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People Expose 49 Of The Worst Therapists That They Got Stuck With And Why They Quit On Them
Interview With Expert
It makes me really happy that mental health is no longer a taboo or simply dismissed as madness. Every day, more people are seeking out help, but finding the right therapist can be pretty challenging. After all, we are the most vulnerable with them, so they better be good, right?
Unfortunately, as in every field, even this one has unprofessional practitioners who cause a lot of damage. Honestly, it can be an absolute nightmare, and these people experienced it firsthand. Here’s a compilation of what made them stop seeing their therapist, and some reasons might just horrify you!
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#1
My dad mentioned my therapy was getting expensive. I asked how he knew bc I pay for it. She was charging both our cards every time I went in.
Reading Regurgitated Nonsence 1 day ago
That is a go to small claims court issue. Wow absolutely unethical.
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#2
Active listening. ONLY. No advice, no guidance, just “hmmm that must’ve been hard”
#3
Told my parents everything I told her without a valid reason. I sued her🥰
It’s a good thing that a lot of people are getting the help that they need. Studies show that more Americans with mental health needs have been getting talk therapy in recent years. In fact, it's the first time in decades that talk therapy has played a bigger role in mental health treatment than medications. However, looking at these stories, it can be truly traumatizing to get stuck with a bad therapist.
To better understand how this affects a patient's mental health, Bored Panda reached out to Eden Lobo, a counselor and psychology professor. Having seen her fair share of such unprofessionals, she has also witnessed the long-lasting impact they can have. She stressed that it can be incredibly disorienting and painful when a therapy experience goes south.
#4
had a chatgpt tab with my name open
#5
“If I had kids like you, I’d disown them.” I was 13, seeking help for depression
#6
The first appointment she literally used the ‘silent’ technique like 20 times and it made me super uncomfortable. Like this our first time meeting ASK ME QUESTIONS!!!!
Problematic Pangolin 1 day ago
I had a shrink pull that when I was a kid for 3 or 4 visits before my mother actually believed me. When she questioned him on it, he said, "I remind him of his father. That's why he doesn't want to talk>" I don't know where he got that from, especially since he never met my father.
“Sometimes, when a therapist lets clients down, their first instinct is often to turn that blame inward. People look at therapists as the ultimate authorities on mental health, so it is pretty easy to start gaslighting themselves. They might find themselves thinking that they are the problem, that they aren’t trying hard enough, or that their mind is simply too broken to be fixed,” our expert narrated.
She believes that this feeling of being “un-helpable” is one of the heaviest burdens a bad therapist can leave patients with. She added that this obviously affects people, and the day-to-day impact usually shows up as an overwhelming sense of dread. Prof. Lobo pointed out that instead of looking at the weekly session as a release, it becomes a source of anxiety.
#7
Said “nope! Uh-uh. We’re not doing that!” When I started crying
#8
I saw the reflection of her glasses and she was scrolling Zillow while not obviously not listening to me.
#9
Yawned in the middle of me speaking, apologized, and when I said “oh no worries, it’s late in the day” she said, “oh it’s not that, it’s just work is boring sometimes.” Another one told me the student therapist wouldn’t be joining my sessions anymore because, and I quote, “what you talked about in your last session was too triggering for her.” Okay, maybe so and I don’t blame her for stepping out, but there was no need to tell me that.
Prof. Lobo also shared how some therapists cause more damage by pushing patients to dig deep into the trauma, even when they are not ready. Well, this can entirely destabilize the whole session when people are not given the tools to cope with it. In fact, this can also flare up their symptoms of anxiety or depression even more than when they started.
"It helps to realize that there is a big difference between a therapist who just isn't your style and one who is genuinely harmful. An ineffective therapist might just be checked out, staring at the clock, or forgetting your history, which makes you feel unimportant. But a truly toxic therapist will actively judge you, cross ethical boundaries, or make you feel small," she commented.
#10
Mine cried because my trauma 'brought back memories' and I had to console them for around 30 minutes..
