Therapy can be a difficult experience. It requires a lot of trust and commitment from both the therapist and client.
It is important to understand what to expect in treatment before you begin. While the process will vary depending on your specific therapist’s orientation, there are some things that every client should know:.
1. Your therapist is there for you.
A good therapist will be mindful of your unique background, beliefs, and class identity. They will also listen to you without interrupting, criticizing, or judging, and they should be able to distill complex concepts into more understandable language.
It is common for therapists to feel some positive feelings toward their clients, but that is different from loving them like friends or romantic partners would. They will never say they love you, and you should never ask them about meeting for coffee or developing a relationship outside of therapy sessions.
If you and your therapist are not a good match, it's okay to leave therapy early. Just make sure to tell them why you are leaving so they can learn from the experience and improve their practice.
