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So, therapy is useless (as a concept) because America's healthcare system is dogshit?

That statement doesn't make any sense.

Water is still necessary for the body whether I can acquire it or not. Therapy, or any healthcare in general, is still useful whether or not you can afford it.

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thrown-0825 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Most people shop around for therapists that align with their values anyways.

They are really paying $800 / month to have their feelings validated and receive a diagnosis that absolves them from taking ownership over their emotions and actions.

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AlecSchueler 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

Source for this? Either way it's still demonstrably the most effective treatment for many issues. Sometimes being heard is good enough.

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999900000999 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

Yeah, but the number one stressor for the vast majority of people is money in one way or another. If you have a spare 9600$ a year to be heard you're doing very well.

Remember, we're talking about a country where people skip insulin.

Back during my second eviction I had a friend listen to me whine on the phone for hours. That's a debt I can never repay, I definitely didn't have health insurance or a spare 800$ a month back then.

Or to flip this around, 800$ a month would be a fantastic treatment for most stressed out lower income people.

I really hate how therapy is promoted as some kind of miracle, when;

A) It's completely inaccessible to those who need it most.

B) Can actually make things significantly worse.

C) You probably just need to do less of whatever your doing.

But if slow down you might get fired. If you get fired you won't be able to afford 800$ a month!

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AlecSchueler 4 days ago | parent [-]

> Remember, we're talking about a country where people skip insulin.

Ah, I'm in the Netherlands. I didn't realise we were only talking about the US. I know the story is about Illinois but I thought the critique of therapy was intended to be broader.

It goes without saying that basic necessities like food and housing come first for health, mental and otherwise, I'm sorry that they're so uncertain in America.

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999900000999 4 days ago | parent [-]

Oh no I'm only speaking about the American context. I guess you're in a magical Utopia where people don't skip essential medicines because they can't come up with the co-pay even if they have insurance.

Or the health insurance company will outright refuse to cover what your doctor prescribes so you need to materialize a spare 1000$.

Too sick to work, time to cut off your medicare because you failed the work requirements.

Even if you find a therapist that works, they can move out if your insurance network. Or you switch to a new job that offers different insurance your therapist can't accept.

I know during my second eviction I didn't have 800$ a month. So what use is it. Do only upper middle class people have problems worthy of consideration?

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AlecSchueler 4 days ago | parent [-]

Your response feels quite snarky but I understand you're speaking from a place of emotion after your own difficult experiences.

Here in The Netherlands people with less money can get access to therapy with assistance from the state. I've had to do it myself and it cost me around 300 euros per year to see 3 different providers for 3 kinds of therapy; the rest of the costs were covered by the state.

I wouldn't call it a magical utopia as it works via a system of mutual social support, not magic, but it does seem relatively utopic in comparison to what you describe.

	▲	999900000999 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		It's ok. My first reply was flagged for pointing out an unaffordable treatment has no real use. I forgot this is a forum where 800$ a month is a trivial amount of money. No snark intended. I've been to Europe a few times, as far as I'm concerned The Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK are essentially utopias. Not having to play the health insurance game, significantly lower crime rates, actual worker rights. No place is perfect, but try being poor in America. Nothing is closer to hell.

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thrown-0825 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257958560_A_Model_f...

It suggests that shared values may predict more positive outcomes, and therapists should develop ethical sensitivity regarding value conflict.

Many patients are encouraged to shop around for therapists and typically wind up with someone they are comfortable with whos value system aligns with theirs.

AKA a private echo chamber financially incentivized to cultivate recurring revenue via emotionally dependent patients.

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squishington 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Please don't spread misinformation like this. It can stop people from seeking professional help. When people seek therapy, they are taking ownership over their emotions and actions, because they want to change their internal state in a healthy way (as opposed to escaping negative feelings with substance abuse, for example). Earlier this year I would suffer flight responses in public due to the effects of PTSD. I was able to significantly mitigate this (nearly gone) by seeing a therapist who practises EMDR. And sometimes people do need their feelings validated, which is an important part of healing from abuse. It's about rebuilding trust.