A client has a right to be however they like in therapy as long as they don't disrespect or harm the therapist then basically they can go and complain. It depends on which type of therapist you see too, a cbt therapist will try to change your views on how you think about situations so you won't feel the need to complain, they will also set goals and plans of actions and want to hear how they are working out and if you don't follow those plans then you will likely be referred or terminated but other styles of therapy if a client wants to complain- telling them they are complaining is invalidating their feelings. We pay a therapist to have empathy and understanding, mostly likely most people complain because they need to talk about something and if a t tells them to stop complaining it is silencing them again, a friend or family member could do that. I would certainly have no qualms about getting a new therapist if they told me to stop whining and I would tell them the reason I am still whining is because you are not doing your job and helping me out of this stuck feeling I am in.

People who complain feel helpless and stuck and all they need is a kind ear most of the time and the belief in themselves that they can get through it. It is a therapists job to show the client there are options but not to tell them how to live their life or dish out advice and then scorn them for not taking it/ that is not therapy.

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