Standing Up For Your Mental Health

Ways to identify if your therapy session is toxic

For some, it is an understandable impulse to resort to requesting others to advocate for them. Of course, there are times when part of advocating for oneself involves reaching out to resources that can assist you. It takes a level of courage to speak up and perhaps make a report on something that wasn’t in your best interest. Even speaking out to get the information in the right hands is doing your part.

Support can be valuable in attaining a goal. Depending on others to support you and advocate for your needs is not sustainable in the long run. While we may need support to walk, or guidance to find the right path, the effort for our steps forward can only be our own.

Allyship is needed, but so are the skills to fight for what you need.

Defining professional support

A therapist is an ally with the role of working toward your best interests. A therapist provides support to stand in times where feet might be unsteady. In a healthy context, therapy involves a safe place to express yourself, and if it’s something you wish for, it can include feedback. This environment must be conducive in allowing you to feel free to express yourself in a safe way. Even therapy can become toxic.

Therapists are human too and make mistakes.

Recognize when therapist support becomes toxic

Toxic behaviors can impede progress, rather than advance your healing. Recognizing these signs is as significant helps you know when to react and how to advocate for yourself during sessions.

Gaslighting is when you are made to question your own thoughts and feelings. This is generally subtle, but in some cases, it can be confusing and demeaning.

Other tactics sometimes used in therapy are more obvious, such as directly demeaning speech. Your feelings regarding your experiences are valid and should be treated as such.

If a professional demeans an emotion, this can be defined as toxic.

When placed in this position, it’s not obvious what to do. Some might think to escape the situation and drop therapy entirely, while someone else might continue to face this behavior while internalizing their reactions.

Depending on the severity of the issue, clearly addressing it by explaining how you feel about it, and what your ideal needs are, can be the optimal start. Some situations can be worked through, which is what therapy is about.

Mental health care is delicate and necessary.

For example, you could say, “When you spoke to me in a way that I felt put me down, I no longer found myself able to confide in you. It would really benefit if there were more validation.”

In terms of a level of disrespect in therapy that cannot be excused in this manner, then finding a new solution to this toxic therapeutic relationship may be best. Sometimes you will need to report therapists to the state or in extreme cases legal action for harassment or endangerment may be needed.

If your therapist has crossed physical boundaries with you, always call the local police and report the incident.

When your efforts in defending your mental health care are not achievable on your own, by seeking help you are self-advocating.