To think therapy-speak has ruined how people talk to each other?

[ThisLimeMoose]

“Holding space” doesn’t excuse being a passive-aggressive flake.

wtf is holding space?

Oh, I’m so tired of that phrase. I saw it used in an advert for yoga classes recently, and immediately decided that instructor was not the right one for me 😂

@LegoTherapy lucky you that you have avoided hearing ‘holding space’ it’s everywhere

Exactly! Half the time I feel like I need a decoder ring just to understand what people mean. “Holding space” seems to mean everything and nothing at once.

But 'holding space', whether or not you like it as an expression, or as a concept, is pretty much the opposite of being a 'passive-aggressive flake'.

I have no idea what it means. But I agree in general
There is a current thread about "setting boundaries ' another term that infuriates me and seems to mean a multitude of things that could have a much better and more precise explanation

I’m still no clearer. Im
autistic and don’t get out much to converse with others so I’ve not heard it and not read it on here until today.

What does it mean?

I get that. I just think it’s one of those phrases that gets co-opted and diluted. In theory, “holding space” is about being present and supportive but I’ve seen it used as a vague excuse for backing out, avoiding direct communication or not being accountable. Depends on the person of course but the language can blur things.

I think the whole idea of therapy - fine in itself, if properly done - has created a ‘talking medicine’ that frequently does more harm than good.

The jargon is just the observable problem. Most of the damage is caused to people who put themselves uncritically in the hands of therapists who are often charlatans. A good chat with trusted friends is better and free.

I've just had to Google it. Suffice to say all i can hear is Catherine Tates nan saying "What a load of old shit!".

Said a person with good mental health

It’s my good mental health, and experience, that helps me to know that lots of therapists are charlatans.

Yes. Therapy speak is gibberish. 🙄

Let's unpack that🤔

In my experience therapy speak is weaponised by the most toxic people you know to justify their refusal to behave like a normal human being.

The expression now just reminds me of that odd Ariana Grande interview for Wicked. Very cringe.

That's the first time I heard it! I am old and un-therapied.

That’s about the only context I wouldn’t mind it used in!

But it is true, there's a lot of shit therapists out there.....

Damn straight!
But a good chat with trusted friends isn't a replacement for a weekly session with a good therapist. Not even in the same ballpark

YANBU OP, as evidenced by thread after thread after thread on here of terms used out of context, hyperbole, pathologisation of normal human behaviours and traits, people who make mistakes are crucified, the list is endless

What does it mean?

Is it like holding a reservation - keeping a space in which to do something?

I've read every reply and still have no idea what Holding Space means. It reminds me of Touching Cloth though 😂😂😂

Before deconstructing your very authentic ask and formulating my own self-curated worldview to reflect back to you, I'd like to articulate that I think it's very engaged of you to have taken the affirmative stance of sharing with the wider group your lived experience of the non-directive vocabulary of the therapy paradigm, even if you've internalised some kind of counter-positive resonance from your real-world connection with it.

I can't make it much clearer than that.