening. This is a bad therapy warning signal. Good therapists are focused and attentive during therapy because information shared in sessions is integral for creating an effective treatment plan. Clients will only benefit if they believe they are being heard and understood.

5. Fees Are Higher Than Therapists With Similar Credentials

Examples of financially unethical behavior range from financial impropriety, like charging too much for a session, to extending treatment sessions beyond accepted clinical standards. Affordable therapy does exist. Regardless, when therapy begins, the therapist should estimate how many sessions it may take to achieve your treatment goals. A bad therapist may exploit clients by having them continue to come to sessions for their own financial gain.

6. You & The Therapist Have Inappropriate Boundaries

There are many unseen boundaries present in therapeutic relationships. The Professional Code of Conduct prohibits healthcare professionals from crossing these boundaries. Boundary violations usually involve exploitive business or sexual relationships. Boundary violations are always unethical and likely to be illegal.4

7. The Therapist Responds Badly to Feedback or Criticism

In any kind of relationship, it is important that feedback is taken well for the health of the relationship. In a therapist-client relationship, the feedback from a client is important to consider and take seriously as it can be helpful to explore for the client, and may impact the treatment plan. If you are sharing feedback with a therapist and you find they are not respecting your feelings or opinions, it can be a red flag that you have a bad therapist.

8. The Therapist Rushes to Diagnose (or Overdiagnose) You

Diagnoses take time, and given that many mental health issues overlap in symptoms it is even more important that a diagnosis for mental health issues be made with care and time. If you find that you are getting a diagnosis in the first three sessions or sooner, it can be a red flag that they are rushing to diagnose and place your symptoms into a box. It is important to get a second opinion and voice your concerns.

9. The Therapist Is Constantly Rescheduling

People have unexpected things arise and may have to cancel appointments, but continuous unexpected cancellations can interrupt the therapeutic process. It’s important for both therapists and clients to mutually agree to a set appointment schedule. People with mood disorders or anxiety rely on a routine to maintain stability, and good therapy requires consistency and mutual trust.

10. The Therapist Is Dismissive

When a therapist becomes dismissive, defensive, disrespectful, or argumentative when you question what they say, they are bad. Therapists must model healthy relationships and objectively listen to what is being said to them. Dismissive behaviors cause people to question themselves and can lower self esteem.

11. The Therapist Violates Confidentiality

Confidentiality is important. Patients won’t disclose information if they’re worried about a therapist breaching confidentiality and breaking their trust. However, if a person expresses a desire and plan to harm themselves or others, there may be a duty to report for the welfare of the patient. Laws can vary between states.

12. Transference or Countertransference Occurs

Transference occurs when a client brings strong feelings about a previous relationship and projects them onto a therapist. Countertransference refers to the unconscious influence that a therapist’s past conflicts have on their understanding, actions, or reactions within the treatment situation.6 When this occurs, it must be addressed by the therapist immediately. It can be a source of information about relationships outside of the therapist’s office. Bad therapists will ignore this dynamic, causing serious confusion and emotional harm to patients.

Popular Choices For Online Therapy 

BetterHelp (review) – World’s largest network of licensed therapists, starting at $60 per week. Get Matched With A Therapist


Online-Therapy.com (review) – Video and text based therapy starting at $5o per week. Learn More


Talkiatry (virtual psychiatry) – Get help from a real doctor that takes your insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and online visits with expert psychiatrists. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment in days. Free Assessment

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp, Online-Therapy, and Talkiatry.

13. The Therapist Tells You What to Do

A good therapist will carefully listen and help guide you as you choose the right path for you. A bad therapist will make decisions for you that inhibit your future ability to make important life decisions and negate your agency in your own life.

14. The Therapist Imposes Their Beliefs Onto You

Therapy is a safe space and a place of no judgment. If you find that your therapist is imposing their own beliefs, stereotypes, or assumptions about the world onto you, it is a red flag that your therapist has poor boundaries and is not doing their job properly. Therapy isn’t about having a therapist try to convince you of anything or force you to change, it’s about you learning about yourself and growing in your autonomy.

