Hmm. I don't have much experience with therapy because I'm 25 and only sought help 1.5 years ago, but I have gone through a few T's already.

Long story short, I pretty much ditch a T right away if we don't connect and if I'm not making any progress. I usually give them 4-5 sessions to "prove their worth" before I call it quits. This is because after 4-5 sessions, you've pretty much gotten a feel for their techniques and whether or not you have personality clashes, etc.. I mean, if you spend 4-5 sessions with them and you're not making progress AT ALL, then what's the point? Either your therapist isn't the right fit for you or you're not making the most of your time. Or maybe both. However, a *good* therapist will poke and prod so that you do make the most of your time. They'll make you open up so they can help you with your problems. They won't let you sit there and wallow in your own misery. But of course there is some effort to be made on your side too; it's not a one-way street. Though I think you get what I mean.

Anyhow, onto my T experiences...

My first T was a dolt. She didn't specialize in mood disorders, and when she found out that my pdoc said I was depressed, she said I wasn't. "He's wrong." lol wat. I was going to terminate with her, but she beat me to it. She left for another therapy office.

My previous T was really sh#tty too. He let me babble on all day about random sh#t (much akin to BeyondtheRainbow's first therapist) and didn't poke and prod AT ALL. But the worst part was that he blamed me for literally everything (including my mood swings) without offering any advice. Pretty much "it's all your fault; you're a horrible person". Or at least that's how I felt. He actually "specialized" in mood disorders, too. That's the sad part.

My current T i did a lot of research on before I stuck with her. I made sure she specialized in mood disorder stuff *and* ADHD *and* anxiety issues (cos I have all 3). She couldn't have been a more perfect fit. She also pokes and prods, which is what I like.

*phew*

All that said, it sounds like you and your therapist get along well, but maybe it's at the point where you need a different set of eyes? You did say that you feel you have to teach her, which I think is a sign that you need someone who specializes in what you want to get out of therapy. But it's not uncommon for people to have more than one T at a time. (I've never done this, but some people in the psychotherapy forum do this and it works for them... e.g., they have someone who does EMDR and they have another who does DBT.) I'm not saying I recommend or don't recommend having two T's, but I'm just putting that out there as an option in case you're considering terminating with her.