There are several reasons that can prevent progress in therapy, including lack of trust in the professional, difficulties with change or the therapeutic approach. Generally, a therapeutic treatment will bring positive effects to the life of a person who is suffering for some psychological reason, however, there may be moments of stagnation in which you feel that you are not making progress in your recovery.
Over time, a patient goes through various situations that can positively or negatively influence their emotions, thoughts and behaviors. However, sometimes treatments may not work as expected. Given this, it is necessary to make some decision in this regard so that the person continues in a state of uncertainty. In this Psychology-Online article, we explain Why do I feel like I’m not making progress in therapy and what to do.
Why do I feel like I’m not making progress in therapy?
There are several reasons that can explain why a patient stops having positive results in a therapeutic treatment. In this section we explain why I feel like I am not making progress in therapy:
Lack of trust in the professional
First of all, it may happen that the person feels they cannot be helped or does not consider interventions of the treating professional. This may be due to a lack of confidence arising in the patient’s personal qualities that are transferred to the psychologist, resulting in a halt in progress.
On the other hand, knowledge of other approaches leads to trust being placed in other disciplines such as yoga, tarot, among others. As a side effect, the therapy is no longer relevant.
Difficulty to change
Doing therapy implies that the person is willing to change habits, thoughts, ways of being and behavioral patterns. Changing means leaving behind marks that have formed one’s personality and establishing new qualities.
However, although this may seem simple at first, making these changes is not at all a simple and Some people find it harder than others to take the step to change.
Therapeutic approach
Likewise, sometimes the professional’s style and orientation that it has influences the results that a patient aspires to have. For example, psychoanalytic therapy stands out for being a long-term approach that does not provide short-term solutions. This may go against a person’s expectations of having tools in a short period of time.
On the other hand, cognitive behavioral therapy is an approach involving a limited number of sessions in which specific objectives are addressed. However, situations from the past that are the basis of certain symptoms are not usually explored.
What to do when psychological therapy doesn’t work
There are some ideas that can be carried out if psychological therapy is not working adequately for the patient. Next, we will provide some tips:
- Talk to the therapist: It may be necessary to talk in depth about the reasons that prevent progress in the change process. In this sense, the act of speaking allows work criteria to be modified and conflicts to be addressed in a more useful way. If a change of professional is being considered, it may be an opportunity to evaluate whether this step is necessary.
- Change professional: There are therapists who have a style according to the needs and requirements of a patient. For this reason, thinking about changing professionals is a viable option that makes it possible to have another perspective on situations if you do not connect with your psychologist.
- Seek outside help: If psychological therapy does not work or you go to the psychologist and feel worse, it could be the right time to consider other types of approaches such as psychiatric medication. However, this idea should be discussed with the mental health professionals in charge.
When is it time to change therapists?
The need to change therapists can be driven by different causes. Here we will describe the most frequent ones:
- Lack of profesionalism: If the therapist does not show interest in the problems that a patient has and does not respect the personal point of view, it is a warning sign. No patient should feel uncomfortable in her therapeutic space. Other signs of lack of professionalism are lack of empathy, among others.
- Lack of specialization: When there are no longer conflict situations to be resolved at a given moment due to a lack of preparation of the professional that prevents coherent and effective help, it is important to resort to sincerity to complete the therapeutic process.
- Lack of progress: Progress may stop at a given point in therapy. As has been said, the reasons can be varied but the crucial thing is that they are an impediment to a patient’s improvement. Faced with this, the therapeutic bond can be damaged and represents an opportunity to change.
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How to know if therapy is working for me
Therapy can be a very useful tool to help people improve their emotional well-being and address the challenges they face in their life. However, it is common to wonder if the therapy is really working or not. Here are some signs that could indicate that the therapy is being effective:
- You are making progress on your goals: You feel like you are making positive changes in your life and getting closer to your therapeutic goals.
- You feel more comfortable talking about your emotions: You find it easier to talk about your feelings or personal experiences in therapy than in other contexts, you may be gaining confidence and opening new avenues of emotional communication.
- You are learning new skills: Your therapist has taught you new tools and skills or strategies for managing stress, anxiety, or other emotional problems that have helped you deal with difficult situations more effectively.
- You feel more motivated: You feel more motivated to work on your emotional well-being and feel like you are making progress in your life overall.
- You have a good relationship with your therapist: you feel comfortable and connected with your therapist.
First and foremost, it is important to remember that therapy is not a linear process, so it is completely normal for there to be ups and downs along the way. However, if you notice that you are moving towards your goals and that you are making significant progress, it is very likely that the therapy is being effective. If you have concerns, don’t hesitate to talk to your therapist about your concerns and how you can work together to address them.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Amézaga A., Ana Cristina, Dávila P., Yolanda, Vilches-Álvarez, Oriana. (2014). Difficult Moments in Psychotherapy: An opportunity for change. Argentine Journal of Psychological Clinic, 23 (2), 131-144.