Not Getting Better? 4 Signs You Might Need a Different Kind of Mental Health Support

Many people achieve meaningful progress in therapy or structured treatment programs. Others reach a point where symptoms stall or even worsen. According to data from the American Psychological Association, nearly 20 percent of individuals in therapy do not experience significant clinical improvement, even after multiple sessions. Feeling stuck is common, and it is not a reflection of effort or motivation. It is usually a signal that your current treatment style may not match your needs.

Here are four evidence informed signs that it may be time to explore a different kind of support.

1. Your symptoms are unchanged after several months

Therapists expect a period of stabilization before measurable progress occurs. However, clinical studies show that clients who do not see any symptom reduction by session six are statistically far less likely to improve without a change in approach. If your anxiety is still consuming your week or your mood remains flat despite showing up consistently, you may need a new modality or provider who specializes in your specific presentation.

What to try:
• Ask for a treatment plan review with clear, measurable goals.
• Seek a provider who offers evidence based modalities such as CBT, DBT informed therapy, or trauma focused care.
• Explore whether coaching can support your executive functioning and follow through.

2. You feel unheard or misunderstood during sessions

Therapeutic alliance is one of the strongest predictors of improvement across every modality. Research from the National Institute of Mental Health shows that clients who feel understood by their providers improve at nearly twice the rate of those who do not. If you leave sessions feeling dismissed, rushed, or uncertain about your therapist’s direction, the issue may not be you. It may be the fit.

What to try:
• Notice how you feel emotionally after each session.
• Bring up concerns directly. A good provider will welcome feedback.
• If things do not shift, seek a new clinician who aligns better with your communication style.

3. You graduated from IOP or PHP but feel lost without structure

Stepping down from a high structure program into regular outpatient care is one of the most vulnerable transition points in mental health recovery. Studies show that relapse and symptom resurgence often occur during this phase because clients lose daily accountability and therapeutic intensity. If you feel ungrounded, overwhelmed, or unsure how to maintain the gains you made, you likely need a different style of support rather than less support.

What to try:
• Add weekly or biweekly therapy to maintain momentum.
• Include ADHD and executive function coaching to rebuild routines.
• Create a written transition plan with specific goals, coping strategies, and crisis pathways.

4. Your life is improving on paper, but emotionally you feel stuck

This is a common pattern in high functioning adults. Work is stable. Relationships are fine. You are doing all the right things, yet internally you feel anxious, numb, or disconnected. Research on treatment resistant depression shows that this type of emotional stagnation is a sign that the current modality may not be targeting core issues such as trauma history, perfectionism, or self worth narratives.

What to try:
• Ask for deeper exploration, not just coping strategies.
• Consider a provider skilled in trauma informed care, identity work, or parts based therapy.
• Add coaching if executive functioning challenges are blocking follow through.

A Fresh Start Can Change Everything

A change in therapeutic style is not a setback. It is often the turning point. At Palm Atlantic Behavioral Health, we provide a streamlined second opinion experience that reviews your history, your current challenges, and what type of support will be most effective for you right now.

We offer virtual therapy for individuals, couples, and families, as well as ADHD and neurodivergent coaching. We are now in network with Aetna and United Healthcare (Optum), with Florida Blue and Cigna coming soon.

If you feel stuck, you deserve care that moves with you.
Book your session at www.palmatlanticbh.com.