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Therapist Insights: Personal Reflections on the Therapy World
Thoughts From an Independent Therapist
elcome to Therapist Insights.
I’m Adrian. I spent over 14 years running a successful private online therapy practice, and I’ve worked with people from all sorts of backgrounds and life situations.
This page is where I share my personal reflections on the therapy world what I’ve learned, what worries me, and what I think people deserve to know when they’re looking for therapy or already working with a therapist.
A quick note before we go further:
These are my views, based on real experience. They’re not the final truth. Therapy is deeply personal, and what feels right for one person might feel wrong for another.
So take what helps.
Question what doesn’t.
And always trust your own judgment.
Red Flags in Therapy
Identify key warning signs that may indicate harmful therapist behaviors and keep yourself safe.
Healthy Boundaries
Understand the importance of boundaries to foster a safe therapeutic space.
Therapist Accountability
Gain insights into holding therapists accountable for your well-being and building self-respect.
The Problem with Therapist Titles and Jargon
One of the first things I like to be upfront about: therapy isn’t a science. It’s a human interaction.
Science is about evidence, control, and repeatable results. Therapy, on the other hand, is full of variables emotions, relationships, past trauma, personality, context. There’s no “formula” for healing. Therapy is influenced by theory, yes, but most approaches are based on personal experience, not provable data.
You can’t measure grief. You can’t put heartbreak in a test tube. You can’t scan someone’s brain and say “right, now we know how to fix their sadness.”
So if therapy has ever felt a bit vague or messy that’s because it is. And that’s okay. What matters most is that you feel seen, respected, and safe.
My Experience of Hostility in the Profession
When I started offering therapy online, it wasn’t common.
It definitely wasn’t welcomed.
I faced open hostility.
Some therapists ridiculed what I was doing.
Others dismissed it.
A few were outright abusive.
At the time, I wasn’t equipped to deal with that.
So I withdrew from online interactions because the harassment was relentless.
Now, of course, online therapy is widely accepted.
Even praised.
But back then, I saw something that stayed with me:
If you challenge the norm, the profession can turn on you.
That experience changed how I viewed the industry.
It felt like a curtain was pulled back.
And once you’ve seen behind the curtain, you start noticing more cracks.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth as I experienced it:
For some therapists, therapy isn’t really about helping people.
It’s about status.
Power.
Influence.
And building personal empires.
Behind the scenes, profit can sometimes speak louder than compassion.
Many organisations promote messages like:
- “You can trust our therapists.”
- “We maintain high professional standards.”
The suggestion is simple:
If someone is on the register, you’re safe.
But that isn’t always true.
Don’t Confuse Registration With Safety
A therapist being registered doesn’t automatically mean they are:
- ethical
- emotionally safe
- respectful
- self-aware
- suited to you
I’ve supported clients who came to me after deeply harmful experiences with therapists who were supposedly “highly qualified.”
Some were cold.
Some dismissive.
Some quietly damaging.
Blind trust isn’t protection. It’s a risk.
The Cost of Independence
This is one reason I’ve always chosen independence.
I don’t want to be part of large organisations that make promises they can’t guarantee.
I did try joining one that seemed promising last year.
But it didn’t feel right.
So I quietly let the membership lapse.
Was it old wounds talking?
Was it instinct?
Probably a bit of both.
But it also came down to knowing who I am and what matters to me in this work.
That said going it alone isn’t easy.
I ran a thriving private online practice for 14 years, often supporting clients overseas.
Then COVID hit, and that work dried up almost overnight.
Because so many new clients came through recommendations, I hadn’t kept my website fresh.
It was just a practical hub for forms and policies.
When I finally needed it to attract new clients, it was outdated and invisible online.
I couldn’t revive it.
Then came another reality check:
my qualifications were now considered outdated unless I re-did them at significant cost.
After weighing it all up, I stepped back from the profession and began exploring new ways of helping people.
This is one of them.
Final Thoughts: If You’re Looking for a Therapist…
So Why Am I Still Talking About Therapy?
Because I still care.
And I still believe therapy can be life-changing —
when it’s done with humanity, respect, and genuine care.
This page is my way of sharing what I’ve learned.
Not as a guru.
Not as someone with all the answers.
But as someone who has walked the path,
and seen both the good and the uncomfortable truths.
If this resonates, I invite you to explore more of what BetweenPaths offers.
Final Thoughts If You’re Looking for a Therapist
Here’s what I’d want you to hold onto:
- Trust is earned, not guaranteed by titles.
- Credentials don’t always equal competence.
- Your instincts matter.
- Questions are healthy.
- You don’t owe any therapist blind trust.
If any of this strikes a chord, you’re in the right place.
You’re not alone in wanting something real.
- 🧭 Trust is earned, not guaranteed by titles
- 🎓 Credentials don’t always mean competence
- 👂 Listen to your gut — it’s usually right
- ❓ Nothing wrong in asking questions
- 🛡️ You don’t owe any therapist blind trust
If any of this resonates with you, you’re in the right place. Stick around, read more, or get in touch.
You’re not alone in wanting something real.
Red Flags in Therapy
Spot warning signs that may suggest a therapist is unsafe or harmful.
Healthy Boundaries
Understand what good boundaries look like and why they protect you.
Therapist Accountability
Learn how to hold a therapist to a standard that keeps you respected and safe.
