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They're unreliable -

If your therapist frequently shows up late, reschedules, cancels, or forgets about appointments, you may want to consider seeing a different mental health provider.

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They're not listening or responding -

An obvious one, therapists need to listen and respond to what you're saying. If not, then they're not making enough effort to understand you and provide guidance.

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They're judgmental -

This is a big no-no that no one should experience. Judging clients is hurtful and hinders progress in therapy.

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They impose their beliefs and ideologies -

Therapists should respect your religious, spiritual, political, and social beliefs. That means not imposing their beliefs on you.

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Telling you what to do -

If you ask for advice, then it's totally fine for therapists to share their thoughts and opinions. But they shouldn't be ordering you around, as this defeats the purpose of therapy.

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They're breaking confidentiality -

A therapist is legally bound to protect your privacy. They should only share confidential information if it's necessary to save a life.

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They're not culturally sensitive -

If your therapist has made disparaging remarks about your sexual orientation, racial background, religion, or another aspect of your identity, then you shouldn't continue with them. And even if it wasn't about you, there's no need to continue if you felt uncomfortable.

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They try to encourage you to blame everyone for your issues -

A proper therapist does help you navigate your desire to blame, but the point of therapy isn't to blame. It's supposed to empower you to take responsibility and live a better life.

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They talk too much about themselves -

Talking a bit about themselves is fine, as it sometimes can build a strong therapeutic alliance. However, the vast majority of therapy time should be about you.

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They shame mental illness -

If you have a mental illness, your therapist shouldn’t treat it like something to be ashamed of.

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They rush on a diagnosis -

Not every problem needs a clinical label. And sometimes rushing to diagnose someone can result in a false diagnosis.

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They pressure you to talk about something you're not ready to yet -

Therapists can guide you, but they shouldn’t push on an issue if you tell them you don't want to talk about it. You get to decide where the session goes.

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They're too passive -

If a therapist hesitates to give you too much advice, or any at all, then they may not be proactive enough.

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They become overly defensive about feedback -

If you tell your therapist they made a mistake or that you didn't like their approach to an issue, then they should respond calmly and maturely.

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They check the time too much -

Once is fine, but more than that is just rude. You shouldn’t feel rushed to finish the session.

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They just don't get you -

Your therapist may be highly trained and qualified, and yet simply doesn't get you. This might be because you share different religious, racial, gender, or class backgrounds. Whatever the case, if they don't "get you," it's a problem.

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They're trying to be your friend -

Your therapist shouldn't ask you to hang out as friends or follow you on social media. This can interfere with being objective during therapy.

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They're inappropriate -

If your therapist has touched you inappropriately or sexually propositioned you, it's important to end all sessions immediately and report the therapist.

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There's too much background noise -

If there's a ton of background noise or simply a lack of privacy, then there's a risk other people will hear the session. This can violate your privacy.

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They leave you feeling worse after a session -

While it's occasionally normal to feel bad after a session, especially if you touched on a difficult subject, sometimes it could be because of the clinician themselves. This is a sign they're not a good fit for you.

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They ask you to repeat or remind them a lot of what you've said -

Asking for clarification or a quick reminder on a specific detail is normal. But not remembering why you’re seeking treatment should be a red flag!

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They're not giving you the time you paid for -

If you’re on time to your session, then you deserve the amount of minutes the therapist is charging you for.

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They take you as a client even if they don’t specialize in your issue -

You have the right to know what training and experience your therapist has. If they don’t specialize in what you're bringing to therapy, they should tell you.

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They're buried in notes -

Even when the session is done online, eye contact and body language are important, which research shows is essential for successful therapy.

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They're eating during the session -

Eating during a session is simply rude. Lunch breaks exist for a reason.

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They're pushing a therapeutic approach too much -

If you tell them about a childhood trauma, their first response shouldn't be, "This is what Freud would say about that."

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It doesn't feel "right" -

If you get an uneasy feeling about your sessions with this person, trust your gut. It may be time to reevaluate a particular therapist.

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Don't give up -

Don't worry—there are good therapists out there who will fit your needs and preferences.

Sources: (Verywell Mind) (Psych Central) (Self) (Talkspace)

See also: Everyday things you didn’t realize are harming your mental health

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