15. The Therapist Pushes You to Talk About Something Before You’re Ready

If you are not ready to talk about something and you feel coerced or forced, it is a major red flag. Therapy is supposed to feel safe and open, but if you feel forced, safety and trust don’t have room to develop. Due to the power imbalance and the vulnerable nature of therapy, a client feeling forced can do a lot of harm to them mentally, and can prevent them from seeking the care they need.

16. The Therapist Discloses Too Much About Themselves

There is a balance between therapists sharing personal information (self-disclosure) and taking the attention away from the clients. When used appropriately, counselor self-disclosure can build trust and strengthen the therapeutic alliance. However, counselor self-disclosure also holds the potential to derail progress and take the focus off the client.7 A therapist shouldn’t be going on and on about stories in their own life—you’re paying for their time to talk about you.

17. The Therapist Is Not a Good Match For Your Diagnosis

If you see a therapist who specializes in dementia and you are there for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this treatment is not going to work. Make sure your therapist has expertise in treating people with your symptoms and diagnosis.

18. The Therapist Can’t Explain Their Treatment Philosophy

When interviewing a therapist, ask them to explain their treatment model and philosophy. If they can’t answer your questions, choose another therapist. They should explain why the type of treatment they use is effective and a good fit for your diagnosis.

19. The Therapist Uses a Technique That Doesn’t Work

If you find that the way in which your therapist is using techniques doesn’t work, it is important to voice that. For example, they may keep asking you to practice thought stopping but when you try it outside of sessions it doesn’t help you change your thoughts. If they continue to use and encourage these same techniques, it is a red flag that your therapist isn’t good for you specifically.

20. The Therapist Doesn’t Talk

A good therapist will talk to help guide their client into self exploration and revelations regarding the reasons for therapy. They will help clients decide what changes they want to make and how to use techniques to cope with or confront their presenting problem. If a therapist doesn’t talk or what they say isn’t useful, they are a bad therapist.

21. The Therapist Ended Therapy Badly

The way therapy ends is an important element in the learning process for clients whether termination is initiated by the client or the therapist.

Experts describe these indicators as bad therapist examples for ending thearpy:8

  • No expression of emotion related to termination
  • No review of client growth
  • Unplanned termination
  • No discussion of post-termination plan

22. The Therapist Is Too Passive

Some clients believe that therapists using a passive approach don’t challenge or confront them enough. They won’t get as much out of therapy as they want.9

23. You Don’t See Any Movement Toward Achieving Treatment Goals

If you have been in therapy and you find that nothing you learn there is helping you resolve your presenting problems or there is no symptom reduction, that’s a red flag. This therapist is not helping you achieve your treatment goals and you should move on.

24. You Feel Disconnected From Your Therapist

After several therapy sessions, you may feel like your therapist does not understand you. If you don’t feel any connection with them, that signals you have the wrong therapist. If that connection is absent, people are less inclined to do the necessary work therapy requires to be successful.

25. The Therapist Is Bigoted, Racist, or Culturally Insensitive

Racism can occur in subtle ways in therapy. This can include lack of consideration for cultural norms and expectations and avoiding discussing race at all. Race, ethnicity, and culture affect the ways we experience the world, and that affects our mental health. A good therapist will acknowledge this and help you work through related feelings.10

Signs of a Bad Couples Therapist

Along with the above, other red flags specific to couples therapists include:

  • Choosing sides
  • Agreeing with one partner
  • Sharing secrets with one partner
  • Dividing the partners up without explanation
  • Telling the couple to break up or divorce
  • Ignoring the couple’s values
  • Poor communication equally with both partners
  • Telling each partner different things in individual sessions
  • Seeing one partner individually before and after couples sessions
  • Invalidating one partners emotions
  • Name-calling a partner
  • Lying to one of the partners
  • Triangulating

What Should I Do If My Therapist Makes Me Feel Worse?

If you consistently feel worse after therapy sessions, it’s time to break up with your therapist. Leaving your therapist is a difficult decision to make, especially after you have invested time and emotional energy in treatment. Starting again can feel overwhelming, but reasons to leave include a lack of trust, comfort, and safety.

