What to do when therapy doesn’t work?

Therapy can be such a helpful process for so many people, but sometimes it does not work.  It can be easy when that happens to question why that is the case.  When therapy is not working, one important thing is that not every counselor is suited for every person.  Each person has their own set of qualities, values, comfortabilities, etc., so naturally, every person will not match every counselor.  Also, every counselor has their own sets of qualities and expertise that are not suited for every client.  This is nothing against each counselor but just a natural part of the process.  A professional counselor should be able to understand when they are not a good match for a client. 

Counselors are typically trained and educated in many different techniques in therapy.  Not one technique works for every person, so it can be helpful when therapy is not working to approach changing the technique the counselor is using. You could ask the counselor if they have another mode of therapy that they think would be helpful, and it will be important, to be honest with them about what is not working with the method they are using that you are not finding helpful.  You can also do your own research to see if a specific method you think would be more helpful for you. 

When therapy is not working, something else to consider is where the motivation for therapy and the belief behind therapy lie for you.  Sometimes therapy does not work because it is simply not the right time for someone.  It is okay if that is the case, but of course, it is important to know yourself so that you are not trying to make something work that you do not believe in.  Also, consider how consistent you have been with therapy and realize it will only be effective if it is consistent. Consistency is also important regarding reflecting on therapy outside of therapy. Many counselors will give homework for this reason because it will only be effective if you are working on things outside of the therapy sessions.