Photo from: [Priscilla Du Preez]
By: Freda Donnelly @shesbasedbabe
This week witnessed a notable surge in discussions surrounding therapy, echoing through the corridors of social media with voices such as Matt Walsh, Spencer Klavan, Lauren Southern, and Emily Zannoti contributing their perspectives and experiences to this digital dialogue. Concurrently, the renowned Clinical Psychologist Jordan Peterson finds himself entangled in a legal battle over his licensure due to resisting what he deems the pressures of ‘petty bureaucrats and the addle-pated woke mob,’ which have largely taken over the field of therapy.
The discourse on this hot-button issue is charged with intense emotions, reflecting the profound impact therapy has had on individuals, positively transforming lives for some while tragically entangling others in the web of therapists’ egregious errors, which range from grooming vulnerable individuals into questioning their gender identity to validating the worst inclinations of the self-involved. In an era in which mental health occupies an ever-expanding spotlight, therapy stands out as a prominent tool for those seeking support. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge that, as with any tool, therapy can be misused, causing clients to unintentionally contribute to their own challenges in what may be described as “user error.”
Depression: More Than Just the “Sads”
Mental health is part of our physical health. In fact, the CDC even states that depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Yet, some still wrongfully mischaracterize depression as sloth. They present it as the decision of the suffering person to say, “I’m sad, bitter, or unhappy. I have been for some time. I don’t know why, and I’m not particularly interested in finding out why or pursuing a solution because I’m unwilling to make the necessary changes to get better.” For context, the DSM-5 outlines the following criterion to make a diagnosis of depression: The individual must be experiencing five or more of the following symptoms during the same two-week period, and at least one of the symptoms must be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
- Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
- A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
- Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
Differing from previous versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-5 added two additional specifiers to further classify diagnoses. These are:
- With Mixed Features – This specifier allows for the presence of manic symptoms as part of the depression diagnosis in patients who do not meet the full criteria for a manic episode.
- With Anxious Distress – The presence of anxiety in patients may affect prognosis, treatment options, and the patient’s response to them. Clinicians will need to assess whether or not the individual experiencing depression also presents with anxious distress.
For a patient to receive a diagnosis of depression, these symptoms must cause the individual clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The symptoms must also not be a result of substance abuse or another medical condition. Essentially, there is a large difference both diagnostically and holistically between depression and a case of the sads. The distinction lies not solely in the intensity of one’s feelings of despondency but rather in a combination of factors, including the duration of these negative emotions, the presence of other symptoms, the impact on the body, and how it affects the individual’s daily functioning. However, different forms of therapy can truly benefit an individual who suffers from anxiety, depression, or PTSD, among other conditions.
Balancing Truth and Effectiveness
Within the contemporary discourse on trauma, a significant concern emerges in the expanding definition of this intricate term. Once reserved for profound and life-altering experiences, trauma is now, at times, applied to ordinary troubles, a shift that risks diluting its inherent significance. This expansion has led individuals to use trauma as an excuse for poorly navigating the challenges of daily life. It is crucial to clarify that genuine trauma involves a lasting imprint on the human nervous system, a result of chronic elevated physical distress. A common metaphor for this physical phenomenon is the idea of an overwhelming “trauma memory file” that surpasses the brain’s processing capacity. In navigating the intricate landscape of mental health, it is vital to recognize and differentiate authentic trauma from the common tribulations of everyday life.
Depression works on the human brain in a similar way to trauma. Emily Zannoti explains it this way:
Imagine your brain is a TV. Now, imagine someone sitting next to you has turned down the volume. You know the TV has changed, and you have a rational, observable reason for it. And, generally an idea of when it will end…let’s assume the other person is taking a phone call. That’s like sadness. It’s something that happens, it’s expected, it has a rational cause, and you can (usually) overcome or learn to live with it. Now Consider that you’re watching TV and it suddenly changes. The experience is different and…diminished somehow. But maybe it’s only you that can see that. You can’t communicate it, because to everyone else, it looks mostly the same. But something’s…off…and there’s no observable reason why, no timeline for an end. You try a lot of things to fix it. Maybe you Google ways to fix it, try to exercise a little, maybe you pray. But not only does the TV not get better, maybe it gets a little worse. You can’t fix it and that makes other things worse. So you eventually maybe have to ask for help, because it’s not something that just goes away on its own. And maybe someone comes to fix it. Maybe they order a part. Maybe you learn ways to live with the TV this new way that it is. But it’s not a temporary, rational change.” When it comes to those of us who have grappled with this diagnosis, it can be hard to explain what it holistically feels like to those who haven’t experienced it, but this summation is as close to perfect as one can get.
