What is the obsession with therapy/counselling?

[iamfedupwiththis]

Ok please tell me what is the bloody obsession on this site with therapy or counselling??

Nearly every thread I read there are people suggesting therapy for the most simple of things

Can no one make any decisions alone any more?

Can no make changes to improve their life with it?

Can no one pick up a hobby or do something for themselves without?

I don't get it?

I don't get what talking about it for years on end changes the situation.

In fairness, I only ever see people recommending therapy in situations that may warrant it on here.

Im not too fussed about therapy culture per se, I just wish more people understood how many different types of therapy there are, that not all therapists are good and can even be damaging in the wrong situations. I read a book called Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier that was a really interesting read on this topic.

I haven't seen anything suggesting people are obsessed with it. Where did you get this idea? It sounds like you could use professional help....

I've really only seen it suggested where it might be warranted.

But I think it's suggested so much because nowadays people can find themselves very isolated without many 'neutral' people to talk to. Friends are all very well but they have an investment, the same with spouses and parents. Sometimes you just need to talk to an unbiased person to reason out your feelings.

I suspect this is why so many are using ChatGPT as a 'therapist' too.

You clearly need counseling. Please find a therapist.

Between working full time, learning the piano, having a social life I don't have time - what would I talk about?

But Chat GPT will agree with you, soothe your ego, it won't challenge you and tell you to get a bloody grip will it?

I agree op. And the idea that you can get ‘therapy’ and a quick fix like picking up milk from the supermarket.

I don’t get it either. Counselling won’t change anything. What does therapy mean? Pretty much anyone can say they are a counsellor or therapist I believe, so I suppose the snake oil is available for anyone that believes it will help them.

Which is precisely why therapy/counselling is good. Why does it bother you so much? Clearly you dont feel you need it, so why do you care if others access it? You sound judgey.

I know, it's dreadful. But people are using it because they don't have anyone else to talk to. Which is the purpose of therapy. So it might be shit, but it's the best they can do.

You're fortunate in that you don't have any problems that you can't fix yourself. That's brilliant. But don't assume everyone else is in the same position.

(As an aside, Piano Marvel is excellent.)

What a really mean thread.

Sadly a lot of people have really difficult lives and have been through lots of trauma and do have “something to talk about”.

Therapy helps a lot of people with severe issues. If you don’t feel you need it, no one is forcing you.

I'm a therapy convert! Transformed my life. And it was as easy as picking up milk from the supermarket in some ways because I could afford to pay for it. Did about 6 months.

That said, previous marriage counselling was useless.

I’d start with your lack of time and need to be busy. Are you trying to stay away from the quiet and your inner life?

*original post was tongue in cheek

Mental health is a monetised industry. There’s a multimillion pound industry aimed at pathologising normal human behaviour and emotions and encouraging people to think they need to pay for therapy, courses, books etc in order to solve things they’re unhappy about. It results in a lot of people thinking that often fairly ordinary stuff going on in their lives are things they need to “work through” in order to achieve an idealistic portrayal of happiness and therapy is what they need to get there.

I am judging, sorry, I am being honest though.

I used to feel like this until something happened in my life and I needed to offload to a professional who knew the right questions to ask.

My circumstances remained the same but i dealt with the situation without feeling overwhelmed.

Do you know what, lots of us have been through things, we haven't all had a silver spoon in our mouths, but we have a choice, do we stay like that or do we move on, do we up our standards or live with them?

Well done for never struggling enough in life that you’ve had seek professional help. I have, guess I need to get a bloody grip.

Good god no, I should practice the piano more than I do, but I love just sitting down reading, watching rubbish, just relaxing, walking, I love being on my own.

I didn't say that either did I, you are just assuming I have never struggled.

That’s fair enough that you’re being honest, but as a therapist myself, I have seen lots of very ordinary folk find it very, very helpful. It sounds like your mental health is good / stable atm, and I’m happy for you, but please don’t judge others for accessing support. It’s not really your business.

I don't doubt in certain circumstances, with the right questions, people can be challenged to look at things differently.

You're very lucky that you've never needed it.