Why is going to therapy so trendy right now?

[Wutang]

In the past 1-2 years I noticed there's been a big uptick in promotion of therapy. It's not coming from the typical soy boy or blue hair types either though it's them who mainstreamed it. Now I see a lot of conventionally attractive people, especially girls promoting it as well. The vibe I get from a lot of the push for therapy is that it's a mix of virtual signaling ("I'm a good person that cares about mental health in society") but also a trendiness that I associate with fad diets or wearing the right fashion. This is as opposed to what it was in the past where you simply had some sort of issue and you had to work it out - not too much different from getting your knee fixed or allergies under control. What do you guys think is behind this?

 

[OrthoCole]

It's the secularization of a religious pattern. With the death of traditional religion in the West, we've replaced metaphysics with psychology and instead of embodying this pattern through liturgy, confession, etc. it's done through therapy. It's one of the "sacraments of the modern world."

I'm sure there are other aspects to it as well. I think much of that field is a scam. But this is how i see it. I think the parallels are undeniable.

 

[nagareboshi]

Therapy, western medicine, and neo-Buddhist meditation are all part of the same idea: instead of changing an unhealthy society, destroy your own healthy conscience so you can assimilate into society.

 

[MartyMcFly]

This is because friendships and families are weaker now. In the past, people often had someone they could trust or turn to and now they lack this important trust. Also, people are less religious as mentioned earlier. In the past, people would pray and this was a form of therapy for many and now fewer people do this.

I think therapy is mostly a scam. The therapist lacks incentive to heal you because they want to keep making money. Also, it feels fake because the therapist needs to pretend to care about you but simply wants to make money off you.

 

[TooFineAPoint]

People crave discussion and confession, but do anything they can to avoid judgement.

So even a secular person will shy away from getting into discussions that are too deep and revealing, and will opt instead to do so with a (relative) stranger like a therapist. The two worlds can then be kept entirely separate.

 

[clzoomer]

Part of it is confession. Part of it is virtue signaling. A lot of it is that (thanks to Hollywood pushing 'crazy' characters) people think appearing a little unhinged looks cool and attractive. People like to look like they're dangerous, so they convince themselves they need therapy to go and talk about it. When I was 13 I convinced myself I had ADHD and needed ADHD medicine because I thought it made me cool and I wanted to talk about it to my friends. This exists in a much more subtle degree in adults. You know this is likely the truth because almost all of these people who go to therapy won't actually try to take anything from it or apply it at all, but they WILL casually drop the fact that they see a therapist to most people they know.

 

[DanielH]

My Orthodox Christian Godmother is a retired therapist/counselor. She would only counsel people on the condition that they are okay with Christian advice - and following up with that advice, implying that secular therapy is a waste of time. She frequently mentions sinning less and caring for others more, treating them how you would like to be treated. It's interesting, you call since you're sad and sometimes she essentially tells you it's your fault because you're doing X wrong or treating that person poorly. I assume that's not too common in secular therapy.

Why is secular therapy so trendy now? Like others have said it's a replacement for religion, friends, and parents. But it is incomplete with regards to all of those categories.

 

[Gradient]

People crave discussion and confession, but do anything they can to avoid judgement.

So even a secular person will shy away from getting into discussions that are too deep and revealing, and will opt instead to do so with a (relative) stranger like a therapist. The two worlds can then be kept entirely separate.

Correct. "Therapy" most often bestows on the participant the drapery of victimhood, and shields them from responsibility for their behavior. This is why it is a perfect fit for women, and feminine males.

 

[nagareboshi]

It reminds me of the “self-love” concept which has been pushed on us in the past few years. I had always felt this word “self-love” was very sinister. Imagine my shock when, in my catechesis, the Orthodox teachers literally refer to “self-love” as a vice that we must give up in order to be good Christians.

 

[Towgunner]

In the past 1-2 years I noticed there's been a big uptick in promotion of therapy. It's not coming from the typical soy boy or blue hair types either though it's them who mainstreamed it. Now I see a lot of conventionally attractive people, especially girls promoting it as well. The vibe I get from a lot of the push for therapy is that it's a mix of virtual signaling ("I'm a good person that cares about mental health in society") but also a trendiness that I associate with fad diets or wearing the right fashion. This is as opposed to what it was in the past where you simply had some sort of issue and you had to work it out - not too much different from getting your knee fixed or allergies under control. What do you guys think is behind this?