#11
My therapy sessions were online.. she wore glasses and I could see her shopping on Amazon by the reflection of her lenses during our sessions.
#12
she told me if I couldn’t come up with something worth talking about, don’t schedule an appointment.
Our expert claimed that therapy requires a massive leap of faith, and when that trust is broken, it can make the entire profession feel unsafe. She believes that the thought of starting over, retelling your story to a stranger, and risking getting burned again can feel completely exhausting.
"If you are dealing with the aftermath of a bad experience, it is entirely valid to feel protective of yourself and hesitant to try again. It is important to remember that the problem wasn't your capacity to heal; it was that you were handed a broken tool," Prof. Lobo noted.
#13
Gave away my weekly timeslot because I “no showed” one session (never so much as canceled before). Reason I no showed? Went into spontaneous labor and gave birth a few hours before scheduled session.
#14
after I kept telling her the breathing exercises were making my panic worse and I don't think that's the right approach she said "well then you're doing it wrong cause it works" ok byeee
Huddo's sister 11 hours ago
I've had two great and two not good psychologists. The not good ones were very much focussed on 'this is the way that works for everyone' whereas the great ones gave me plenty of options and said they don't all work for everyone, I could be flexible and see what suited me.
#15
I told HER that i don’t see myself as a mother, I don’t see myself give birth in the future, I simply don’t enjoy not even the thought of it and she took it personally and started to explain why it’s so beautiful to be a mother and that’s a thing we need to experience in this world! I never said it isn’t beautiful I said just that i don’t want it!
When we asked Prof. Lobo for advice on dealing with a bad therapist, she shared her precious thoughts. "Trust your gut and give yourself permission to leave such a practitioner immediately, especially if they are judgmental or unethical. If it's just a style mismatch and you feel safe, you can try speaking up, but walk away if they get defensive," she concluded.
Well, I don't know about you, but that was definitely eye-opening for me. Also, I am definitely glad that the netizens from this list dropped their therapists because some of them were truly unhinged. Have you ever experienced something similar? We would love to hear your stories, so feel free to jot them down in the comments below!
#16
When I was explaining my problems with alcohol & he asked my drink of choice & if I’d like to meet at the bar for a drink sometime :)
#17
i had my appointment literally half an hour after work so i had no time to go back home and have lunch, so i got some mc nuggets and i ate them there while i was waiting for her and she said "are you sure you wanna eat that? it's not really healthy", mind you i was there cause i stopped eating due to depression
#18
my therapist said to do exposure therapy on my misophonia.
Deborah 1 day ago
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#19
Stopped explaining things once I shared that I was an associate therapist. She’d say “oh but you know this already since you’re in the field” like wth GURL
#20
Double booked me and another client. It seems small but I was in the early stages of therapy and it took a lot for me to even get to the appointment. Built up emotions and anxiety. To be turned away because she couldn’t keep her schedule organized was a red flag for me. I cried on the way home because I really needed that appointment that day. I don’t hold it against her. We’re human. But I immediately looked for another therapist.
#21
Asked for the third session in a row what my sister does for a living. I’ve told my therapist six times that I lost my sister in 2021.
#22
She recommended Taylor Swift songs to me for the things i was going through. No offense but tf
#23
matched with me on a dating app
Problematic Pangolin 1 day ago (edited)
OMG! I had a woman that matched with me on a dating app because she thought I was her therapist. She told me this after our 3rd date and that she was disappointed that I wasn't. The crazy thing is she actually thought I was for the first couple of dates. I ran far and fast.
#25
Shot me down when I said I was excited to apply for law school. Anyway I start in August...
#26
Mine was a realtor on the side and kept trying to sell me a house.
#27
told me im psychic because i was seeing things and hearing things. then sent me youtube videos about how to use my abilities.
#29
Was barefoot the ENTIRE time and kept playing with his toes. Absolutely never again.
