A review on clients’ negative experiences in psychotherapy
Psychotherapy often brings people great relief and positive change. Yet research shows that alongside its benefits, negative experiences can also occur. These may include feelings of being misunderstood, worsening symptoms, boundary violations, or an ill-suited therapeutic approach. A new review article by Vybíral et al. highlights that such experiences are surprisingly common and diverse, but still insufficiently studied. The authors call for greater sensitivity from therapists and open dialogue with clients, as the “shadows of therapy” can significantly shape its outcomes.
