What if I don’t like something my therapist says?

It’s very important that you are able to present your concerns to your therapist. You should feel heard and respected in your therapy. You should be able to disagree with your therapist and talk about why. It is not your job to please your therapist or to be the best client they ever had, but you should feel that you and your therapist show mutual respect.

Often feelings of discomfort or dislike with something that’s been said in a session provides an avenue for you to effectively express your needs and discover that the therapist really is an objective listener in the process.

If you feel there is something the therapist does or says that doesn’t seem right to you, bring it up with them and tell them why you feel that way. Does their response explain it in a way that makes you feel more secure? Does it address your concern? Are there alternatives offered? Does the experience cause you to feel less anxious about expressing your concerns in the future?

Often, when one has been hurt or disappointed, you might be especially sensitive to what your therapist says or doesn’t say, does or doesn’t do. You might look for any indication that the therapist isn’t going to treat your secrets well. That might just be fear on your part. Your therapist is required to keep your secrets confidential. Of course, no therapist should violate your physical boundaries, ask to see you outside of therapy, insist that you take medication or disregard your sincere  requests for help.

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