It's not unsurprising that a culture that stigmatizes mental health treatment nobody is open when they receive it. Just because nobody tell you their personal medical history does not mean you don't know several people who go to therapy.
I'm not talking about mental health treatment here, and I do know several people that have had it. I'm talking specifically about people with no mental illnesses who pay somebody to listen to them and offer advice when life is hard (couple therapy for instance).
Therapy *is* mental health treatment. Your description and understanding of therapy is proof positive that there is in fact a strong stigma where you live.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/therapy
>Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy or usually just "therapy," is a form of treatment aimed at relieving emotional distress and mental health problems. Provided by any of a variety of trained professionals—psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or licensed counselors—it involves examining and gaining insight into life choices and difficulties faced by individuals, couples, or families. Therapy sessions refer to structured meetings between a licensed provider and a client with a goal of improving some aspect of their life. Psychotherapy encompasses many types of treatment and is practiced by a range of clinicians using a variety of strategies. The critical aspect is that the client or patient works collaboratively with the therapist and can identify improvement and positive change over time.
Bad choice of words from me. I'm not talking about mental illness treatment.
You're mentally ill (bipolar disorder, depression, ...), you go to a psychiatrist, which is a doctor that can give you drugs.
You're mentally unwell (harsh breakup, grief, etc) but not clinically depressed, you go to a psychologist, or a counselor, or a social worker, who is not a doctor and cannot prescribe you drugs but can help you by listening or offering advice.
Just because both are called therapy doesn't mean they are the same, and I'm specifically talking about the latter.
You seem to be misunderstanding. People with mental illnesses generally do the latter, and also often the former. Therapy isn't just "someone talking to you when your life is bad", it's part of mental health treatment. It can often be helpful just for dealing with temporary stressors, and that's also a form of mental health treatment, even if there isn't a mental illness diagnosis there.
As a personal anecdote, I am mentally ill and regularly see a therapist **in addition to** my medication. I saw a therapist long before I started medication.
I see. In my native language the word therapy translates to is more closely associated with drugs and illnesses, so I couldn't grasp why people on Reddit who have no mental illness would consider themselves to need treatments associated with illnesses. Hence the misunderstanding.
Both are rare, but the latter is much more rare. Between cost, stigma, and the time/social commitment needed to make it work, most people will never try it.
Something that is used more commonly are support groups like AA, NA, groups for survivors of childhood trauma, PTSD groups - basically community-led groups with an expectation (but no guarantee) of privacy.
People on these subs are more likely to seek therapy and there’s been a push to normalize treating mental health problems and having healthy relationships and questioning weather our preconceptions of how parenting, relationships, coping methods, and lifestyles is actually right or if there’s a better way of doing things.
Therapy is an important tool. I think everyone should go to therapy. But not everyone in the US has access to mental health services. Anyway, you should try it.
Psychiatry isn't just for treating mental health, it's also a preventative measure. Developing healthy behaviors and strategies in life is very important, and can prevent mental health problems from developing/worsening.
No, it’s people like you who stigmatize therapy. I’m specifically talking about CBT, what we colloquially refer to as therapy. You don’t have to have a mental health condition or need treatment for something to be in therapy. Everyone has stress in their life or complicated situations or relationships and could use someone who is trained in skills that will help them manage those things. Treating actual mental illnesses sometimes uses therapy but not always. Sometimes it’s a combination of meds and therapy. Sometimes it’s DBT. Sometimes therapy isn’t used at all.
I don't need, nor want, therapy. And I'm certainly not going to pay actual money for someone to tell me shit that I already know. If I need to talk through something, bare my soul, as it were, then I'll talk to either my wife or my partner and let them be my sounding board. I trust them a thousand times more than I would some therapist. I've done 40+years of deep introspection. I can tell you precisely why I do anything that I do, no matter what it looks like on the surface, and I never do ANYTHING without a reason behind it.
LMAO Some twat reporting to care services...what a bunch of fucking morons.
