Can We Misuse Therapeutic Language?
With the surge in mental health awareness and access to information online and through social media, therapy terms have become more widely known and used in everyday conversations. While therapy terms and concepts can be valuable tools for communication and self-reflection within the mental health field, overusing them in broader society can have both positive and negative impacts:
Positive Impacts:
Increased Awareness and Understanding: Using therapy terms in mainstream discourse can contribute to greater awareness and understanding of mental health issues. It can reduce stigma and promotes open conversations about emotions and psychological well-being.
Normalization of Seeking Help: Integrating therapy terms into everyday language can help normalize the idea of seeking help for mental health concerns. It encourages individuals to be more open about their struggles and to consider professional support without fear of judgment.
Enhanced Communication: Having a shared vocabulary around mental health can improve communication. It allows individuals to express their emotions and experiences more precisely, fostering empathy and understanding in personal and professional relationships.
Negative Impacts:
Trivialization of Serious Conditions: Overusing therapy terms can lead to the trivialization of serious mental health conditions. Terms like "anxiety" or "depression" might be casually used to describe everyday stress, potentially diminishing the severity of these clinical conditions.
Misuse and Misunderstanding: Without proper education and context, people may misuse therapy terms, leading to misunderstandings. Common misunderstood terms include “gaslighting”, “trauma bonding”, “love bombing”, etc. This can contribute to misinformation and potentially harmful advice being shared, especially in online and social media spaces.
Labeling and Stereotyping: Over-reliance on therapy terms can lead to labeling and stereotyping individuals based on mental health concepts. This oversimplification may contribute to stigma and reinforce negative stereotypes, hindering progress toward a more nuanced understanding of mental health.
Recommendations:
Promote Education and Awareness: Encourage education about mental health terms to ensure a deeper understanding of their meanings and implications. This can help prevent misuses and promote responsible communication.
Foster Inclusivity and Respect: Encourage a culture of inclusivity and respect for diverse experiences. Avoid making assumptions based on diagnostic labels and recognize the uniqueness of each person's journey.
Encourage Critical Thinking: Foster critical thinking about mental health concepts. Encourage individuals to question and seek a deeper understanding rather than accepting simplified or stereotypical views.
While incorporating therapy terms into everyday language can have positive effects, it is crucial to strike a balance. Aim to promote understanding, and be mindful of potential negative consequences to ensure a responsible and respectful approach to mental health discourse in society.
Gabbi Niemi, MSW, SWLC
References
https://www.vox.com/even-better/23769973/limits-therapy-speak-narcissist-gaslighting-trauma-toxic
https://www.health.com/therapy-speak-terms-people-get-wrong-7510656
https://time.com/6262891/psychology-terms-misused-gaslighting-toxic-narcissist/