#30
Suffered a major loss in the family a week before I gave birth. Then went through postpartum depression. At the appointment all she kept saying was “wow that must be really hard” with no follow up or advice…
#31
Gave me homework at a time I was so anxious and depressed I couldn’t complete basic tasks, let alone homework
Huddo's sister 11 hours ago
One of mine did that too, so of course I was too anxious to go to my next appointment because I didn't do it. I didn't go back. I really hadn't connected with her style anyway. I don't know if it was because she was a new grad or what, but it put me off seeing anyone else for a long time too.
#32
Said, “ok victim” after I was crying and sharing my emotions that bothered me. Never went back and told her that made me so guarded
#33
Constantly forgot about our appointments and one time I told him a traumatizing story and he made this face throughout the session 😭 Like sir control your face.
#34
Asked me for an autograph from my aunt who was on Lego masters… I was in therapy because of her.
#35
She was in a McDonald’s drive through while having a virtual session with me. When they got her order wrong she claimed she was going to sue and asked me to be a witness
#37
“You cant do something most 2 year olds can do” I couldnt sleep in a bed alone due to severe panic attacks
#38
He said "it's extremely selfish of you to think everyone is thinking about you" Immediately cured thank you.
#40
All of my therapists have ended up telling me “I don’t know why you’re here, I don’t know how to help you”. It was always said because I’m highly aware of my feelings and actions and what I need to do to help myself. Problem is I rarely do what I need to do bc my feelings are so big. I always feel down.
#41
was 20 to 30 minutes late to every appointment but still billed for an hour
Reading Regurgitated Nonsence 1 day ago
Was the doctor late or the patient. If the doctor was late and the patient did not get the full hour then this is a legitimate complaint. If the patient was chronically late then they pay for the full hour regardless of when in that hour they arrive.
#42
Eating a bag of Cheetos on every call
#44
Mine told me how much she loved listening to Ben Shapiro. Bye.
#45
I vented about my job at the time (dancer at a club) and he showed up the following week…
#46
she said she goes home to talk to her husband about our therapy sessions
#47
One of my therapists was 79 and she kept falling asleep in session 😭 I hope she’s doing okay
#48
walked on a walking pad during virtual sessions
#49
wore only one outfit, always the same outfit, everytime. freaked me tf out
Reading Regurgitated Nonsence 1 day ago
Maybe that was just her Wednesday outfit and your appointment just happened to be on a Wednesday.
Huddo's sister 10 hours ago
Lots of people have a certain set of clothes for work, like a uniform but not one. It can help them to get in the correct mindset and also be able to take it off at the end of the day and not think about work (which I imagine is very important for therapists). It might not have been the exact same clothes, just multiples of the same items.
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What do you think ?
Deborah 1 day ago
There are plenty of good therapists out there. Sometimes it does take a while to find the right one. It took a bit of time, but I've been very lucky with the psychiatrist and therapist I see now.
Marnie 20 hours ago
Problem is that a lot of people seeking therapists don't have the wherewithal to evaluate if the therapist is good and/or to keep trying to find a good one, due to the very reason they are seeking therapy.
Load More Replies...
Ace 1 day ago
Reasons why therapy may not be for you, part 3. It astonishes me how many Americans seem to view some sort of generic "therapy" as a normal part of life, and how, it would appear, you don't need any sort of training or licence to become a 'therapist". How many of them are as useless as these ones included here, I wonder? .
Margaret Shannon 1 day ago
Americans are stereotyped for their optimism and can-do attitude. I wonder if we embrace therapy because we're so sure everything can be fixed? Or are other people just more discreet?
Load More Replies...
Tulenice 1 day ago
My former psychiatrist once stopped a session and asked whether I had ever practiced the occult. I said I had experimented with it as a teenager. She then told me I was cursed and should see an exorcist. She went on (shouting) to explain that God was angry with me, and that is why somatize. But that there was still time for salvation if I followed the right path. I left the appointment terrified, crying, and in the middle of a panic attack. A friend who had studied theology later reassured me that this was not normal and God still loves me. When I told my therapist, she was shocked and filed an official complaint against the psychiatrist for abusing her position of authority over a vulnerable patient.