Therapist Annette Prestia expounded further on this when I reached out to her for comment:
I feel like a lot of the people opining on whether therapy is a waste of time have never actually been in therapy or experienced it firsthand. You may decide for yourself that anecdotal evidence is sufficient in making decisions for yourself, but I don’t think making sweeping statements based on other people’s experiences, whether negative or positive, are the best way to assess therapeutic treatments as a whole. The debate I’ve seen dumbs the conversation down to the most basic of questions like, ‘Is therapy helpful,’ and, ‘does it work?’ But we can’t answer that question for other people. I think the question we should be asking is, ‘What are people looking to gain from going to therapy?’ If they are looking for an easy fix after five sessions, I’d say therapy is going to be a colossal letdown. If you are expecting to be fully and unequivocally ‘fixed’ forever, I also regret to inform you that you will find therapy lacking. But if you are searching for an impartial voice, an alternative viewpoint, and a sympathetic ear that won’t judge you or your decisions, then therapy can be helpful. It’s all about what your expectations are and keeping potential outcomes realistic. Additionally, I think it’s also tremendously important to keep in mind that we are not all living the same life with the same resources. Not everyone has a spouse or a close friend or loved one that they feel comfortable opening up to. Some people sadly lack that outlet. Speaking to a therapist or psychologist can provide an avenue for someone to simply vent or get things off their chest. Multiple sessions that last months or years on end are not always the end game. As a therapist, I never go into a session thinking I’m going to miraculously heal anyone. I’m not Jesus. But if I can help them step away from the ledge, stop catastrophizing, reconsider negative self-talk, or just feel a little bit better about themselves, then I think it was a successful session.
As we can see, the ideal therapists are those who, instead of fostering dependency, empower clients to chart their own paths. Unfortunately, these exemplary professionals, the ones committed to guiding clients through the confrontation of uncomfortable truths rather than affirming delusions or peddling untruths, are few. The diversity of therapeutic approaches is vast, emphasizing the need to match the treatment with the specific problem and individual. Therapy, in its various forms, extends beyond uncovering past experiences; it is a tailored approach to addressing distinct mental health issues.
In order to shed more light on this, I reached out to Johnny Sanders (LPC) for his thoughts on the matter. Here’s what he has to say:
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have been embarrassed with my profession plenty. For example, the industry pushing Gender Affirming Care on vulnerable clients is absolutely indefensible. However, we must be careful not to ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’ here. Conservatives often struggle with being too reactionary to legitimate problems. I believe Matt Walsh is doing this with counseling. Counseling can absolutely be an effective tool to use when someone is struggling with depression, anxiety, or a difficult stage in life. Therapy must be centered on truth. An effective therapist will not only comfort a client but will also help guide them towards reality. A postmodern counselor who believes in ‘your truth’ cannot be effective. However, a counselor who is grounded in truth can be effective in helping others.
As we can see from this, balance and critical thinking are crucial in this discussion. Therapists like Sanders argue that the ideological underpinnings of certain therapeutic approaches may conflict with cognitive behavioral therapy, creating a need for discernment between effective therapy and misguided practices. Drawing parallels to other fields, such as the introduction of DEI to engineering or the historical example of Trofim Lysenko’s influence on biology, underscores the importance of addressing institutional issues rather than dismissing the entire discipline.
Navigating the Nuances of Therapy
The rise in demand for therapy may be attributed to the modern world’s shortcomings in fostering mental well-being. Increasingly isolated individuals, glued to screens instead of engaging with communities and elders, find solace in therapy. However, the cost and accessibility of such services raise questions about their effectiveness in meeting the broader societal need for mental health support.
The term “therapy” itself may encompass a range of phenomena, from the medicalization of spiritual problems to the unacknowledged failures of psychoanalysis. The burden placed on therapy to replace roles traditionally filled by religion, philosophy, family, and ethics is a complex issue.
The modern world’s challenges have led to a surge in demand for therapy, but it is essential to recognize its limitations and the multifaceted nature of mental health. Furthermore, a significant challenge of therapy is the desire of clients for quick fixes, often leading them to resort to medication rather than engaging in the necessary self-work. The temptation for instant solutions can lead to the misuse of therapy, undermining its potential benefits and perpetuating a cycle of dissatisfaction.
When you are fortunate enough to find a rare gem of a therapist—as I was able to during the chaotic year of 2020—it is a breath of fresh air. Such a therapist helps you, challenges you, and forces you to look inward and make changes for the betterment of yourself and others. Beneficial clinicians will arm you with coping strategies and enrich you through the further development of self-awareness during your sessions. This will climax in your ability to end or significantly reduce the therapeutic relationship, having become a better version of yourself. It will enable you to bring Audrey Hepburn’s words to fruition when she said, “Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.”
In a broken world, it can be easy to get lost. Thankfully, there are a variety of resources at the disposal of many individuals. While there are certainly problems within the realm of therapy, it doesn’t mean that the entire field is egregious or useless. Many who don’t need therapy tend to get it, and many who don’t get it need it. But building a better future can begin by following Jordan Peterson’s wise words, “Treat yourself like you would someone you’re responsible for helping.”
In conclusion, therapy is a valuable tool, but its efficacy depends on the alignment of the approach with the individual’s needs, the quality of the therapist, and a realistic understanding of its limitations. Acknowledging the complexity surrounding therapy allows for a more nuanced perspective on mental health support in our rapidly evolving world.
Freda Donnelly is the host of Finding the Faith podcast on Rumble and a freelance researcher, writer, and content creator