Here are things to consider when thinking about leaving a bad therapist:

  • Are you leaving sessions asking what you’re getting out of therapy?
  • Do you feel comfortable with your therapist?
  • Do you trust your therapist? Why or why not?
  • Does your therapist hear and understand you?
  • Does your therapist give you information/skills to help you deal with your problems?
  • Do you feel safe with your therapist?
  • Do you feel better or worse after leaving a therapy session?

Who Should I Tell If My Therapist Makes Me Feel Worse?

If you have discerned that it is not the hard topics you talked about but your therapist who leaves you feeling badly, you should stop going to them. If you go to a therapist office where there is a supervisor in charge, you can report the feedback to them and choose a different therapist. If your therapist is crossing boundaries and behaving unethically, you can report them to the state licensing board.

How to Leave Your Therapist

You have the right to fire your therapist if you’re unsatisfied. But if you feel comfortable, there are advantages to talking first. They should understand why you’re leaving and what expectations were unmet. This conversation can be a learning experience for you, too, even if it feels uncomfortable. It’s not your responsibility to protect your therapist or defend your decision to leave, but you may gain new insights.

How to Find Your Next Therapist

Don’t let a bad experience stop you from getting therapy if you have unresolved issues you want to explore. Take what you learned from working with a bad therapist and use it to pick a good one. Identify qualities as being priorities you want in your new therapist. Use your network of friends, your doctor, the local mental health center, or an online therapist directory to find a new therapist.

Ask any questions you have during a phone consultation. It is often possible and encouraged to make an appointment for an initial consultation, which can happen via phone, video, in-person. This allows you to interact, determine whether they’re a good fit, and see if you prefer to see them for in-person or online therapy.

Final Thoughts

If you’re not meeting your treatment goals with your therapist, they’re not a good fit for you. An actively bad therapist can cause serious harm to a person who is vulnerable and struggling with mental health issues. Don’t give up on therapy if you have a bad experience though. Carefully consider what qualities are most important to you in a therapist, do a pre-interview, and follow up.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

Online Therapy 

BetterHelp – Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy.  Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you. Get Started

Online Psychiatry

Hims / Hers – If you’re living with anxiety or depression, finding the right medication match may make all the difference. Get FDA approved medication prescribed by your dedicated Hims / Hers Healthcare Provider and delivered right to your door. Plans start at $25 per month (first month)*. Get Started

Medication + Therapy

Brightside Health – Together, medication and therapy can help you feel like yourself, faster. Brightside Health treatment plans start at $95 per month. United Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, and Aetna accepted. Following a free online evaluation and receiving a prescription, you can get FDA approved medications delivered to your door. Free Assessment

Starting Therapy Newsletter

A free newsletter for those interested in learning about therapy and how to get the most benefits out of therapy. Get helpful tips and the latest information. Sign Up

Choosing Therapy Directory 

You can search for therapists by specialty,  experience, insurance, or price, and location. Find a therapist today.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by Hims / Hers, Brightside, and BetterHelp. *Hims / Hers Disclaimer: Subscription required. After first month, price is $85/month for a monthly subscription or $49/month for a three-month subscription ($123 for first order, $147 billed quarterly thereafter). Subscription automatically renews unless you cancel at least 7 days before renewal is processed.

For Further Reading

  • Best Online Therapy Companies
  • Review of Talkspace vs BetterHelp
  • Mental Health America
  • National Alliance on Mental Health
  • MentalHealth.gov

Signs of a Bad Therapist & How to Leave Them Infographics

Signs You Have a Bad Therapist Signs You Have a Bad Therapist 2 Signs You Have a Bad Therapist 3

When To Leave Your Therapist

10 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • A. Rozental, A. Kottorp, J. Boettcher, G. Andersson, P. Carlbring.  (June 22, 2016). Negative Effects of Psychological Treatments: An Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Negative Effects Questionnaire for Monitoring and Reporting Adverse and Unwanted Events. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157503.