Everyone wants good things for other people, or so they say. So, its not really out of "I'm a good person who cares about mental health", therefore, its just a fad.

But there's more. There's something to this equality thing. There's something even more so with this progressive stack. Both invariably create perverse incentives that encourage people to be less than what they are. Not too long ago we didn't talk about our personal problems out of shame. Why did we feel shame? Well, by insisting everyone recognize my special little mental illness, are we not assuming we're the only person in the world with problems? Hello "pride" and "learning to love yourself is the greatest gift of all".

We feel shame for burdening others with our problems because they have them too and why should other people take on more than the cross they're already carrying. That's why we used to keep this to ourselves.

That's a good reason to keep your problems confidential. In fact, that's a great reason. Because, as it turns out, that's the right and proper way. That's not to say we shouldn't get help. Obviously yes. But there's a time and place for that and its best kept private. Today, people's "issues" are deliberately public.

Talk about perverse incentives, people are literally walking around introducing themselves as bi-polar. No, no, this is a fad. And its a stupid one. Why wear, as a matter of fashion, the stigma of mental illness? After all, what is better - to be mentally ill or not mentally ill? What's the better condition I ask you?

Obviously, its better to not be mentally ill, but we have a culture that promotes mental illness? This is water-is-wet-obvious territory, but, I find that whenever I dissect a leftist liberal thing it always comes back to absurdity. Ultimately we have things like the progressive stack and equality to thank for this messed-up situation. We know the progressive stack inverts merit, so, we can't be surprised when it elevates mental illness to having a high station in life.

The solution is simple, reject equality.

 

[Wutang]

It's one of the "sacraments of the modern world."

It's funny how you mention that. In the last few years within the online evangelical world there's been this niche sub-culture made up up dissatisfied former evangelicals that operate under the "exvangelical" and "deconstruction" labels. One of the things they push a lot is going to (secular) therapy. I found it strange that these people were banging on this so hard and I was wondering what was the psychology behind it. The theory that therapy acts as a secular sacrament makes sense to me. These people still have spiritual longings but now they are seeking in a completely different place.

I think this is a case of Satanic inversion. A lot of these people also get super passionate about political causes but only they'll take on the completely opposite stance they would have taken as a former conservative evangelical. Instead of being fervently pro-life they will be fervently pro-choice and be anti-Trump instead of pro-Trump. They have the same fanaticism and unforgiving attitude but now it is directed to serving the complete inversion of their former values. I think this explains at least partly their therapy fetish - it's an secular inversion of a sacrament.

 

[paternos]

I think we live in a very sinful time and the God-denouncing sinner will look for all ways possible to relief the burden of sin.

And the burden is heavy and becomes heavier with every sin committed.

The God-denouncing sinner has many tools:

• Psychology and psychiatry - What psychologists do is listen to the stories of sinners, they will not judge, they will tell you many people have depression, that you need to build of confidence, that there is no good and bad, that we are all human. Society tells us that psychologists can make us function and make us feel good again. In many cases psychiatrists team up with psychologists accompanying therapy with feel good pills.
• Next to this we have new-age spirituality, feel good spirituality, which is modern Yoga, modern meditation, weekend retreats, recharge weekends, psychedelic substances.
• Then there is self-help, reading books to feel good and fix yourself.
• Then there is blaming cult, which is just resentment, for example blacks blaming whites for their sins, or children blaming their parents for their sins they commit as grown-ups
• Then there is victimisation, because you're a victim you are not responsible for your deeds, e.g. boy comes from a poor family and steals, it's not his fault, or Jews who were holocausted, and thus the ultimate victim, so they can't be criticized,
• Making the sinner a hero - They even build new heroes like George Floyd.

Summing this all up is just making me sick, the amount of self-centered egotism. The will to sin is so big that so much energy is wasted, the money spent and lives ruined to keep sinning and feel a little bit good. I have been here and done all the above to keep afloat.