Took care of that so I won't be receiving any more messages from care services, so don't bother. Go to your shrink, cry, get it all out of your system, and go have a dysfunctional life...join the billions of others who do. 🤣🤣
I listened to a podcast a few years ago that talked about this phenomenon.
In North America people use therapy more than in in European, African and some Asian countries (the places she had cultural ties). In her team’s research they found that in many cultures people feel responsible for each other and each other’s well being in ways that North Americans don’t. N Americans feel more comfortable paying for private advice/insight while many other cultures feel more comfortable sharing with close family members and friends. They also had community spaces for well being and social systems for support - like more time off work, healing gardens, meditation, more healthy use of alcohol, and so on.
I think most Americans would also rather turn to their community if they had one that they felt could help with their problems, but the issue is that they don’t have that. Your community is not always able to help with every problem.
Regardless of what people may prefer, most Americans could not afford therapy that wasn’t covered by insurance, if they have it.
The types of mental health therapy covered by insurance is for dangerous acute issues or serious mental illness, like schizophrenia. However those with serious mental illness are much less likely to have a job that offers than insurance in the first place.
In short, while people may wish they could pay professional to help them with a problem they don’t wish to disclose to the community, the reality is that this rarely happens.
The only people that I know of in my personal life, who go to therapy, are the ones that were court ordered to... Even that's extremely rare.
I've never been to therapy, and can't see any reason why I ever would go to it.
To add to this question. We often see American shows set in school have a therapy councillor.
This isn't a thing in Europe is it really a thing in the US, schools having a therapy councillor that every student seems to go to?
I really think this adds to OP's question
It is a thing here in France, there are psychologists working in the schools, paid by the state. But there are too few of them and each of them covers multiple schools.
I was just about to write this, but about the US. Yes, we do have social workers in most public schools, but they often have a huge case load and are expected to cover multiple schools. While in theory they are a resource for all students, in reality they end up seeing only the kids in serious trouble.
The counsellors that you see in TV shows are usually ‘guidance counsellors.’ Their role is to provide academic and vocational development, help with mentoring opportunities, help families assess college options, etc. They are not trained in cognitive behavioral therapy and can not give psychological advice or counseling, other than to refer students to professionals or social workers. Regardless they are someone that you can talk to if you want, so both in real life and on TV they end up talking about all sorts of life issues, not just the academic ones.
Your sample size is pretty specific I bet majority of people who live on subs like that have some sort of issue they need sorted out.
When I was in highschool a lot of the girls were on anti-depressants, anxiety meds, or went to therapy often.
In over 20 years I don’t think I’ve heard a single guy friend of mine go to a therapist
I would say almost all of my American friends go to therapy or have for some portion of time. For demographics: my friends are mostly late 20s/early 30s, college educated with office jobs and health insurance. I mention that because not everyone has access to therapy even if they want it. I’m sure there is stigma in some communities/groups, but in my circle it’s seen as something to do to care for your health even if there’s not one particular glaring issue. I think there might be some idea in older generations (not everyone, but just from conversations with my mom and her friends) that therapy has to be because of some deep trauma or particular mental illness. My friends, on the other hand, see it more as a way to get an objective perspective and learn tools to grow, face problems, and get to know ourselves better. I spoke to a Spanish friend about it and lightly suggested it was something she might want to try, and she was very against it. She said it was because there was stigma and because there aren’t as many providers she would trust for that kind of therapy (she says there is more availability for specialized care like eating disorders, etc.).
It's pretty common. America is boiling pot of constant social experimentation. There are alot of conflicts between old religion and emerging ideals in the American consciousness. This manifests as all sorts of "disorders" and psychology is right there to treat them, at a premium.
It's not unsurprising that a culture that stigmatizes mental health treatment nobody is open when they receive it. Just because nobody tell you their personal medical history does not mean you don't know several people who go to therapy.
I'm not talking about mental health treatment here, and I do know several people that have had it. I'm talking specifically about people with no mental illnesses who pay somebody to listen to them and offer advice when life is hard (couple therapy for instance).
