Explained: When Do We Need Psychotherapy

The culture we are growing up in puts therapy on a pedestal given the mental health awareness our generation has. This awareness translates into therapy being the solution to all our problems. But how genuine is therapy to the extent that it does not interfere with the logistics of our life and is completely unbiased in its approach.

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Psychotherapy, or simply "therapy," is a type of therapy used to treat emotional suffering and mental health issues. It entails evaluating and gaining understanding into life choices and issues faced by individuals, couples, or families, and is provided by a range of trained professionals¡ªpsychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or licensed counsellors.

First of all, one needs to understand the difference between psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and licensed counsellors who are eligible to conduct therapy¡ª as they are professionals¡ª but vary in degree of style, experience and expertise.

This entails that each category of persons will have different ways to conduct therapy, in addition to their individual choice¡ª a psychologist or psychiatrist¡¯s approach based on their personal choice. The choice of approaches are psychoanalytic, humanistic, behavioural etc.

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Is therapy necessary?

Yes and yes. It may not be the solution to all our problems but it doesn¡¯t hurt for one to talk about it to a professional who knows how to navigate through the conversations and come to a structurally well-informed guess about the individual¡¯s problem(s).

Therapy¡¯s central doctrine ¡®a safe space¡¯ where there are no judgements and biases means anyone can bring any part of themselves¡ª hidden or exposed (to the world)¡ª to a therapist to explore, as in the end, psychotherapy is not about solutions (i.e therapists are not magicians who can waive their magic wand and fix things) but about self-reflection and coming to one¡¯s own rescue.

This is different if an individual suffers from chronic mental illness like bipolar disorder or depression. The average person who is fortunate enough to escape chronic mental illness but still gets anxiety attacks or feels depressed can make use of therapy.

Conversations with a loved one, a friend or a family member can also mimic therapy with the exception that these individuals, unlike practitioners, lack the necessary experience and method on how to go by the conversation, as the key element is to listen and make the person comfortable enough to open up.

This might come naturally with a loved one or a friend but still it lacks methodology that has a well evident literature review of being effective. For the case of chronic mental illness, professional help is a mandate as the problem may also have a biological component rather than just emotional which needs administration of medicines and other forms of aid. Hence, the question of therapy being overrated doesn¡¯t apply to chronic mental illness.

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Increased mental health awareness helps

The culture of seeking therapy supported by its potency and increased mental health awareness has given rise to an oblivion surrounding certain inefficacies or rather biases entailing the practice of therapy.

Therapists are professionals, but they are still humans, and humans don¡¯t operate outside preferences and prejudices shaped by their broader clique (culture and society). Instances of gender bias against clients are prominent, for example, one Indian woman with depression was facing pressure from her parents to marry a boy.

She confided in her therapist but the therapist responded by telling her that since she was a ¡®girl child¡¯ she should adhere to her parents¡¯ decision because the prestige of the family depended on her.

The psychiatrist even went to the extent of mentioning that in another instance a family member committed suicide since their daughter refused to marry the chosen boy. Another disparity is among the effectiveness of therapy and administering of drugs for treating mental health issues.

The literature on this is positive and supportive in using these methods for treatment but a possibility of the literature being rigged comes into question, for instance, only authors throwing positive light on the efficacy are published while the opposite writings are neglected.

A study on 55 U.S. National Institutes of Health grants given to clinical trials showed that 13 trials out of 55 were not published and after analysing both the published and unpublished data, the study concluded that while psychotherapy is useful, there is a clear publishing bias that exaggerates its effectiveness.

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This brings us to the question of ethics that surrounds around client confidentiality, condescending comments, personal life, sexual overtures and even blackmailing.

Is therapy overrated?

The answer is discernible given the notion that our culture is obsessed, and we have come to consider therapy as a cure-all, having suddenly become aware and literate about our own mental health and our unending difficulty communicating even with those we love.

But this question is not in the same discourse on the efficacy of therapy. Therefore, although it is overrated it works. Human beings as social beings thrive on conversations, coming together and sharing.

When these are deprived it leads to mental health issues and it is central to cure it through the very means (lack of) of its inception.

Hence, if letting out and talking to someone lifts the burden we carry, turning towards an informed practitioner makes more sense than a friend or a loved one.

References:

Kalia, Saumya, and Rohitha Naraharisetty. ¡°What Happens When Therapists Bring Their Own Gender Bias Into Client Care.¡± The Swaddle, 11 December 2021. Accessed 17 May 2022.

Legg, Timothy J. ¡°Types of Therapy: Different Types of Approaches and How They Work.¡± Healthline, 1 March 2019. Accessed 17 May 2022.

¡°Therapy.¡± Psychology Today. Accessed 17 May 2022.

Turner, Erick. ¡°Is Psychotherapy Overrated?¡± The Science Explorer, 7 October 2015. Accessed 17 May 2022.

Wiseman, Eva. ¡°¡°Is Therapy Overrated?¡±¡± British Vogue, 13 May 2022. Accessed 17 May 2022.