Is it Okay to Shift Therapists?

The idea of shifting therapists is not one that many anticipate or hope for. Therapy is a deeply intimate professional relationship, and rebuilding those connections with another person takes time, effort, vulnerability and willingness. Since we may often look for consistency in our personal relationships, we may naturally hope for the same in therapy as well.

Yet, there come instances in our lives where the therapist or therapeutic space no longer serves our specific needs.

It is normal for people to slow down or shift gears after noticing that their journey of therapy with a professional has not been creating the desired space or growth that they were looking for. While this process can feel acceptable at a surface level, the idea of moving from one therapeutic relationship to another can often bring up uncertainty and anxiety. 

There are many reasons why someone chooses to look for other therapists. 

After working through a certain concern, it may feel less relevant, or newer concerns may emerge. Not all professionals are equally adept at helping us through each kind of struggle, and people may look for therapists who come equipped with the needed cultural understanding or training to sit with their experiences. Accessibility and logistics may also be a deciding factor for them.

There may also be serious power imbalances in a therapeutic relationship which cause you as a client to feel cornered or uncomfortable. If your therapist makes you feel coerced, dismissed, or invalidated, and if there is a general sense of unsafety in the space between you two, it may be wise to trust your instinct and consider other, more ethical therapeutic professionals. 

Whichever reason you may resonate with, your choice for a transition is valid and is not going to be held against you. 

However, it’s important to reflect on why you feel the urge to make a change. Sometimes, discomfort comes up as a natural part of diving deeper into the therapeutic process, and it might be worth exploring that discomfort with your therapist. Growth often happens beyond our comfort zone. Trust yourself but take a moment to reflect.

Therapists borrow from different theories and philosophies to address and treat the long-standing unhelpful patterns they observe in their clients. While the intention of therapy is similar among professionals, they may differ in how they approach many aspects: the concern, the client, and the therapy space itself. 

Therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and that is alright! No single approach can apply perfectly to all types of concerns and personalities. Different practices in therapy can make you feel differently. You may even resonate with the philosophies of certain practices, and wish to change therapists to develop a different perspective about your struggles. 

It’s only fair that you find the type of practice, philosophy and relationship that works for you!

We might feel concerned about whether we’ve hurt our therapist’s feelings. 

It might worry us to believe that if we change our minds in the future, our previous therapist will not welcome us into space again. 

Dealing with termination is part and parcel of a therapist’s job. Any therapist who creates a space of safety and non-judgement will strive to understand what has brought you to your decision. They get brownie points if they attempt to heal a rupture between you two, and if they help you identify your needs, pointing you in the direction of a professional who fits the bill.

Remember, even in changing therapists, there is a silver lining: you are undergoing a major transition in your life to better reach the goals you are setting for yourself: Pat yourself on the back for moving closer towards your goals and values!