Venting My therapist is driving me to suicide.

[Anhaedra]

Hi. I posted a week ago about how my therapist wanted to convert me back to islam by setting an appointment with a sheikh (muslim priest). After some of the replies I decided not to go to that therapist again, and if she tried to contact me I'm gonna ghost her. Well, that was the plan anyways. She texted me yesterday via whatsapp that we're going to that sheikh the next day. I told her multiple times that I don't feel okay meeting with them but she insisted.

I thought I could just ignore her but no. She called my mother and told her that "we have an appointment tomorrow" but she didnt mention anything about my being an atheist thankfully as my parents doesn't even know, and if they know Im gonna be in a big trouble and our relationship would be ruined forever. So today I woke up on her calling, but I didnt answer. Then she sent me a text saying she is outside my fucking house??? I dont know why she is so obsessed with me, she makes so stressed out. I told my parents about this and they insisted that I meet up with her as "it would be rude to leave her waiting" So we took a taxi to mosque where we met that sheikh. I was so stressed out talking about this subject and I felt unsafe being in a place that considers me an infidel. The sheikh kept trying to convince me by reading verses from the Quran and explaining how they are miracles or some shit. When it was over I felt a bit of relief that I could now go home and never meet that sheikh again.

But right after we were about to leave he told us to come again next week and the therapist agreed. On the way back home I kept telling her that I dont want to meet with them again but she kept saying that I have to for my own good.

I've never been in such a bad mood in a long time, I feel like I want to kill myself. I just want to get rid of that therapist but she is just obsessed with me for some reason. So yeah im waiting to see what's going to happen next week. The next time ill stand my ground and just refuse even if she came to my house again. But that will be hard for me because Im a very shy person, and Its hard for me to say no to anyone.

 

[daley]

Wow. That's a tough situation.
Can't you tell your parents you want a different therapist?

I don't understand your culture and the ramifications of not going along with your therapist. In the worst case, you could just go along and start agreeing with whatever they are saying.
I hope you do find the strength to stand up for yourself, but I do not understand the situation you are in and the implications.

 

[PI3.14]

Oh dear. I'm an ex-Muslim, so I understand the pain. Fuck this therapist and her shitty attitude. She should leave you alone if she really cares. That's why I hate therapy in the middle east, it's impossible for them not to bring religion into the session.

Next time don't go. Call her and tell her that you're done with her and that you're now looking for a new therapist.

If she really has any self respect, she won't insist that you continue with her.

 

[ceilng_tile]

What kind of degree does she have and who controls the licensing for that degree in your state/country? If you're in the US, this would be considered a serious breach of professional boundaries (not to mention harassment and stalking). You should contact that licensing board.

 

[Anhaedra]

What kind of degree does she have and who controls the licensing for that degree in your state/country? If you're in the US, this would be considered a serious breach of professional boundaries (not to mention harassment and stalking). You should contact that licensing board.

Unfortunately Im in Egypt where there is no such thing as boundaries

 

[Whale_bones]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. The therapist is taking advantage of her position to force her beliefs on you, instead of doing the #1 thing a therapist is supposed to do, that being to look out for your best interests!

It's difficult because Egypt lacks many protections about religious choice that I'm used to knowing about in the U.S. One thing I thought of is getting another therapist, someone that believes in religious choice and is supportive of you being an atheist, because that therapist would have the social position and power to contact the old one and say " @Anhaedra has moved her care to me, and we're continuing with therapy, there's no need for you to contact her any more" (the new therapist could even cover for you and claim you're getting back into Islam, if necessary).

However, I don't know how realistic the idea of finding a secular therapist (or atleast one that supports you being atheist) is. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights looks like a great foundation, maybe try contacting them and asking if they have a list of secular therapists or other resources like that?

 

[sorrymyfault]

I'm sorry for what you went through, religion is a big part pf suffering in this world and I'm one of the victims so I can confidently say that, I hope you find a better therapist that actually takes their job seriously and cares about their patients
I'm sorry for what you went through, religion is a big part pf suffering in this world and I'm one of the victims so I can confidently say that, I hope you find a better therapist that actually takes their job seriously and cares about their patients

 

[SVEN]

I'm so sorry you are enduring this.

 

[Life'sA6itch]

That's another reason I bottle my shite up and talk to no one. People start preaching about their religion as if it will cure my severe depression, allergies, etc. What she is doing is beyond unethical. You can be truthful and tell your parents she is making you very uncomfortable or you can choose to act like all is suddenly well to your parents to be able to get this horrible, unprofessional person out of your life. She would probably be arrested if she was doing this in the US and lose her license. I wish you good luck.

