As a society, we have come to recognize how valuable therapy is for improving quality of life. Much like you would perform maintenance on a car, or see a doctor for a physical injury, it is vital that we properly manage our mental health. But sometimes circumstances arise that stand in the way of a therapist providing the care you need, which may result in them dropping you as a client. If you find yourself in the position where your therapist has decided to terminate your care, or “fire” you, there are many things to keep in mind. First and foremost, you cannot lose hope. Here at the Center for Effective Treatment in Boulder, Colorado, we accept and care for all people and cases. There is always another option if things don’t work out with your current therapist. If you’re asking yourself: “My therapist fired me, now what?” read on for help finding your next course of action.
Going Through the Motions: Why Would My Therapist Fire Me?
Fixating on the thought loop of “My therapist fired me. Why would my therapist fire me?” can be very distressing. Let us offer you some peace of mind. There are many reasons why a therapist may choose to discontinue your sessions, sometimes it may not even involve you as a patient or it could be solely for your own well-being. Regardless of the case, there are always other resources available to get the help you need. Some of the reasons why a therapist might fire a client are as follows.
Ethical Considerations and Risk Assessment
There are many ethical reasons as to why your therapists might drop you as a client. Different therapists have different rules and specialties. If your therapist is unqualified or feels uncomfortable helping with your situation, they may choose to drop you and recommend a different specialist. Your therapist may also fire you if a personal relationship starts to form between you two. This can create a conflict of interest that would make it unethical to proceed with treatment. As we mentioned before, therapists have their own lives. In fact, many therapists have a therapist of their own. Sometimes they may choose to discontinue care if their personal life is impeding them from doing their job effectively or impairing their judgement. Therapists are trained to carefully evaluate the level of risk a patient may pose to themselves or others. If a therapist has reason to believe you may be a threat to yourself or someone else, they may terminate sessions and contact the authorities or recommend a higher level of care.
Therapeutic Fit and Progress
Another reason a therapist may choose to fire you is because they simply believe they’re not the right one for you. Your relationship with your therapist is just like any other relationship in your life, sometimes it’s just not the right fit, and that’s okay! If your therapist believes you’re not making progress, they may choose to discontinue sessions and refer you to someone else.
Administrative and Practical Reasons
Sometimes, a therapist will resort to therapy termination for practical reasons. For instance, if you or your therapist move states. Therapists are only licensed to practice in their home state, so if you move, they legally have to drop you.
Your therapist could also drop you for an administrative reason, such as failure to make payments.
Therapy Discontinuation or Termination Can Look Different for Everyone
Having your therapist discontinue your care, for whatever reason, can look different for everyone depending on the circumstances. Of course, your therapist may terminate sessions if your care is complete, but sometimes there are personal or practical reasons. If your therapist refers you to a different provider, it’s likely that they are just looking out for your best interests and believe you would benefit from someone who is better equipped to handle your situation. Unfortunately, not all therapists are adept had handling highly sensitive situations, like suicidal ideation or addiction, and may recommend a higher level of care in this case. Remember, if you are struggling with thoughts of suicide and your therapist is not comfortable with handling such subject matter, it is okay. There are countless therapists who specialize in major mental health crises. You are not a burden and there is help out there for you.
If you find yourself in the position where you, as a client, wish to terminate care with your therapist due to unethical or unprofessional conduct, do not be afraid to report them and end your care. Therapy is meant to be a safe space for you to grow and heal as an individual.
How Are We Different?
At Center For Effective Treatment in Boulder, Colorado, we accept and care for our people. If a therapist is not qualified to handle certain sensitive situations, like suicide or addiction, they may fire the patient, but at Center For Effective Treatment, we are trained to help in these circumstance when other therapeutic efforts appear fruitless. No matter where you are in the Colorado area, we provide online and in-person evaluations and offer proven various approaches including EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), DBT therapy (group and individual), constructive psychotherapy and more. We use these methods to address the root of why you are facing your current problem and why you may be responding to it the way that you are.
We Are Here to Help
If every day feels like a battle with your mental health and you have seen minimal progress with past therapists, reach out to Center for Effective Treatment. We specialize in managing highly sensitive mental health challenges. No matter what you’re facing, we will find the right approach for you and your specific needs. Schedule a consultation today and start your journey towards healing.