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Ciara ★'s avatar

Ella, this is crazy! I can't believe you ended up having to play the role of a therapist to your own therapist!

It's challenging as it is taking the step to go to therapy, but then feeling stuck with a therapist who just isn't working for you is a nightmare. I've been there. I dragged out my time with my therapist for so long, it wasn't working out for me because she wasn't very good. I was too scared to basically break up with my therapist lol! I would think, what if I offend her or what if she says no you must continue... but then I realised - wait, she's literally being paid to speak to me, so I can end it if I want. So I did, and I was so relieved! Found a new therapist and it made all of the difference and it made me realise how toxic my previous one was!

Loved this piece, felt like texting a friend or reading a diary entry 💓

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Ella's avatar

I feel like that just shows so much strength of self to do that, I never dumped mine and I wanted to for soooo long! It's the fear of offending people! I'm glad it all worked out for you in the end, finding the right person is key 🩷

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Harriet Toole's avatar

Don't mind me over here, I'm just picking up my jaw from the FLOOR. I can't believe this!! After making the often very difficult decision to give therapy a go (which I too have recently done), it must have been so confusing to be put in this position. Especially because you did like her when she wasn't talking about herself!! I find myself apologising to my therapist for going on about myself so much, and she's like, "That is literally what you are here for" 😂. I'm so sorry this happened, but thank you for writing about it with such humour. I loved reading it and loved how you have clearly taken some sort of lesson from it all the same! Sending you all the best 💜

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Ella's avatar

Hahaha it was so conflicting! Also the people pleaser side of me didn't want to say anything about it to her so I'd just sit there like 😐 It makes me laugh now though! Thank you so much for reading Harriet! <3

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Harriet Toole's avatar

Ooooo yeh, us people pleasers will do that wont we 😂

Loved this piece! 💜

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Soph's avatar

I can't believe this actually happened?!?! 😭 I swear therapists are all meant to have their own therapists too so maybe she just thought you were hers??? So bizarre but anyway I loved this style of storytime!!

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Ella's avatar

Hahha I know, I had a therapist when I was a teenager and she refused to tell me anything about her other than her name so this was like the total other end of the spectrum 🤣 thank you Sophhhh!! <3

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Deavon's avatar

I can't lie and say that I didn't giggle because I did. Your therapist needing your advise is so bizarre. You probably should have charged her for your services. I absolutely loved this story!!

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Ella's avatar

Hahah I'm glad it made you giggle, it always makes me laugh to recall it! Thank you for reading Deavon 💙

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Michelle's avatar

God I love a story time with Ella! I want to laugh but, also, I'm so shocked??? Surely there's some sort of therapist and counsellor code that disallows this 😂

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Ella's avatar

Yeah I feel like there is?? Or maybe it's up to the individual and their style, I'm not sure. But it wasn't for me 😅 Got a substack out of it though so I can't complain!

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Izzy | The Sunday Reads's avatar

OMG this is insane but I loved this style of writing!

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Ella's avatar

Thank you Izzy!! 🩷

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Kendra Mase's avatar

Oh my how I loved this storytime post. It is so funny and oddly relatable even though I've never had a therapist that did this to me. I can just picture it so perfectly... "Uh, yeah, I wouldn't get rid of the cats." Maybe she needed someone to talk to too to back up whatever she was chatting with her friends about. But, not you unless she was going to give you one amazing tip afterwards lol

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Ella's avatar

Thank you Kendra!! I KNOW, I would have never chosen the boyfriend over the cats!

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Caroline Beuley's avatar

oh my gosh this is SUCH a horror story! I cannot imagine! Most therapists won't even tell you about themselves even if you ask!

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Ella's avatar

Right!! It totally took me by surprise 🤯

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