Therapy might not work for everyone dealing with mental health woes. Here are 4 reasons why

Conversations around mental health are on the rise, and that’s a great sign! But there’s another thing to remember — most people consider therapy to be nothing short of a magic wand. But the fact is that the process to learn, unlearn and relearn takes some time, and one should be patient with the process. This is one of the biggest factors why therapy might not work for everyone. Of course, there are several other reasons that could be the cause.

Interested to know more? We have Preeta Ganguli, psychologist and mental health consultant, who is going to break this down for us.

Without further ado, let’s jump right in!

1. A mismatch between the therapist and client
When we meet someone, be it a friend or a potential partner, the first thing that strikes us is connection. Sometimes you click almost instantly, because your thoughts and beliefs are in tune with each other. During other occasions, you might try hard, but there’s something amiss. It may sound bizarre to some, but the same applies in the case of a therapist and client.

“The match between a therapist and a client is important. We generally go to a therapist who is recommended by someone, and it isn’t necessary that we are going to click with them instantly. Moreover, it isn’t necessary that they are the right person to support us in our journey. Your beliefs and methodologies must align; also, see how they align with your goals and needs. And it’s okay to change therapists even midway, if someone doesn’t work for you,” explains Ganguli.

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2. Having unrealistic expectations
As mentioned above, therapy is no magic pill. So, when you set goals, make sure you communicate it clearly, and also discuss with your therapist about where you are headed.

“The timing of it is also important. For instance, maybe I am not ready right now to work on something deep, maybe I need to work on smaller goals. The pace is definitely important. You don’t want to go super fast and shock the body or go too slow that you feel nothing is happening. Being mindful of what is working for you is also important,” says Ganguli.

3. Being irregular
Just like everything else, therapy requires consistency and dedication. When you decide to go on a weight loss plan, you need to work on it day after day to see a difference. Similarly, being conscious about making therapy a part of your weekly routine (or maybe twice a month) is going to help you in the long run.

“ If there are long gaps happening, it hampers the process. That dedication and commitment is very necessary, when it comes to therapy. If we can’t do that, the system won’t work as well, because the process gets interrupted,” explains Ganguli.

4. Resistance to therapy
It could also be that you are resistant to therapy. Of course, it could have been brought about by certain beliefs that we have, our idea of therapy, and how our progress is happening.

In all of this, it is important to be transparent with your therapist. If something comes up, you should be able to feel safe to share it with them,” concludes Ganguli.