Logan Square Woman Finds Text Therapy Optimal for Ghosting Therapist

By Tanya Kornilovich

CHICAGO, IL - Jillian Smith has been going to therapy for years, but she's always been bothered by the fact that she’s required to actually show up on time, every week, because she gets charged either way.

Smith has been in therapy ever since her high school friend got mad after Smith borrowed a homecoming dress without asking, and spilled Prego sauce down the front. Over the years, various topics have been brought up in sessions, from her shoplifting habit, to her deliberately missing her grandmother’s funeral to get revenge on her dad for not buying her a Tesla. Going to therapy has never been easy for Smith, who says therapists constantly tell her to work on her herself.

“Honestly, it’s hard,” said Smith. “Whenever I want to dip out on some rando I’m dating, I have the wonderful option of blocking their number and deleting them on any and all social media platforms. And I love it, but I always wished I could do the same with therapists."

Smith heard about text therapy while listening to a true-crime podcast and was immediately intrigued.

“I’ve been searching for something like that for a while with my therapist. And finally, I’ve found it. With all those texting therapy apps, it’s hella easy to text away and then block them as soon as they say anything challenging.”

So far, Smith has gone through 4 different therapy platforms and approximately 34 therapists.

“I’m pretty sure the platforms encourage it. I don’t know think they care what I do as long as I pay money.”

In order to avoid late fees, Smith will cycle through her 13 different credit cards every so often as she racks up the number of therapists she's worked with.

"Smith’s propensity for utilizing multiple therapy apps is a clear extension of her dating app behavior," said Dr. Jacobson, one of Smith's therapists who has been ghosted. "I just wish we could have gotten to know each other better so I could know where it stems from."

“I love dating apps and I think it’s great to apply that mobile experience to therapy," says Smith. "At any given moment, I typically have active accounts on seven apps, and will usually delete at least one app a week. I may even start to use multiple therapists. I can talk to one about my kinship with stray cats, and maybe I can talk to another about how to assert myself more in convenience stores.”

This Friday night, Smith is planning on going out to The Owl and text her therapist about how much she dislikes her friends, only to block their number when they suggest she stop partying with them.