 

[Shrooms]

Good luck, my 5 second advice. You have access to the internet as of now so figure out what you can and can't do to get her away from you. Then take action, I hope for your safety.

 

[lionetta12]

Hi. I posted a week ago about how my therapist wanted to convert me back to islam by setting an appointment with a sheikh (muslim priest). After some of the replies I decided not to go to that therapist again, and if she tried to contact me I'm gonna ghost her. Well, that was the plan anyways. She texted me yesterday via whatsapp that we're going to that sheikh the next day. I told her multiple times that I don't feel okay meeting with them but she insisted.

I thought I could just ignore her but no. She called my mother and told her that "we have an appointment tomorrow" but she didnt mention anything about my being an atheist thankfully as my parents doesn't even know, and if they know Im gonna be in a big trouble and our relationship would be ruined forever. So today I woke up on her calling, but I didnt answer. Then she sent me a text saying she is outside my fucking house??? I dont know why she is so obsessed with me, she makes so stressed out. I told my parents about this and they insisted that I meet up with her as "it would be rude to leave her waiting" So we took a taxi to mosque where we met that sheikh. I was so stressed out talking about this subject and I felt unsafe being in a place that considers me an infidel. The sheikh kept trying to convince me by reading verses from the Quran and explaining how they are miracles or some shit. When it was over I felt a bit of relief that I could now go home and never meet that sheikh again.

But right after we were about to leave he told us to come again next week and the therapist agreed. On the way back home I kept telling her that I dont want to meet with them again but she kept saying that I have to for my own good.

I've never been in such a bad mood in a long time, I feel like I want to kill myself. I just want to get rid of that therapist but she is just obsessed with me for some reason. So yeah im waiting to see what's going to happen next week. The next time ill stand my ground and just refuse even if she came to my house again. But that will be hard for me because Im a very shy person, and Its hard for me to say no to anyone.

The country (Egypt) and culture you're from does add to the complexity of the situation. Can I ask if you're a male or a female? I think in Islam when you go into the Mosque, men and women have to be in seperate rooms/areas if I remember right. If you are a guy, you can maybe shake her off or lose her by staying in the male area and telling her thank you, but she can leave now because you will stay there for quite a while or something as an excuse to make her maybe go away and that you want to go in this "religious journey alone 1 on 1 with the Sheikh". If you're a female or are viewed as a female by people around you there, I guess that wouldn't work well. Maybe you could report her to someone? Or tell your parents that she's overstepping her boundaries, getting really close to you in a inappropiate way and that you are very uncomfortable with this. I understand that your parents don't want to come accross as rude or disrespectful to her, but if you're able to share a little more with them and explain that she's doing things to you that is not ok and that she stalks you, they might defend you and tell her to leave you alone. Whenever someone stalked me in this way, I personally took the devices of all my family members and blocked my stalker on all of them to make them be unable to harass and contact my family, because they'd do that to reach me when I blocked them on my own devices.

 

[cali22♡]

Hello,

I know this too well
My parents also took me to a sheikh back then and were firmly convinced that there was a devil inside me. He did some things and asked me to drink some water, which I refused because I was firmly convinced that there was no devil inside me.
Maybe you can get your parents to take you to another therapist because I think what is in the title is really irresponsible
If he knows that you are so bad...
Maybe he's the one who should be in therapy


Please take care of yourself
<3

 

[Jack_Nimble]

Considering how persistent this therapist is and making him/herself's presence known in front of your family with those added complications and consequences if they find out you're an atheist. I'm not saying this would be easy. I hate hate HATE to tell a lie myself. But if this therapist continues to persist which threatens your relationship with your parents and possibly being kicked out, possibly homeless..... Maybe soon may be the time to consider lying to your therapist and falsely professing your faith in Islam. I'm sure you know the words/phrases that would be best as I'm unfamiliar with your culture/religion but along the lines of "Okay yes, I do believe and now practice Islam as my faith. I know God is real and Islam is true and I choose to follow this religion because I do want to feel better and please God."

I don't know. I really don't know. But maybe th faith component is her only reason for their obsession with you. Maybe if you can convince your therapist you've returned to the faith and for long and noigh then maybe it'll be not so hard to later ditch the therapist. Because then MAYBE this therapist will be able to let go of you as they will know (in their perspective) that God is taking care of/ looking out for you.