When therapy causes harm 

I’ve just read the comment piece (Therapy Shouldn’t be a Dangerous Gamble) by Libby Purves in the Times on the need for greater counselling regulation, and I agree.

I’ve sat in front of excellent therapists, some mediocre ones, and a properly damaging one who shut me in a room and told me to think of my favourite colour after I disclosed past abuse to him. 

We all seek out therapy, looking for help and a safe space to explore our feelings. You can instead sometimes find yourself feeling let down by a counsellor or mental health professional, and you may have left feeling misunderstood or harmed by the process. 

This can feel like a violation and be very painful. Sometimes, this might be traumatising. It can make us feel powerless and can cause new psychological harm. 

It’s essential to trust your intuition. I’m sure most therapists are good people with good intentions. However, good therapists are human and may make mistakes. Bad therapists are possibly drawn to the sector for the wrong reasons, and some are bad at their job. If things sometimes don’t seem right – don’t assume it’s you who is wrong.

How to report and get support

If you are currently in therapy and are concerned about any aspect of what is happening. Or if you have had an experience that has concerned you.

You can: 

Contact TELL (Therapy Exploitation Link Line), which offers email support to people who have experienced harm in therapy. There are lots of helpful resources available to read through. 

You can also contact the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) to get help with counselling concerns. They can offer confidential guidance and information to help you. 

Please contact me if I can offer any support with previous professional harm.