Everything not go on my knees and say these simple words: "Forgive me father, for I have sinned."

I'm very grateful that God found me later in my life and the church teaching me these simple truths. Wish you all a good night.

 

[Chiosboy90]

Because women are now in charge. Women shouldnt work, use internet and vote and we could delete 90% of the topics in this forum and 98% of the topics in clown world. Thats what you get to not follow the holy order.

 

[Lawrence87]

To answer the title of this thread; because people don't have Christ and His church. People who go to therapy are seeking Him but looking in the wrong places because they have denied Him in their intellects, yet their heart still searches.

 

[Laner]

Absolutely what @toofinapoint said. In fact that blew my mind a little.

I will also add Hollywood. Almost every major film these days has at least one scene of a main character sitting in a shrinks room going on and on. Either in a way that pushes back against the shrink, or in a way that has them under their command. But it doesn't matter, the mystery and mainstreaming is all that matters. And take a look at the series 'Hannibal'. Every scene in his chamber is like a master painting. I want to be there. I want to talk to him. And I know he is a killer. So women - who watch the majority of TV - see this and instantly crave it. From there it becomes a dangerous fad.

When I was in uni I found out we had free access to the shrink on campus. I was going through some interesting times in my life in regards to the ladies, so I went. All you guys are right; it feels good. They seem to know what you are going to say and help lead you. They leave you wanting more. They make sure you are only just a little bad. Not much, but enough to keep you coming back.

Oh, and the stereotype is true. Female. Jewish. Sexual. Secular. It was almost comical.

 

[tailoredcarnivore]

I'm decidely agnostic. Formerly Christian. Just not socially brazen enough to go full atheism. I haven't been to church in a long time. Am not compelled to go back but would if I were invited by a friend. I also don't drink anymore when I was once formerly religiously alcoholic. Nevertheless, if there's a qualifying social occasion to be in an establishment whose primary purpose is serving drinks, I'll go. i just don't drink.
To me, therapy and religion are the flip side of the same coin. Both are a hot cup of coffee in the morning to quicken the spirit, so to speak, and provide comfort & warmth to smooth the roughened edges of world under mass hypnosis. One likes the idea of God as their arbiter and the other esteems themselves to be their own God, or enlightened self-arbiter.
I reject both premises on their faces but not so loudly and proudly that I'm perceived as unwilling to go along to get along. In other words, I accept the good and bad, if you will, of each. Religion seems to work for many even tho it's painfully obvious most religious ppl struggle with deep rooted issues of insecurity leading to a 'sinful' pattern of duplicitous living. Still, I believe in the inherent good nature in all religious ppl. It's the same w/ those who embrace therapy. I've done both whether by my own free will & volition or by force. I did religion by free will when I discovered the gospels in a period of confinement and then by force when I was married to signal to my [ex] wife that I was one of the good guys. I did therapy for similar reasons either bc it was court ordered or bc I thought somehow I'd find answers there. Answers to problems I created. Answers that were easy to find once I pointed the finger at my own complicity in their design.

The problems w/ both religion and therapy are simple to diagnose bc they're replete across the whole of society, whether religious or in therapy: out of control appetites.

People think existentialism is "body, mind, and soul". It would be better understood as "body", "mind" (which is the soul), and "appetites".
Most ppl, whether in the pews holding onto secretive sin or on a comfy couch holding onto fears, resentments, and guilt are all generally led around by baser lower level appetites. What do most Christians and those in therapy have in common? Both can hardly stand to fast for a day or more. That's the only sign you need that appetites are running the show.
This is contrary to the nature of being human but easy to fall into in a society which compels you to consume, consume, and CONsume some more. So, I'm not mad at either. Both are heavily promoted and both represent the backbone of so called moral imperatives which be-speckle our greater social lexicon.

This thread should be re-titled "why does the pot call the kettle black?"

Finally, if you notice an embedded suggestion that most ppl, whether proponents of religion or therapy, respectively, are slaves to lower appetites, and, that I'm not, it's because I was once was but am actually not anymore. I believe it's bc I'm not a proponent nor an opponent of either.