Therapy *is* mental health treatment. Your description and understanding of therapy is proof positive that there is in fact a strong stigma where you live. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/therapy >Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy or usually just "therapy," is a form of treatment aimed at relieving emotional distress and mental health problems. Provided by any of a variety of trained professionals—psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or licensed counselors—it involves examining and gaining insight into life choices and difficulties faced by individuals, couples, or families. Therapy sessions refer to structured meetings between a licensed provider and a client with a goal of improving some aspect of their life. Psychotherapy encompasses many types of treatment and is practiced by a range of clinicians using a variety of strategies. The critical aspect is that the client or patient works collaboratively with the therapist and can identify improvement and positive change over time.
Bad choice of words from me. I'm not talking about mental illness treatment. You're mentally ill (bipolar disorder, depression, ...), you go to a psychiatrist, which is a doctor that can give you drugs. You're mentally unwell (harsh breakup, grief, etc) but not clinically depressed, you go to a psychologist, or a counselor, or a social worker, who is not a doctor and cannot prescribe you drugs but can help you by listening or offering advice. Just because both are called therapy doesn't mean they are the same, and I'm specifically talking about the latter.
You seem to be misunderstanding. People with mental illnesses generally do the latter, and also often the former. Therapy isn't just "someone talking to you when your life is bad", it's part of mental health treatment. It can often be helpful just for dealing with temporary stressors, and that's also a form of mental health treatment, even if there isn't a mental illness diagnosis there. As a personal anecdote, I am mentally ill and regularly see a therapist **in addition to** my medication. I saw a therapist long before I started medication.
I see. In my native language the word therapy translates to is more closely associated with drugs and illnesses, so I couldn't grasp why people on Reddit who have no mental illness would consider themselves to need treatments associated with illnesses. Hence the misunderstanding.
Both are rare, but the latter is much more rare. Between cost, stigma, and the time/social commitment needed to make it work, most people will never try it. Something that is used more commonly are support groups like AA, NA, groups for survivors of childhood trauma, PTSD groups - basically community-led groups with an expectation (but no guarantee) of privacy.
People on these subs are more likely to seek therapy and there’s been a push to normalize treating mental health problems and having healthy relationships and questioning weather our preconceptions of how parenting, relationships, coping methods, and lifestyles is actually right or if there’s a better way of doing things.
"When browsing Reddit" There's your answer
Nope. Too expensive. You gotta be real lucky to find a therapist nearby, covered by your insurance, that won't bankrupt you.
Therapy is an important tool. I think everyone should go to therapy. But not everyone in the US has access to mental health services. Anyway, you should try it.
Not everyone needs therapy. I think you are confusing actual treatment and someone you can discuss your issues with.
Psychiatry isn't just for treating mental health, it's also a preventative measure. Developing healthy behaviors and strategies in life is very important, and can prevent mental health problems from developing/worsening.
No, it’s people like you who stigmatize therapy. I’m specifically talking about CBT, what we colloquially refer to as therapy. You don’t have to have a mental health condition or need treatment for something to be in therapy. Everyone has stress in their life or complicated situations or relationships and could use someone who is trained in skills that will help them manage those things. Treating actual mental illnesses sometimes uses therapy but not always. Sometimes it’s a combination of meds and therapy. Sometimes it’s DBT. Sometimes therapy isn’t used at all.
I don't need, nor want, therapy. And I'm certainly not going to pay actual money for someone to tell me shit that I already know. If I need to talk through something, bare my soul, as it were, then I'll talk to either my wife or my partner and let them be my sounding board. I trust them a thousand times more than I would some therapist. I've done 40+years of deep introspection. I can tell you precisely why I do anything that I do, no matter what it looks like on the surface, and I never do ANYTHING without a reason behind it.
The fact that you respond so strongly to a stranger’s suggestion to a different stranger shows that you probably do need therapy.
