There are therapists out there that will just give the most terrible advice. Goes to show you how important it is to find one that is unbiased, empathetic, and non-judgemental.
Ashiechh asked: What is the worst thing that a therapist has ever told you?
It always sucks when you have a therapist who truly does not understand you, and doesn’t even try to.
Not an appropriate response.​
When I told her I was suicidal, she said, "That is selfish. You're punishing your family."
God this is such a common thing people say to people considering suicide, and I really think they consider it to be a statement of value. I don't get it.
Well that’s weirdly sexist.​
michelle pfeiffer why dont you want kids GIF by mother!GiphyThat I was mentally ill because I didn't want children. Like that I had a totally separate, distinct mental illness from the MDD I was there for, because I didn't want or like children.
She spent a long time trying to "cure" me of it.
​At least she was a good fit for you!
My therapist made fun of me when I told her I thought I was schizophrenic. I was absolutely shocked. But then she explained what schizophrenia was and that she was pretty sure I didn't have it. Gotta say, it was in a period in which I thought I was going crazy. Surprisingly enough, her no-nonsense and direct approach was something that appealed to me. After 20 sessions all was well and she was right all along: I suffered from hypochrondiasis. It's when you think you're suffering from all kinds of things.
My therapist was absolutely the best fit for me.
Terrible advice.
I was sixteen, my parents had mental issues and I was suffering a lot. She told me that if I couldn't handle it I should quit my studies and left my home. I had to remind her that in our country you can't work if you are under eighteen, and what a terrible idea was stop studying. I left and never came back.
​When a therapist misguides a patient, it can end up being super traumatizing. And it’s sad how often this happens.
Not a good intro to therapy.​
Zzz Ok GIF by Jim GaffiganGiphyIt wasn't so much what he said, more just his demeanor and body language.
He yawned through most of the session and kept looking at the clock next to me every couple of minutes. He just gave off an air of absolute disinterest and boredom.
After resisting going to therapy for years and basically being urged to go by friends, having this as my first interaction with a therapist was a major letdown.
​I’m sorry, WHAT?
Me: Acne. Bad teeth. Puberty. Tons of Insecurities. Extreme shyness. Depression.
Therapist: I think the reason why you're 18 and don't have a girlfriend yet is because you're gay.
Dude.
This is horrifying.
A therapist encouraged the Attachment Therapy I was undergoing. I only recently was made aware that sh!t was f**ked up. I actually got that realization from an AskReddit post that was "What is the darkest internet Rabbit Hole you've gone down?"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_therapy <- if you want a dark internet Rabbit Hole.
For me, they called it "RAD Time" because "RAD" stood for Reactive Attachment Disorder. It still f*cks with me. I just thought it was a normal part of foster care.
I talked to my therapist about it and they told me that I "wasn't trying to get better" and "if you could just be good, and fun to be around, maybe someone would want to keep you." I recently learned that "Respectful, Responsible, Fun to be around" is pretty much the slogan for this pseudo-scientific abuse.
The PTSD still disrupts my life, but I am proud to say that in my adult life, not living under the choices of the overworked and well-meaning but misinformed turnover of social workers has changed my life for the better. I aged out of foster care. I have an organic support system now. And I am loved. I spread as much love and kindness as I can, every single f*cking day.
​Not having a good therapist can lead to some major trust issues, not just in life, but in mental health care in general.
Ok, this is incredibly illegal.
Nicksplat Therapy GIF by Hey ArnoldGiphyI have a lot of problems mainly trust issues so I went to therapy for it.
Had to change therapists like 4 times because apparently, they all believe patient confidentiality is a rule that they don't have to follow.
Finally found one that treated it like it was supposed to be treated or so I thought.
She came to a school play I was in and I didn't think anything of it until I saw her social media post going into detail about what I was in therapy for and some sappy bs about how she was glad I overcame it all, how did I find this social media post you may ask, why it was on the front page of the school website because she tagged the school in it and the school decided to put it on the front page of their website for everyone to see.
​This is messed up.
"I am not able to continue seeing you anymore because your mother thinks I am helping you too much."
She was my favorite therapist too and still to this day am upset at my dysfunctional mother for making me stop seeing her.
A therapist should be someone you trust. And to anyone who read this and is now concerned about finding a therapist they can trust, just know that most of the ones out there are professional, and truly care about their patients. For every bad apple, there are five good ones.
And if one is rubbing you the wrong way, there is no shame in leaving. You deserve the best.