New therapist is working well for me but is fairly recently qualified, need reassurance

[jellytoastie]

I think I’m just looking for some reassurance here.

I’ve recently started seeing a new therapist as I’ve had some big things to deal with.

I’ve previously had long term therapy with someone who was great for me at the time but felt I needed something different at this point. I’ve also had a few bad experiences in the past of trying therapists that weren’t right. So I think I have an idea of what good and bad fit feel like for me.

I found my new therapist through the BACP directory. I spent a long time looking at profiles and kept coming back to his. I’m a few sessions in and I’ve been really happy with my choice so far. He seems a very good fit for me.

I was reading through his website and realised he did his therapy training from 2019 to 2023 (somewhere good / reputable) so he’s qualified quite recently, making him far less experienced than my old therapist who’d been practising for decades. I was a bit surprised as he comes across like someone with more experience.

I have trust issues and I think I’m just looking for reasons to distrust him or doubt myself, and I’m panicking that I’m somehow making a mistake by seeing a therapist who’s so comparatively new.

I can see all the ways he’s good, frankly better than some supposedly experienced therapists I’ve seen in the past. I think I’m worrying a bit that maybe he will be shocked by things more seasoned therapists are used to hearing. I know I should talk to him about it, and I will, but my next session isn’t for a few days and I’d appreciate some reassurance if anyone can help.

i think I just want to be told that it’s ok to stick with him if he feels right for me and I’m not taking some sort of stupid risk. Thank you.

Why not ask him? It would be a good way to explore some trust issues in a safe way.

Assuming he isn't in his 20s, he has probably got life experience behind him, his training is all up to date, he hasn't developed bad habits and he may well have been doing relevant work before he did his training.

If someone is a good therapist, then they are a good therapist. You get on well and you feel listened to and supported then I would stick with them. As pp said they may have a lot of life experience prior to their actual training. Don't self sabotage, and yes talk to them about it. A good therapist will be honest about their limitations but should also reassure you that they feel confident they can help.

If you like him, stick with it. Therapists get jaded and slip into non therapist moods really easily. He's likely to be working hard for you and taking supervision very seriously . When it starts to feel off or about him, reconsider. Sometimes when we don't like the therapist it's because the hard work is getting done.
Other times it's cause of their issues.

Thanks all. These replies are very much appreciated.

It can be really hard to find a therapist that you click with. Having a good therapeutic relationship would always trump experience for me. In fact, I'd probably even prefer it.

I understand your reservations but you only get 20 years experience doing your first year of experience. Everyone has to start somewhere.

If he feels like a good fit go with it. If it isn't working, change. Ultimately only you can make the call.

He will have had relevant work/life experience before training, and he trained for 4 years, doing a number of placements. He will also have his own therapist/mentor. People just don’t go into counselling from nowhere. They go into it because they have relevant experience and/or skills. His training is up to date and he’ll have learned the most current theories and approaches, so if he’s working for you, it will be because he’s a good therapist with relevant skills, and knowledge and practice in the latest models and theories, rather than relying on old fashioned, less effective, ones.

Thanks so much everyone, you’ve really helped me bat back that annoying paranoid part of me.

This was my thread but I’ve since changed my MN login so can’t post as the OP. I wanted to come back and update. Sticking with this therapist turned out to be a mistake - he suddenly told me he was working beyond his competence and needed to terminate with immediate effect. He handled it pretty badly. I’ve now found a much more experienced therapist.

My therapist wasn't even fully qualified when I started seeing him. He was a counsellor for a couple of years and was working on qualifying as a psychotherapist. He's the best I've ever worked with. Sometimes you click with someone and that's more important ime.

We had some problems early on which looking back were a mix of my stuff, his stuff and his inexperience but he has never stopped trying to learn and improve and I've literally watched him grow as a therapist. Every rupture has been a learning curve but he really does care a huge amount and it shows.

God knows our relationship has never been short of conflict but honestly it's been good for me too to resolve it in a healthy way with someone I genuinely know will not be driven off. He's been a strong advocate for me and the driving force for change in my life.

Don't be put off by inexperience. Might be you've struck gold if you give him a chance.

Please see the recent update I posted (I am the OP but have a different account now)

@sunnshine thats great that you updated thank you. I wasn't on the thread but just read it now.

I started therapy in the spring but found it so restrictive doing it at the same time each week plus had to miss weeks for work. I've stopped seeing that therapist and am looking to change to someone who offers CBT as I feel like I'm in a crisis mode at the moment.

I will bear this thread in mind.

Sorry to read your update op.
Good that he recognised his own limitations and didn't overreach himself.
But bad that he handled that poorly.

Hope you find what you need for the future.