Trust Your Gut: Signs You Need a New Therapist for Bipolar Disorder
If you have had a disappointing experience in therapy, you might be tempted to ignore your concerns and keep just going to appointments. However, this is what you don’t want to do. You deserve to have a therapist for bipolar disorder who supports you.
The therapist-patient relationship is a special one. If you don’t have the right relationship with your therapist, you won’t make progress. After all, you may need to divulge your deepest thoughts and fears to your therapist. You need to trust them. You are allowed to “fire” your therapist if they are not the right one.
Red Flags: When Your Therapist Just Isn’t the Right Fit
So, how do you know if it’s time to find a new therapist for bipolar disorder? Here are seven red flags that tell you that it’s time to move on.
You're not comfortable opening up - This could mean that you don’t fully trust your therapist. Perhaps you worry about how they will perceive you.
They don’t understand bipolar disorder - They confuse mood swings with personality. Your describing psychosis, and they don’t seem to understand that it occurs with bipolar disorder. If your therapist doesn’t understand this condition, they shouldn’t be treating it. Period. It’s why you are there. Find a therapist for bipolar disorder.
You feel judged (i.e., therapist making snide comments, sighing, etc) If a therapist makes you feel judged through their body language or words, it’s a red flag. Another red flag is if they make subtle comments that shame your choices like, "Are you sure that was the smartest decision?
They are dismissive - If a therapist cuts you off mid-sentence or minimizes your experiences, it can hurt. When you talk to a therapist, you expect to feel validated and heard. That is what therapy is all about.
It feels like you are talking to a friend - Therapy should not be like talking to a friend. Your not there to simply talk about your week or complain about people at the office for 50 minutes. Therapy is work for the client, as well. It should feel uncomfortable at times. Your therapist should challenge you. They may give you homework, like setting boundaries with people in your life.
Feeling unchallenged, bored, passive, or disengaged - You are not emotionally engaged in therapy. You simply show up, and your therapist doesn’t challenge you. They simply let you talk for 50 minutes about absolutely nothing.
You are not meeting treatment goals - You’ve been showing up and doing everything right. But nothing is changing. If you're just passing time in therapy, it’s a sign that something is off.
You just don’t click - You feel like your therapist just doesn’t “get it.” The connection is just not there. Therapy only works if you have rapport with your therapist. After all, you talk about your deepest fears, and you may even cry in front of them. You have to be comfortable being vulnerable.
They are unprofessional (they frequently cancel, take calls during sessions, are late, or ignore confidentiality) - You are paying for therapy. You deserve to receive the professional service that you paid for.
If any of the above are true for you, you know what you have to do. Find a new therapist for bipolar disorder. If your current therapist is not the best fit, it is perfectly fine to break up with them. You are not obligated to stick around and continue with therapy that doesn’t serve you.
