What is a red flag in therapy?

A red flag in therapy is any pattern that consistently leaves you feeling unsafe, disrespected, or silenced. This might include interrupting you, making insensitive jokes, or repeatedly forgetting important details you have shared.

If a therapist ignores your goals and follows their own agenda instead, that is concerning. If you express discomfort and they become defensive or refuse to adjust, that matters. Boundary violations, such as excessive self disclosure, breaching confidentiality, or inappropriate contact outside appointments, are serious. You do not need to stay in therapy that feels harmful or stagnant.