When Therapy Fails
Sometimes it just doesn’t work. Maybe it’s you, maybe it’s them, and at some point, the therapy process has failed both of you. Believe it or not, many of my training programs led the trainees to believe that when therapy failed it was always the patient at fault—their resistance, their lack of motivation, and so on. It's understandable how that misconception could arise, especially if a training program emphasizes certain perspectives, such as psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy. However, therapy isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, many factors can contribute to its success or failure. Sometimes, it's not just about the patient's resistance or lack of motivation; it could also involve mismatched therapist-patient dynamics, ineffective treatment approaches, or external factors affecting the patient's ability to engage in therapy.
It's crucial for therapists to adopt a more nuanced understanding of therapy outcomes and to recognize that both the therapist and the patient play important roles in the therapeutic process. This includes acknowledging the limitations of certain therapeutic modalities and being open to adapting approaches to better meet the needs of individual patients. Therapy is a collaborative effort, when it doesn't work, it's an opportunity for both the therapist and the patient to reflect, learn, and potentially try different strategies or interventions.
Therapy can fail people for various reasons, and it's essential to recognize that psychotherapy and counseling is not always effective for everyone. Some reasons why therapy might not be successful include:
Mismatch between therapist and client: Sometimes, despite a therapist's expertise, personality, or therapeutic approach, there may not be a good fit between the therapist and the client. This lack of rapport or connection can hinder the therapeutic process.
Unrealistic expectations: If a person expects therapy to provide quick fixes or solutions to complex problems, they may become discouraged if progress is slower than anticipated. Therapy often involves gradual changes and requires time and effort from both the client and the therapist.
Resistance or lack of engagement: For therapy to be effective, clients need to be willing to engage in the process, explore difficult emotions, and make changes in their thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. Resistance or reluctance to engage in therapy can impede progress.
Underlying issues or diagnoses: Sometimes, underlying mental health conditions, such as severe trauma, personality disorders, or substance abuse, can complicate the therapeutic process and require specialized treatment approaches or additional interventions.
Inadequate treatment approach: Not all therapeutic approaches are suitable for every individual or every issue. If the therapist's chosen approach does not address the client's specific needs, goals, or preferences, therapy may not be as effective as desired.
External factors: Life circumstances, such as ongoing stressors, relationship problems, financial difficulties, or health issues, can affect a person's ability to engage in therapy and implement therapeutic strategies effectively.
Lack of resources or support: Limited access to mental health services, financial constraints, or inadequate social support systems can hinder a person's ability to engage in therapy consistently or access appropriate resources for ongoing support.
Therapist competence: While most therapists are highly trained and skilled professionals, like any profession, there may be variations in the quality of therapy provided. In some cases, a therapist's lack of expertise, experience, or cultural competence may contribute to therapy being less effective.
It's important for individuals to communicate openly with their therapist about their concerns, goals, and preferences and to seek alternative approaches or providers if therapy is not meeting their needs. Additionally, therapists can also benefit from ongoing professional development and supervision to enhance their effectiveness in helping clients achieve positive outcomes.
About Holistic Psychotherapy & Wellness Manhattan
Kimberly Seelbrede, LCSW is a New York State licensed Psychotherapist, EMDR Practitioner and Couple Therapist with a private practice in New York City, Montana and virtually. As a wellness psychotherapist and holistic consultant, she has receive advanced, extensive training in Trauma Therapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Nutrition & Integrative Medicine For Mental Health. She is passionate about honoring the exquisite interplay of the mind-body connection. Kimberly Seelbrede specializes in anxiety & mood disorders, trauma and women’s mental health. She brings over 20 years of counseling, coaching, and healing experience to her holistic practice and transformational work.
In addition to online therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship struggles, Holistic Psychotherapy & Wellness offers a wide variety of online services to fit the needs of busy professionals. New Yorkers often lead fast-paced and complex lives, which makes work-life balance and managing career, family and social obligations a challenge. Psychotherapy and wellness practices provide the support to help clients cultivate resources, resilience and enhanced emotional health, as well as uncover conflicts and obstacles that may interfere with having the life they desire.