Jesus can spew me out of his mouth and it's just fine by me in the end times. End times which have no basis for existing in reality. After all, why would this end unless it was intended to end at the hands of ppl who hate the human condition from the start? In both cases, that's the root problem: hatred for the human condition.

Just my 2 cents. Not trying to inflame.

 

[El Draque]

Of course (((psychotherapy))) is malign, but there's an impulse to have a neutral and trustworthy person to confide in, and talk things out with, that i dont think is wholly unhealthy.

The problem for secular types, is that within the therapy industry (which is exactly what it is), is that you could probably pick 10 counsellors out at random, and they'd very likely be Poz'd in every which way.

If a secular person could have a based, traditional counsellor, who listens, reflects and gives considered opinions on what course of actions may benefit him, then i think that could only be a good thing.

In the past i considered it, but was always put off by the fees. 60 quid for 50 mins conversation just seemed too much of an indulgence. Which ultimately is exactly what it is.

 

[Grow Bag]

I'm decidely agnostic. Formerly Christian. Just not socially brazen enough to go full atheism. I haven't been to church in a long time. Am not compelled to go back but would if I were invited by a friend. I also don't drink anymore when I was once formerly religiously alcoholic. Nevertheless, if there's a qualifying social occasion to be in an establishment whose primary purpose is serving drinks, I'll go. i just don't drink.
To me, therapy and religion are the flip side of the same coin. Both are a hot cup of coffee in the morning to quicken the spirit, so to speak, and provide comfort & warmth to smooth the roughened edges of world under mass hypnosis. One likes the idea of God as their arbiter and the other esteems themselves to be their own God, or enlightened self-arbiter.
I reject both premises on their faces but not so loudly and proudly that I'm perceived as unwilling to go along to get along. In other words, I accept the good and bad, if you will, of each. Religion seems to work for many even tho it's painfully obvious most religious ppl struggle with deep rooted issues of insecurity leading to a 'sinful' pattern of duplicitous living. Still, I believe in the inherent good nature in all religious ppl. It's the same w/ those who embrace therapy. I've done both whether by my own free will & volition or by force. I did religion by free will when I discovered the gospels in a period of confinement and then by force when I was married to signal to my [ex] wife that I was one of the good guys. I did therapy for similar reasons either bc it was court ordered or bc I thought somehow I'd find answers there. Answers to problems I created. Answers that were easy to find once I pointed the finger at my own complicity in their design.

The problems w/ both religion and therapy are simple to diagnose bc they're replete across the whole of society, whether religious or in therapy: out of control appetites.

People think existentialism is "body, mind, and soul". It would be better understood as "body", "mind" (which is the soul), and "appetites".
Most ppl, whether in the pews holding onto secretive sin or on a comfy couch holding onto fears, resentments, and guilt are all generally led around by baser lower level appetites. What do most Christians and those in therapy have in common? Both can hardly stand to fast for a day or more. That's the only sign you need that appetites are running the show.
This is contrary to the nature of being human but easy to fall into in a society which compels you to consume, consume, and CONsume some more. So, I'm not mad at either. Both are heavily promoted and both represent the backbone of so called moral imperatives which be-speckle our greater social lexicon.

This thread should be re-titled "why does the pot call the kettle black?"

Finally, if you notice an embedded suggestion that most ppl, whether proponents of religion or therapy, respectively, are slaves to lower appetites, and, that I'm not, it's because I was once was but am actually not anymore. I believe it's bc I'm not a proponent nor an opponent of either.

Jesus can spew me out of his mouth and it's just fine by me in the end times. End times which have no basis for existing in reality. After all, why would this end unless it was intended to end at the hands of ppl who hate the human condition from the start? In both cases, that's the root problem: hatred for the human condition.

Just my 2 cents. Not trying to inflame.

V cr8ve. WAYEH

 

[Patrick1]

People have replaced priests with therapists

 

[MajorStyles]

People have replaced priests with therapists

I believe Frued once stated while on vacation, "I need to hurry back to work before one of my patients recover."