Therapy is meant to be supportive and healing, but not every client experience feels that way.

In this encore episode of Inside Social Work, I speak with Ben and Carrie, from the Very Bad Therapy podcast, about what happens when therapy goes wrong, why it matters to talk about it, and how we can do better.

Key Takeaways

• Bad therapy cannot be reduced to a checklist. It depends on the individual client experience

• Many clients internalise bad therapy and believe they are at fault

• Therapy can have side effects and sometimes people feel worse afterwards

• Mistakes will happen. Repair and humility matter more than perfection

• Asking about expectations is just as important as setting goals

• Therapists will feel defensive. The work is to notice it and respond with openness

• Deliberate practice builds skills by focusing on one area at a time

• Administrative details like fees, scheduling, and emails are part of the relationship and need care

This conversation is for therapists and anyone who has ever questioned whether therapy was helping. Ben and Carrie share lessons from hundreds of client stories that challenge us to rethink how we work, listen, and repair when things go wrong.

Resources:

• Very Bad Therapy podcast with Ben Feinman and Carrie Wiita
• Modern Therapist Survival Guide with Kurt and Katie
• Santio Counselling Centre in California
• Learn Psychotherapy podcast with Ben and Carrie
• Inside Social Work with Marie Vakakis

If this episode resonated with you please follow and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Sharing the episode helps more people join these honest conversations about mental health and relationships.

Got something you'd like to hear on the podcast?

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