What does “ghosting your therapist mean”? “Ghosting” has become a common occurrence in many aspects of life. It is when is you break off a relationship by ceasing all communication and contact without any apparent warning. What started off as “ghosting” a potential suitor on a dating app or a date from last weekend, now applies to friendships, work relationships and even…therapy? This is a thing – and it has been happening in therapy offices all over the country.
What are the Reasons for Ghosting Your Therapist?
“Ghosting” therapy is when someone (you, the client) sets an initial appointment with a therapist, goes to the intake session and then doesn’t schedule a follow up or contact the therapist again – even when the therapist reaches out. This could happen for many reasons. Perhaps you did not feel a connection, maybe it wasn’t as easy to talk about feelings as you thought, maybe you don’t think you need it anymore, maybe you did not like the way the room was set up or the “energy” of the space, maybe the therapist reminded you of someone or maybe it just didn’t feel right.
These are all valid and are all perfectly good reasons to not want to come back. But guess what – the therapist will be there IF you should ever need support in the future.
The Big Picture
As therapists we don’t take things personal. It is not about us. It is not our job to make you or force you or guilt you into doing anything. Our job is to create a safe space for you to feel like you can share, process and receive feedback and support IF/WHEN you are ready to do so. As therapists, we will always be available, whether you ghost us or not.
We get it. And if it was us, if you didn’t feel a connection or you didn’t like our style or you didn’t feel like we understand you – let us help you find someone who does. We know people. We have the resources to find you the right fit. At the end of the day we know what it’s like to want to feel connection, to want to feel like our experiences are seen and our thoughts and feelings are heard – and we want you to have that. Let us help.