David Paterson 7 hours ago
I only went to one (work outsourcing) therapist twice. Two different problems and got the exact same spiel from them on both occasions. I deduced that they only had a single simple speech that they told to every visitor.
Devin Schmitt 1 day ago
My wife & I were in marriage counseling, when the counselor said we should consider divorce. That was over 30 years ago; we're still married.
Cee Cee 1 day ago
Is there no oversight for these 'therapists'? Too many I think become therapists to try and heal themselves.
David Paterson 7 hours ago
Those who heal themselves are the good ones. The bad ones are only in it for the money and don't care two hoots if the client is cured or not.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 10 hours ago (edited)
What are the actual qualifications for therapists in different parts of the world? Here in Australia, psychiatrists are medical doctors who then do extra study to specialise and they can prescribe meds (the only reason I have seen one, to get initial scripts, which gp can then continue), psychologists (who most people see) have to do a bachelor of psychology and then a masters in a psychology specialisation, and then counsellors generally have done a diploma (or maybe bachelor) of psychology, but can't charge like actual psychologists can and are more community based (the only reason I might consider seeing them, but I prefer someone who knows more than just how to talk to people).
Deborah 1 day ago
There are plenty of good therapists out there. Sometimes it does take a while to find the right one. It took a bit of time, but I've been very lucky with the psychiatrist and therapist I see now.
Marnie 20 hours ago
Problem is that a lot of people seeking therapists don't have the wherewithal to evaluate if the therapist is good and/or to keep trying to find a good one, due to the very reason they are seeking therapy.
Load More Replies... Ace 1 day ago
Reasons why therapy may not be for you, part 3. It astonishes me how many Americans seem to view some sort of generic "therapy" as a normal part of life, and how, it would appear, you don't need any sort of training or licence to become a 'therapist". How many of them are as useless as these ones included here, I wonder? .
Margaret Shannon 1 day ago
Americans are stereotyped for their optimism and can-do attitude. I wonder if we embrace therapy because we're so sure everything can be fixed? Or are other people just more discreet?
Load More Replies... Tulenice 1 day ago
My former psychiatrist once stopped a session and asked whether I had ever practiced the occult. I said I had experimented with it as a teenager. She then told me I was cursed and should see an exorcist. She went on (shouting) to explain that God was angry with me, and that is why somatize. But that there was still time for salvation if I followed the right path. I left the appointment terrified, crying, and in the middle of a panic attack. A friend who had studied theology later reassured me that this was not normal and God still loves me. When I told my therapist, she was shocked and filed an official complaint against the psychiatrist for abusing her position of authority over a vulnerable patient.
David Paterson 7 hours ago
I only went to one (work outsourcing) therapist twice. Two different problems and got the exact same spiel from them on both occasions. I deduced that they only had a single simple speech that they told to every visitor.
Devin Schmitt 1 day ago
My wife & I were in marriage counseling, when the counselor said we should consider divorce. That was over 30 years ago; we're still married.
Cee Cee 1 day ago
Is there no oversight for these 'therapists'? Too many I think become therapists to try and heal themselves.
David Paterson 7 hours ago
Those who heal themselves are the good ones. The bad ones are only in it for the money and don't care two hoots if the client is cured or not.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 10 hours ago (edited)
What are the actual qualifications for therapists in different parts of the world? Here in Australia, psychiatrists are medical doctors who then do extra study to specialise and they can prescribe meds (the only reason I have seen one, to get initial scripts, which gp can then continue), psychologists (who most people see) have to do a bachelor of psychology and then a masters in a psychology specialisation, and then counsellors generally have done a diploma (or maybe bachelor) of psychology, but can't charge like actual psychologists can and are more community based (the only reason I might consider seeing them, but I prefer someone who knows more than just how to talk to people).
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