The Raw Truth About Talk Therapy
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Talk Therapy
Talk therapy is the greatest weapon against mental health stigma…
…but it’s also one of the factors contributing to its potency.
The two most powerful factors keeping mental health stigma at the top are shame and isolation.
Talk therapy get us out of the shame closet and into the healing journey, but we still sit on the fences when it comes to embracing vulnerability toward holistic healing
We are so terrified of the judgment that comes with not being mentally okay that we would rather suffer in silence than seek help and probably end up isolated.
The judgment isn’t the primary problem, but rather the aftermath we think will come out of it.
Isolation
Labeling
Discrimination
Those of us courageous enough to seek help do it either secretly or discreetly.
Getting help isn’t the issue; we want to seek help, but we also don’t want to experience the exposure that comes with utter vulnerability.
Individual talk therapy equips us with viable ways to manage depressive feelings and moods but it doesn’t always work out.
I’m not dismissing the good benefits we reap from talk therapy, but the secrecy part of the treatment is the problem.
It perpetuates dealing with problems in silence and secrecy the key factors keeping shame and stigma alive
The mode of treatment is isolating, limiting, and discriminating from a holistic point of view.
The person seeking individual therapy help is limited to their struggles and has a narrow understanding of their experience, leaving them susceptible to feeling more lonely and isolated….
…so they become dependent on their caregiver, which, in that case, leaves them prone to crushing once something shakes them off balance.
When we fall out of control, especially of our brains, the most comforting thing is knowing we aren’t alone.
We need to know that our unpleasant encounter is 100% human and normal
Individual talk therapy partially addresses that need, as we are isolating ourselves to earn coping mechanisms without tangible reassurance that we aren’t alone in our struggles
It gives us the space to unload the wild marathon happening in our minds but leaves room for vague vulnerability and expression of all that we are encountering.
Group therapy on the other hand gives us the space to be wholly vulnerable because of the presence of an understanding company.
Sharing a vulnerable moment is challenging; having someone next to you who resonates with it is by far the quickest medicine to our souls.
As social creatures, we need to know other people struggle with mundane things as much as we do
We need the company of relatable stories and fears
We need a group that empathizes with our struggles without judgment
A community that understands and humanizes our struggles…
The issue with mental health stigma isn’t about advocating and being vocal about mental health, but rather about how and what we choose to stand for.
Talk therapy is a great weapon but how we choose to normalize it will determine how well it can beat stigma once and for all.
What do you think about Talk Therapy?
