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I think I would agree with the article more if it were framed "Maybe You Don't Need to Talk to Just Anyone", as in, you might only find helpful outcomes from th
by mustacheemperor 4y ago
I think I would agree with the article more if it were framed "Maybe You Don't Need to Talk to Just Anyone", as in, you might only find helpful outcomes from the right therapist.
There are different approaches to therapy. The article points out some ways that talk therapy could actually make problems worse, not better. But a good therapist would recognize the kind of problem their patient is experiencing, get to know their patient, and opt for a treatment path or an approach to talk therapy that will not be detrimental.
And therapy goes way beyond "talking about your problems to a professional." Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, for instance, is a structured process that is often utilized specifically in cases where talk therapy would not be effective. [0]
Therapy isn't the answer to every problem, sure. It's not going to help me unclog the garbage disposal. But I think the generalization that most people would be better off with the support of a good therapist is a true one. And sure, that's just my own opinion - but it's my view that mental hygiene isn't that different from the other ways we maintain the health of our bodies, and most people don't seem to object to the generalized advice that everyone should see a dentist twice a year.
Some of the points this article raises, like the negative effects of rumination or the potential utility of stress, are already known to me because I learned about them from my therapist, advising me about them!
Choosing the right therapist can be a challenge though, especially if you don't know what a good therapeutic outcome should look/feel like. I think most of the advice in this article would be better applied to "how do I choose the right therapist" than "should I just completely rule out therapy."
[0]https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22838-dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22838-diale...
- lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 4y agoThanks for explaining your perspective. This is a reasonable take to have. This is a good summary of your thoughts (your summary): > I think most of the advice in this article would be better applied to "how do I choose the right therapist" than "should I just completely rule out therapy." FWIW, I read this advice as, "How do I choose the right therapy?" which is similar to what you're saying. I can see how someone reads this as the latter, however.
- mustacheemperor 4y agoI think that's a fair reading, but I think choosing the right therapy is best done with the guidance of a good therapist. Of course, educating yourself first helps a lot, since you can better recognize if that therapist knows their stuff and can more productively discuss the options with them.