Bad Therapy: 5 Signs you Might Be Getting BAD Trauma Therapy in Atlanta

Bad therapist? Is that really a thing? Yes, it is true there are good and bad therapists out there. If you have just started with a new therapist and there are things that have you wondering about the quality of therapy you are getting. Here are some tips for spotting bad therapy.   

My trauma therapist doesn’t have time to see me more than twice a month

One study conducted by a university counseling center over the course of 17 years found that clients who attended weekly sessions had a steeper recovery curve, meaning they got better faster. Another study found that a lower frequency of sessions per week leads to less favorable outcomes. A therapist who doesn’t have the time to see you weekly is not providing you with the level of treatment that will lead to lasting change. 

A therapist who is so overwhelmed and busy they don’t have regular time to meet with you can lead to feelings of not being supported enough or that you not making progress. Sessions that are spaced too far apart can leave you feeling as though you are starting over with each session making it difficult to create change. 

It’s important that sessions are optimally spaced in order for enough time to pass so that you can successfully integrate what you are learning in session, but not too much time that slows your progress. As a trauma therapist, I see clients weekly to ensure they are being supported throughout their healing and making progress toward change.   

The trauma therapist tells you what to do.

When it comes to trauma therapy, it's important for clients to feel empowered to make their own decisions. Trauma is often forced upon us which leads to feeling powerless and out of control. A part of healing the trauma means tuning into your body, finding a voice, and trusting yourself to be able to make decisions on your own. It might be difficult for you to learn this in the beginning particularly if you have been silenced by others in your life. 

Each client who goes through therapy with me is given options and allowed to choose what will work best for them based on their needs and unique situation. Clients are supported in the exploration process of how choices -both their own and the choices of others - feel in their bodies and then encouraged to choose the option that works for them individually. Learning how to do this is how you will continue to maintain the changes you are making once you have graduated therapy.

The entire session is spent listening to the trauma therapist.  

Picture it. You go in for what you think is your therapy session and you have things you want to talk about during the session. Instead, the entire time is spent listening to the therapist talk. If you are new to therapy, you might think this is how therapy is supposed to be. But if you find yourself listening to what feels like a 45-minute monologue, consider asking yourself if this is helping you progress toward the change that brought you to therapy.  

In my sessions, clients have the time and space for their nervous system to learn to relax allowing the client to learn how to identify when they feel triggered. Learning to recognize when your past trauma is triggering your emotional and physiological response can help you begin to change your response in the current moment. 

You feel blamed for the trauma by the trauma therapist

Clients need to feel their therapist believes their story and that what happened to them is not their fault. The truth is, that trauma survivors usually have very little choice in what happened. Abuse for example, often includes manipulation, force, coercion, and threats perpetrated by someone in a role that is supposed to be trustworthy. The brain and body are often confused when the abusive tactics of the perpetrator don’t align with being a trustworthy person. We must then find ways to survive the abusive behaviors that may not make sense to those in non-abusive relationships. 

In my sessions, clients are heard and allowed to speak freely about their perspective of what happened. I am not here to blame you for any part of your story. I am here to help you honor the things you had to do in order to survive what you went through. I am here to guide you through learning how to allow your mind and body to relax so that you can respond differently when your trauma gets triggered. 

You feel judged by the trauma therapist

Clients need to be able to go into the session feeling safe to freely share and know that whatever they share is okay. You should not have to worry about being judged and shamed by your therapist. In my sessions, clients are allowed to openly share thoughts and feelings about what happened. I am here to help you unravel the feelings of shame surrounding your trauma story. Anything you need to express about your trauma, no matter how it might look to others, is okay.  

Therapy can feel unpleasant at times as you move through some difficult aspects of your life. But my role is to help you understand and manage your emotions and the challenges surrounding your mental health. If you have had an experience similar to any of these, don’t worry. There are good therapists out there too. Watch for part II in this series for tips on how to spot a good therapist.

If you are looking for a therapist who can help you calm your anxiety and trauma, reach out. You can contact me here or call (678) 744-5369 to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. I also work with those struggling with the effects of a painful childhood, toxic relationships, depression, and anxiety.