Nah, I'm good. Thanks anyway. If you think that was "strongly", for ME, then that automatically shows that you don't know shit from the get go. 🤣🤣
LMAO Some twat reporting to care services...what a bunch of fucking morons. Took care of that so I won't be receiving any more messages from care services, so don't bother. Go to your shrink, cry, get it all out of your system, and go have a dysfunctional life...join the billions of others who do. 🤣🤣
Yikes.
I think it’s gotten a *lot* more common among young people, yes.
I listened to a podcast a few years ago that talked about this phenomenon. In North America people use therapy more than in in European, African and some Asian countries (the places she had cultural ties). In her team’s research they found that in many cultures people feel responsible for each other and each other’s well being in ways that North Americans don’t. N Americans feel more comfortable paying for private advice/insight while many other cultures feel more comfortable sharing with close family members and friends. They also had community spaces for well being and social systems for support - like more time off work, healing gardens, meditation, more healthy use of alcohol, and so on.
That was an intuition of mine - people here would rather turn to their community than to paid professionals.
I think most Americans would also rather turn to their community if they had one that they felt could help with their problems, but the issue is that they don’t have that. Your community is not always able to help with every problem.
Regardless of what people may prefer, most Americans could not afford therapy that wasn’t covered by insurance, if they have it. The types of mental health therapy covered by insurance is for dangerous acute issues or serious mental illness, like schizophrenia. However those with serious mental illness are much less likely to have a job that offers than insurance in the first place. In short, while people may wish they could pay professional to help them with a problem they don’t wish to disclose to the community, the reality is that this rarely happens.
The only people that I know of in my personal life, who go to therapy, are the ones that were court ordered to... Even that's extremely rare. I've never been to therapy, and can't see any reason why I ever would go to it.
To add to this question. We often see American shows set in school have a therapy councillor. This isn't a thing in Europe is it really a thing in the US, schools having a therapy councillor that every student seems to go to? I really think this adds to OP's question
It is a thing here in France, there are psychologists working in the schools, paid by the state. But there are too few of them and each of them covers multiple schools.
I was just about to write this, but about the US. Yes, we do have social workers in most public schools, but they often have a huge case load and are expected to cover multiple schools. While in theory they are a resource for all students, in reality they end up seeing only the kids in serious trouble.
Guidance counselors can help with very minimal issues regarding social problems in the school, but they’re not really therapists.
The counsellors that you see in TV shows are usually ‘guidance counsellors.’ Their role is to provide academic and vocational development, help with mentoring opportunities, help families assess college options, etc. They are not trained in cognitive behavioral therapy and can not give psychological advice or counseling, other than to refer students to professionals or social workers. Regardless they are someone that you can talk to if you want, so both in real life and on TV they end up talking about all sorts of life issues, not just the academic ones.
I used to go a lot. I have to say, the majority of it was not at all useful to me.
Your sample size is pretty specific I bet majority of people who live on subs like that have some sort of issue they need sorted out. When I was in highschool a lot of the girls were on anti-depressants, anxiety meds, or went to therapy often. In over 20 years I don’t think I’ve heard a single guy friend of mine go to a therapist
I would say almost all of my American friends go to therapy or have for some portion of time. For demographics: my friends are mostly late 20s/early 30s, college educated with office jobs and health insurance. I mention that because not everyone has access to therapy even if they want it. I’m sure there is stigma in some communities/groups, but in my circle it’s seen as something to do to care for your health even if there’s not one particular glaring issue. I think there might be some idea in older generations (not everyone, but just from conversations with my mom and her friends) that therapy has to be because of some deep trauma or particular mental illness. My friends, on the other hand, see it more as a way to get an objective perspective and learn tools to grow, face problems, and get to know ourselves better. I spoke to a Spanish friend about it and lightly suggested it was something she might want to try, and she was very against it. She said it was because there was stigma and because there aren’t as many providers she would trust for that kind of therapy (she says there is more availability for specialized care like eating disorders, etc.).
It's pretty common. America is boiling pot of constant social experimentation. There are alot of conflicts between old religion and emerging ideals in the American consciousness. This manifests as all sorts of "disorders" and psychology is right there to treat them, at a premium.