  • H. Shafir. (March 18, 2022). LPCS, LCAS, CCS. How Does Therapy Work? Choosingtherapy.com. Retrieved from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/how-does-therapy-work/

  • K.S. Pope, PhD. (October 2001). Sex Between Therapists and Clients. Encyclopedia of Women and Gender. pp. 955-962. Academic Press. Retrieved from https://kspope.com/sexiss/sexencyc.php

  • O. Zur, Ph.D. (2018). To Cross Or Not To Cross: Do Boundaries In Therapy Protect Or Harm? Psychotherapy Bulletin, 39(3), 27-32. Retrieved from https://www.zurinstitute.com/boundaries-in-therapy/

  • J.E. Barnett, PsyD, ABPP, C. Coffman. (May 2015). Confidentiality and Its Exceptions. The Duty to Warn. Retrieved from https://societyforpsychotherapy.org/confidentiality-and-its-exceptions-the-case-of-duty-to-warn/

  • J. E. Schowalter, MD. Countertransference in Work With Children: Review of a Neglected Concept. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry. 25 I:40-45, 1985. Retrieved from https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0002-7138(09)60597-5/pdf

  • B. Bray. (January 29, 2019). Counselor Self-Disclosure: Encouragement or Impediment to Client Growth? Counseling Today. Retrieved from https://ct.counseling.org/2019/01/counselor-self-disclosure-encouragement-or-impediment-to-client-growth/

  • J. Curran, G.D. Parry, G.E. Hardy, J. Darling, A. Mason, E. Chambers. (March 13, 2019) How Does Therapy Harm? A Model of Adverse Process Using Task Analysis in the Meta-Synthesis of Service Users’ Experience. Frontiers in Psychology. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00347. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00347/full

  • G. Direnfeld, MSW, RSW. Active or Passive Counseling? Interaction Consultants. Retrieved from http://www.yoursocialworker.com/p-articles/active-passive.pdf

  • Mental Health America. Is my therapist being racist? (2020) Retrieved from https://screening.mhanational.org/content/my-therapist-being-racist/

update history

We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.

  • Originally Published: May 17, 2022
    Original Author: Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW
    Original Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD

  • Updated: April 26, 2023
    Author: No Change
    Reviewer: No Change
    Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Reviewed and added relevant resources. Added five new signs of a bad therapist, added “Signs of a Bad Couples Therapist” and “Who Should I Tell If My Therapist Makes Me Feel Worse?”. New material written by Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C and reviewed by Kristen Fuller, MD.

Recent Articles

How to Find an LGBTQIA+ Therapist
How to Find an LGBTQIA+ Therapist
Finding a therapist who is openly LGBTQIA+, LGBTQIA+ friendly, or specializes in LGBTQIA+ issues can help validate a client’s...
';
Child & Teen Counseling
What to Expect When Sending Your Child or Teen to Counseling
Therapy for children is the process in which a licensed mental health professional helps a child gain a higher...
';
Affordable Therapy
How to Find Affordable Therapy: 9 Ways to Get Low Cost Mental Health Services
One of the biggest obstacles for a person trying to get therapy is the availability of affordable mental health...
';
How to Find a Great Therapist for Your Teen
How to Find a Great Therapist for Your Teen
Therapy can help with issues commonly seen in adolescence, such as self-esteem, transitional stress, and mental health disorders. However,...
';
How to Find a Marriage Counselor
How to Find a Marriage Counselor: What to Consider & How to Get Started
Finding a couples counselor that you and your partner are comfortable with can feel difficult, but it's worth putting...
';
Does Marriage Counseling Work?
Does Marriage Counseling Work?
Marriage counseling or couples counseling can effectively improve communication, provide tools to resolve conflict, and strengthen a couples’ bond....
';
Headshot of Iris Waichler MSW, LCSW
Written by:

Iris Waichler

MSW, LCSW
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD
  • Signs of a Bad Therapist25 Signs
  • Signs of a Bad Couples TherapistSigns of a Bad Couples Therapist
  • What Should I Do If My Therapist Makes Me Feel Worse?What to Do
  • How to Leave Your TherapistHow to Leave
  • How to Find Your Next TherapistFind Your Next Therapist
  • Final ThoughtsConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • Signs of a Bad Therapist & How to Leave Them InfographicsInfographics
Call for immediate help
Emergency: 911
Suicide Hotline: 988
See more Crisis Hotlines
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • Careers
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • No Surprises Act
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
988
Click For More Crisis Hotlines
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
811
See more Crisis Hotlines
here
logo
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
Choosing Therapy Logo