After spending seven years in therapy, Iâve come to deeply appreciate the transformative power of the therapeutic process.
Therapy has helped me navigate challenges, understand myself better, and build healthier coping mechanisms.
However, along the way, Iâve also noticed certain dynamics that can either strengthen or weaken the therapist-client relationship.
This article is not about telling therapists how to do their job, but rather, sharing what has made a meaningful difference for me as a client.
My hope is that these insights provide a fresh perspective on how therapists can enhance their approach to build trust, foster collaboration, and create a more effective healing space.
1. Building Trust Takes Time
Therapy is a vulnerable experience, and trust doesnât happen instantly. As a client, it took me a while (Like 3 years đ ) to feel safe enough to share my fears and emotions openly.
The best therapists Iâve worked with understood that trust had to be earned through consistency, patience, and non-judgment.
Therapist Tip: Donât rush the process of trust-building. Small, consistent gesturesâlike remembering key details from past sessions, validating a clientâs feelings, or simply offering a safe, judgment-free spaceâcan go a long way in helping clients feel secure.
2. Active Listening is More Powerful Than Quick Solutions
One of the most impactful moments in therapy is feeling truly heard. Iâve had sessions where I barely needed a response, just having my therapist listen without interruption was enough.
On the other hand, being offered immediate solutions or interpretations too soon sometimes made me feel unheard, as if my emotions needed to be âfixedâ rather than understood.
Therapist Tip: Listen first. Before offering advice or tools, give space for clients to express themselves fully. Paraphrasing or reflecting back what they say can be incredibly validating. Sometimes, the act of being heard is more healing than any intervention.
3. The Best Therapy is Collaborative
Therapy has worked best for me when I felt like an active participant rather than a passive recipient.
When therapists involved me in decision-making, whether it was setting goals, choosing between approaches, or reflecting on what was working, it empowered me to take charge of my healing.
Therapist Tip: Frame therapy as a partnership. Invite clients to co-create their treatment plans, set their own goals, and provide feedback. A client who feels involved is more likely to stay engaged in the process.
4. Adaptability Makes a Difference
Not every technique works for every client. In my journey, Iâve had therapists who rigidly stuck to one approach, even when it didnât resonate with me.
The most effective therapists were those who were open to adjusting their methods based on my feedback and unique needs.
Therapist Tip: Be flexible in your approach. If a particular method or exercise isnât working for a client, be willing to try something different. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and adaptability shows that youâre attuned to your clientâs needs.
5. Small Wins Deserve Recognition
Therapy isnât always about big breakthroughs. Some of the most important progress I made was in small, everyday victories, managing anxiety in a difficult situation, setting a boundary, or simply showing up for a session during a tough week.
Recognizing these moments made a huge difference in my motivation to keep going.
Therapist Tip: Acknowledge your clientsâ progressâeven the small steps. Saying things like, âI see how much effort you put into this,â or âYou handled that situation differently than you would have beforeâ can help reinforce growth and encourage clients to keep going.
6. Authenticity Strengthens the Connection
Iâve worked with therapists who were incredibly polished and professional, but the ones I connected with most were those who felt real and human.
Small things like a therapist showing humor, admitting when they didnât have all the answers, or simply being genuine, helped me feel more comfortable opening up.
Therapist Tip: Donât be afraid to bring authenticity into the room. You donât have to reveal personal details, but being yourself rather than a âperfect professionalâ can help build a stronger and more relatable connection with your clients.
7. Therapy is a Long-Term Journey
Progress in therapy is rarely linear. There have been weeks when I felt great and weeks when I felt stuck. Some setbacks made me question whether I was making any progress at all.
The best therapists helped me understand that healing takes time and that setbacks arenât failures, theyâre part of the journey.
Therapist Tip: Help clients set realistic expectations for therapy. Normalize setbacks, encourage patience, and remind clients that change happens gradually. Sometimes, just hearing, âThis is normal, youâre still making progress,â can be a huge relief.
Bonus Tip: Protecting Your Passion, avoiding Burnout and Valuing Your Worth in a Changing Industry
Many therapists enter the field because they genuinely want to help people, but the reality of working in modern mental health care, especially under private equity-backed companies, can make that mission feel harder than ever.
Burnout is on the rise as therapists face increased caseloads, corporate-driven productivity demands, and diminishing autonomy over their practice.
At the same time, many therapists struggle with guilt around charging for their services, particularly in a system where access to care is already limited.
But hereâs the truth: You cannot pour from an empty cup.
How to Protect Your Passion and Your Profession
Set Boundaries with Employers & Clients â If you're working within a private equity-backed practice, be clear about what you can realistically manage. Push back on excessive caseloads that compromise care quality, and advocate for policies that support ethical patient care and therapist well-being.
Know Your Worth â Your education, training, and expertise have value. Whether you work for an organization or run your own practice, charging for your services is not unethicalâitâs necessary. If you undervalue your time and skills, you risk burnout and financial instability.
Diversify Income Streams â Many therapists find stability by building multiple income sourcesâoffering workshops, creating online courses, writing, consulting, or engaging in public speaking. This not only provides financial security but also helps you maintain autonomy over your career.
Find a Community â Private practice or corporate settings can feel isolating, but you are not alone in facing these challenges. Seek out peer support groups, therapist collectives, or professional organizations that can provide guidance, networking, and advocacy opportunities.
Prioritize Self-Care & Clinical Integrity â If you are being asked to prioritize profit over people, take a step back and reassess. Your well-being and your values matter. Protecting your mental health ensures you can continue providing quality care for the long term.
Therapists are essential to the well-being of individuals and communities.
You deserve to be compensated fairly, respected for your expertise, and supported in a way that allows you to continue doing what you love, without sacrificing your mental health or financial stability.
If private equity-backed systems are failing you, explore alternative models, independent practice, group therapy models, or partnerships with organizations that align with your values.
Your career should be sustainable, not just survivable.
Ebrima “Abraham” Sisay
Therapy has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life.
The insights Iâve gained along the way have not only helped me grow as a person, but theyâve also deepened my appreciation for the work that therapists do.
To all the therapists out there: Thank you for the work you do. Your patience, kindness, and dedication donât go unnoticed.
As a therapist, I found your perspective incredibly enlightening. The point you made about tissues really hit homeâwhat we intend as comfort can sometimes feel like an interruption in the client’s emotional process.
I’ll definitely be more mindful of allowing the session to flow naturally and let the client decide when they need a moment. Thank you for sharing such valuable insights from your journey!
Thank you for your kind words! I’m so glad that this resonated with you. It’s the small things that can make a big difference in therapy, and I’m thrilled to hear you’re considering this perspective in your practice. Keep up the amazing work!