What Do I Do If I Don’t Feel Like My Current Therapist Is the Right Fit?

Please know that it’s a normal experience to go through a few therapists to find the right fit for you, and don’t get discouraged. Finding the right therapist for you can be a process, and it’s okay to take your time to find the right match for you.

Just like any other professional relationship, the therapeutic relationship depends on a good fit between the therapist and the client. You need to feel comfortable and safe with your therapist in order to be able to open up and work through the challenges you’re facing in your life and the things you wish to process with them. Sometimes, finding the right therapist you can connect with takes a few tries.

It’s very important to remember that finding the right therapist doesn’t reflect you or your ability to navigate therapy. Therapists are trained to work with a variety of clients, but it’s possible the first or first few therapists you see simply may not be the right fit for you. It’s very important to remember that therapy is a collaboration, and it’s okay to communicate your needs and preferences to your therapist and let them know if there’s something you need from them that you’re not getting.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or express concerns during the initial consultation or first few sessions. This can help the therapist to know if you’re a good match for one another. Trusting your gut and paying attention to how you feel during and after each session is also very important.

Remember that therapy can be very valuable and transformative to your life. Additionally, when working with a therapist, there are bound to be uncomfortable things you’re speaking about, so there is a degree to which you want to push yourself out of your comfort zone. So long as you don’t feel red flags that seem potentially harmful, try to stick with your therapist for at least a handful of sessions to see how things pan out because sometimes pushing through discomfort is necessary. If you have truly given a therapist your best shot, however, and you simply aren’t meshing, it’s okay to accept that a therapist isn’t the right match for you and decide it’s time to find a different therapist.

Keep trying, and don’t give up hope – you will find the right therapist for you!