Dealing with “Therapy Doesn’t Work”

Curt and Katie chat how to engage with people who doubt the efficacy of therapy. We look at how to address general skeptics, mandated clients, hesitant prospective clients, and uncertain longer-standing clients. Spoiler alert: validation, understanding, and coming back to the relationship go far.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we explore how to talk with folks who don’t believe in therapy

In response to a Reddit thread asking how therapists can respond when someone says they don’t believe in therapy or that therapy doesn’t work.

How can therapists respond when someone says, “therapy doesn’t work?”

·      Therapy is not for everyone

·      Validating concerns

·      Work to understand their previous experiences in therapy

·      Acknowledge problematic elements in therapy

How do you approach clients who are mandated or forced into treatment?

·      Working with resistance

·      Going back to the relationship and shared goals

·      Meeting client where they are

What can therapists do when parents don’t believe in therapy for their kid?

·      Understanding fear or concerns

·      Joining and building rapport

·      Exploring their goals for their child

·      Seeking engagement and involvement

·      Don’t throw evidence-base at them

·      Explaining how therapy works for kids

·      Avoiding defensiveness on the part of the therapist

How can you explain therapy to a hesitant client considering therapy for the first time?

·      Validation of fears and concerns

·      Acknowledging challenges in coming into therapy

·      Identifying what would be most helpful to address in therapy

·      Trying to break through preconceived worries about it not working

·      Exploring how to find a good match

·      Describing what therapy can look like

·      Explain that therapy might not be the only answer (e.g., coaching, social work, meds, etc.)

The importance of being able to describe what therapy is like with you

·      Curt’s suggestion of having a casual conversation with a colleague to describe what your therapy look like

·      Know how to describe your approach to people who don’t know what therapy is

·      Not every client is best for you

·      Focusing on the relationship you will provide to the client

What are the options for talking with long term clients who are doubting therapy?

·      Use the concerns clinically

·      Validating concerns

·      Coming together related to expectations and goals

·      Acknowledging when therapy isn’t working

·      Reframing incremental progress

·      Therapists seeking consultation and supervision, so these conversations don’t feel painful

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/