Among the mental health professionals who provide counseling, some are excellent, some are not. Some are either uncaring or actually damaging. How sad for the individual who needs help when someone capable of therapy abuse is the counselor they are depending on. There are things you can take note of to protect yourself.
During the first office visit many can sense whether everything is as it should be. Those feelings that tell you something is off should always be trusted. If you continue to go to sessions, ignoring those warnings you may end up with additional problems.
Odd features can alert you to a bad situation. It may be that the methods used are very different from any you have heard of. Check the background of the therapist including checking with another therapist who can assess the situation. Someone else can provide an objective opinion of your treatment.
You should be able to sense some progress after three or four appointments. You can expect a prediction of how long treatment might take. Most psychological counseling is not extended longer than necessary.
If you feel too strong a dependency on a counselor, that is not good. If the therapeutic methods being applied are diametrically opposed to those reported by friends that is not good either. If you feel unable to question those methods, it is a sign that you are uncomfortable with the therapist.
Suggesting separating yourself from friends who do drugs or are alcoholics is a positive sign. However, if you are being dissuaded from mingling with friends and classmates at school, that is not. Separating from an abusive boyfriend is a good suggestion as well.
Such a counselor can put your life on the right track. There should not be any romantic interaction between a client and a psychologist. It is up to the professional to set boundaries and not allow the patient to cross them.
Of course a psychologist is only human and has problems of his own. He should not share personal information about himself with any client. The client should be the focus of the counseling.
Other signals may indicate that a therapist is not ethical. If you are offered therapy at a low price, it may be a warning that something is not right. A sliding scale fee is lower than the full fee, however, the professional should be adequately compensated. Watch for these and other signs of non-typical practices.
If your insurer is billed for sessions that did not take place, that is an illegal act known as insurance fraud. If you neglect to report it you could be considered as an accomplice. If you finance your therapy without using insurance, the counselor should not allow you to miss payments or be consistently late in paying.
Remember you are entitled to be treated respectfully. You are also entitled to question something that does not seem right. But, sometimes your insecurity makes it difficult to stand up to a therapist. If you doubts about the treatment you are receiving and cannot discuss it, simply move on to a new therapist.
During the first office visit many can sense whether everything is as it should be. Those feelings that tell you something is off should always be trusted. If you continue to go to sessions, ignoring those warnings you may end up with additional problems.
Odd features can alert you to a bad situation. It may be that the methods used are very different from any you have heard of. Check the background of the therapist including checking with another therapist who can assess the situation. Someone else can provide an objective opinion of your treatment.
You should be able to sense some progress after three or four appointments. You can expect a prediction of how long treatment might take. Most psychological counseling is not extended longer than necessary.
If you feel too strong a dependency on a counselor, that is not good. If the therapeutic methods being applied are diametrically opposed to those reported by friends that is not good either. If you feel unable to question those methods, it is a sign that you are uncomfortable with the therapist.
Suggesting separating yourself from friends who do drugs or are alcoholics is a positive sign. However, if you are being dissuaded from mingling with friends and classmates at school, that is not. Separating from an abusive boyfriend is a good suggestion as well.
Such a counselor can put your life on the right track. There should not be any romantic interaction between a client and a psychologist. It is up to the professional to set boundaries and not allow the patient to cross them.
Of course a psychologist is only human and has problems of his own. He should not share personal information about himself with any client. The client should be the focus of the counseling.
Other signals may indicate that a therapist is not ethical. If you are offered therapy at a low price, it may be a warning that something is not right. A sliding scale fee is lower than the full fee, however, the professional should be adequately compensated. Watch for these and other signs of non-typical practices.
If your insurer is billed for sessions that did not take place, that is an illegal act known as insurance fraud. If you neglect to report it you could be considered as an accomplice. If you finance your therapy without using insurance, the counselor should not allow you to miss payments or be consistently late in paying.
Remember you are entitled to be treated respectfully. You are also entitled to question something that does not seem right. But, sometimes your insecurity makes it difficult to stand up to a therapist. If you doubts about the treatment you are receiving and cannot discuss it, simply move on to a new therapist.
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