Can Therapy Make My Problems Worse by Bringing Up Painful Memories or Trauma?

You need to have a therapist who is trauma-informed if you are going to therapy to process trauma. Processing trauma is something that needs to be done delicately and at the right pace for the patient. If it is rushed, it can be harmful, so therapists need to be careful and well trained. Rushing trauma work can be very harmful, and this is something not only for the therapist to be aware of, but also for you – the client – to keep in mind as well.

As a client, it can be easy to get frustrated and feel like you’re not making enough progress. Maybe you feel like you’re not doing “well enough,” maybe your therapist isn’t working hard enough for or with you, maybe you’re upset because therapy costs money and you want to see results, or maybe you just want to get better. It could be a combination of these or something unique to your situation. It is never a bad idea to think about these possibilities – it can be good to talk to your therapist about these concerns. Sit down and talk about how you feel you’re not making the progress you want. They may see more progress than you do and be able to reflect that, or they may be able to adjust your treatment approach. However, trying to push yourself to “get to the hard stuff fast” isn’t a healthy approach to therapy.