Why The Stigma Of Going To Psychotherapy Is Fading
For years, many people have assumed that going to a psychologist is something that should be ashamed to admit, something that should be hidden so that it is not exposed to the view of others. However, the stigma of psychotherapy has faded until almost disappearing in a good part of the countries of Western culture.
The reason is that, like all stigma, it was only based on mistaken beliefs about this type of intervention in patients, and the passage of time has exposed these myths at a devilish speed.
A good part of the opinions we form about what surrounds us comes from what generations before ours thought about that topic.
That’s what it’s like to live immersed in a culture: that almost all the things we think are “borrowed” from others who thought them before us For example, it is very good to believe that our attitude towards politics defines us as free thinkers, but you only need to think about abortion to realize that what has happened in recent centuries totally conditions the way in which we are in favor or against that practice.
For better and for worse, our psychological life is inherited from the psychological life that previously took place in the regions in which we inhabit or have come to inhabit. And this is especially notable in the case of stigmatization processes, which have done so much damage throughout history.
What is a stigma? From the point of view of sociology and social psychology, it consists of a series of negative connotations and adverse emotional reactions arbitrarily associated with a group or an activity As an example of stigmatization of groups, a clear case is that which the Jews have suffered, and as an example of stigmatization of activities, we can find it in jobs considered unworthy and whose exercise does not harm anyone in particular.
The latter is what has happened for decades with going to the psychologist, something that until not so long ago was seen as a symptom of weakness or total disconnection from reality.
Why is the myth of going to a psychologist disappearing?
As we have seen, stigma is based on a mixture of ignorance and a predisposition to have reasons to discriminate against certain groups of people. There are no reasonable reasons to treat victims of stigma worse, but since there is a cultural tendency to do so (and sometimes even legal and institutional mechanisms), we go with the flow, we imitate what others do and think, the majority with the power to discriminate
Now… Why has the stigma of going to a psychologist existed, but has it been quickly falling apart in recent years? It is difficult to find a simple answer to this, but here we will look at several factors that, as a psychology professional, I believe have played a role.
1. The scientific support of psychotherapy
Psychotherapy long ago stopped being based on experiments based on trial and error, seeing if something helped patients by chance.
At the moment, Many of the basic psychological mechanisms are known that help weaken the patterns of behavior and thinking that cause suffering to people and that can be intervened through psychotherapy. And we also know how to take advantage of these mechanisms to not only mitigate much of the discomfort, but also generate new sources of happiness by helping patients incorporate appropriate habits into their daily lives.
Obviously, it is not an exact science like mathematics and there is room for uncertainty about what will work and what will not (as is the case with medicine applied to mental health), but decades of research in Psychology allow us to trust in certain therapeutic strategies and tools.
Today, The type of psychological intervention with the greatest scientific evidence of its effectiveness is cognitive-behavioral therapy a current from which a good part of the psychologists in Spain start.
2. Examples of celebrities who go to the psychologist
It may seem silly, but the simple fact of seeing that people who are admired and who have a very good image nationally or internationally go to the psychologist is more powerful than many Public Relations campaigns.
In many cases, furthermore, These famous people do not show any qualms about saying that they have attended or are attending psychotherapy ; They understand that it is relevant information due to the fact that they are people with a strong public life, and that it does not damage their image because they do not intend to give an image of artificial perfection. This is the case of artists and athletes such as Angelina Jolie, Andrés Iniesta, Sophie Turner, Leiva, and many more.
3. Word of mouth
Something that works cannot remain in the shadows for long. The usefulness of psychotherapy has been passed from one person to another in the form of advice and recommendations, and many patients make other people with specific problems and needs realize that going to a psychologist makes all the sense in the world.
4. The change of values
Not all the reasons why psychotherapy is well regarded have to do with the merits of the psychologists themselves. It is also true that there has been a change in values in a large part of Western society. Today emphasis is placed on the need not to prejudge of not falling into the trap of hating for the sake of hating, of excluding for the sake of excluding, and not feeding a hypocritical mentality based on accusing others for not fitting with a model of perfection that no one meets.
Beyond the myths that have been circulating about what it means to go to a psychologist, it is true that not everyone has the necessary information so that, once they have decided that they want to attend therapy, they can choose well. These are some keys to making the best choice when deciding which professionals to turn to You have to look at:
1. The experience
The practice of psychotherapy is based on a lot of practice; someone who only has the theory probably will not be able to achieve everything that is asked of him
2. Specialization
There are many profiles of psychotherapists; Therefore, it is best to refine the shot and go to someone who you know knows how to treat the problem you have among others.
3. Recommendations and recognitions
If you can, look for recommendations from the psychologist that is on your mind. It’s also a good idea to look at their accreditations.
4. Update
In the world of psychology there is always new developments; that’s why, the best professionals are always training: attending seminars, taking courses, etc.
5. Transparency
It is important to have basic information about a professional before attending the first psychotherapy session. Look at the degree of availability of information about their work and academic history.
