Have You Ghosted Your Therapist? Here’s Why It’s OK—and How to Come Back

Join us for a guest blog written by our friends at True Nature Wilderness Therapy

So... You Ghosted Your Therapist...

Maybe it was a slow fade—canceling a few sessions here and there until the silence stretched into weeks (or months). Or perhaps it was a hard stop—one week you were mid-breakthrough, the next, total radio silence.

Whatever your ghosting style, you're not alone. Ghosting your therapist happens more often than you might think. And here's the part I really want you to hear: it doesn't mean you're flaky, broken, or "bad at therapy." It means you're human.

Admittedly? I've done this myself. For all kinds of reasons. So let's talk about it—gently, with zero shame and a whole lot of curiosity.

Why Do People Ghost Their Therapist?

Therapy Got Too Real

You hit something raw. Maybe a session cracked open a part of you that felt scary or unfamiliar. Your nervous system kicked in and said, “Nope, not today.” That reaction makes sense. When things get too big or too close to the edge, pulling away can feel like the safest option.

You Felt Exposed

Ever had a vulnerability hangover? You shared something big and then later thought, “Wait… did I say too much?” That post-session spiral is real. It's normal to want to hide for a bit (or forever) when emotional work gets tender.

Life Got Busy & Capacity Shrunk

Deadlines, family stress, existential dread—life piles up. Sometimes therapy doesn't drop off the priority list because it doesn't matter, but because everything else feels urgent. When your bandwidth is low, even reaching out to book a session can feel like too much.

You Weren’t Sure It Was Working

Maybe you felt stuck, disconnected, or unsure if therapy was actually helping. Initiating a, “this isn’t working”, conversation can feel awkward—so ghosting might have felt easier in the moment than saying the hard thing and asking to try a new tack.

Shame Took the Wheel

Maybe you missed a session. Maybe you ghosted once, and then thought, “Now it's too late to come back.” Spoiler alert: it's never too late. Shame is sneaky, and it can convince us we've burned a bridge that's actually still standing wide open.

Can I Actually Come Back to Therapy After Ghosting?

Yes. 1000x yes.

Therapists (the good ones, anyway) aren't here to judge you. We've all had moments of avoidance, overwhelm, and regret around communication. We get it.

If you're thinking about returning to therapy after a break, here's what you can expect:

• We'll pick up where we left off—or we can start fresh if that feels better.

• We'll talk about why you stepped away (but only if you want to).

• We'll move forward together—with curiosity, not judgment. 

Here's the truth: most therapists are genuinely happy to see your name pop back up in their inbox or calendar. No guilt trips, no lectures. Just openness and care.

How to Reach Out After Ghosting Your Therapist

You don't need to write a novel or explain your entire life. A short, honest message is more than enough. Here are a few easy ways to say "I'm back":

• “Hey, I know it's been a while. I'd love to book a session again.”

• “Life got hectic and I dropped the ball, but I'm ready to come back.”

• “Can we reconnect? I've been thinking about starting again.”

That's it. Simple & to the point.

And if it just doesn’t feel right to return to the therapist you were working with? No problem. It’s a great idea to bring this feeling forward to a new therapist, somebody you can resonate with, someone you trust, and share. Why? Because for us as humans, loose ends tend to take up a lot of space —space best used for other things—like thriving, exploration, and joy!

Final Thoughts: You're Not a Bad Client

Ghosting your therapist doesn't mean you're a bad client. It means something got hard—too heavy, too vulnerable, too chaotic—and your response was to pause. That's allowed.

Therapy isn't about doing it perfectly. It's about coming back to yourself, again and again. And if you're feeling the nudge to return? Follow it. The door is still open—and chances are, your therapist is sitting on the other side, ready to welcome you back without missing a beat.

If you want to connect with your Kamloops counsellor again, know you are always welcome! Book in now!

Written by: True Nature Wilderness Therapy