Although it's not obvious to everyone, psychotherapy is one of the methods for treating mental disorders. In the case of cognitive-behavioral therapy, this is confirmed by numerous scientific studies. Unfortunately, it sometimes fails to produce the desired results. Here are some reasons why:
Inappropriate therapeutic relationship: This is considered one of the most important components of therapy, although not sufficient to guarantee success on its own. However, a good relationship with your therapist is fundamental to feeling safe and comfortable during sessions. This will make it easier for you to discuss your difficulties with your therapist.
Wrong approach: Each psychotherapeutic approach offers slightly different methods for addressing your issues. This determines the course of psychotherapy. Before choosing one, it's worth doing some research and familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of a given approach so you can make an informed choice.
Lack of motivation: Your commitment to the therapy process is crucial to its results. This involves attending sessions regularly and, together with your therapist, agreeing on what you're working on. It's also worth considering why you decided to start therapy. Was it because someone told you to, or because you wanted to change something in your life? It's obvious that in the former case, you may have more difficulty staying motivated in therapy.
Too much severity of symptoms: Sometimes, the severity of symptoms (e.g., depression) is so severe that therapy becomes difficult. In such cases, it's necessary to incorporate other treatment methods, such as pharmacotherapy. A visit to a psychiatrist is essential, as psychotherapists (unless they are medical doctors, like psychiatrists) do not prescribe medication.
Incompetent therapist: Unfortunately, Poland still lacks adequate regulations governing who can become a therapist. This can lead to a situation where, if you don't pay attention to their education, you might accidentally end up with someone who doesn't have the necessary skills. To avoid this, try to choose therapists through a certification process or
certified who have been checked by the appropriate societies for a given trend
(e.g. Polish Society for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy – PTTPB).
You did not do your own work: Here's a simple one: there are 168 hours in a week. If you devote just one of those hours to working on your problems, it's hard to expect spectacular results. Therefore, therapists encourage you to set aside some time between sessions to do things that might be helpful in your healing process.
Excessive expectations regarding therapy: Sometimes, when going to therapy, it might seem like the therapist will be able to quickly and easily offer you a ready-made solution that you can easily implement. Nothing could be further from the truth. Therapy is a lengthy process that requires a lot of work and effort on our part. It's also important to remember that progress in therapy isn't linear, and, naturally, there are often difficult moments. However, these can also provide us with valuable information and experiences.
Personal problems: Your life continues parallel to therapy. Some events are beyond your control. Illness, job loss, partner infidelity, financial problems, and other similar factors negatively impact the course of therapy. It's important to be honest with your therapist at these times and work together to find the best solution for your situation.
There are many other reasons why therapy is sometimes ineffective. Nevertheless, it's worth exploring the reasons with your therapist. As you've learned from this article, these are often issues that can be addressed—and that, after all, is the essence of psychotherapy.