Why the stigma of going to psychotherapy is fading away

The stigma of going to a psychologist is getting weaker and weaker; there is an assumption that there is no point in prejudging.

For years, many people have taken it for granted that going to a psychologist is something to be ashamed to acknowledge, something to be hidden away so that it is not exposed to the view of others. However, the stigma of psychotherapy has faded to the point of almost disappearing to the point of almost disappearing in most countries of Western culture.

The reason is that, like all stigma, it was only based on mistaken beliefs about this type of interventions in patients, and the passage of time has been exposing these myths at a devilish speed.

What is a stigma?

A good part of the opinions we form about what surrounds us comes from what generations before us thought about that subject.

That's the thing about living immersed in a culture: almost everything we think is "borrowed" from almost everything we think is "borrowed" from others who thought it before us.. For example, it is all very well to believe that our attitude towards politics defines us as freethinkers, but you only need to think about abortion to realize that what has happened over the last few centuries totally conditions the way we are for or against the practice.

For better and for worse, our psychological life is inherited from the psychological life that took place previously in the regions we inhabit or have come to inhabit. And this is especially noticeable 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. a series of negative connotations and adverse emotional reactions arbitrarily associated with a group or activity.. As an example of stigmatization of groups, a clear case is that suffered by the Jews, and as an example of stigmatization of activities, we can find it in the trades considered unworthy and whose exercise does not harm anyone in particular.

The latter is what has happened for decades with going to a psychologist, something that until not so long ago was seen as a symptom of weakness or total disconnection with reality.

Why is the myth of going to the psychologist disappearing?

As we have seen, the 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 grounds for treating 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, the majorities with the power to discriminate, do and think..

Now then... Why has the stigma of going to a psychologist existed, but has been rapidly crumbling 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 backing of psychotherapy

Psychotherapy has long since ceased to be based on trial-and-error experiments, seeing if something happened to help patients.

Today, many of the psychological mechanisms of psychotherapy are known, many of the basic psychological mechanisms that help to weaken the behavioral and thought patterns that cause suffering are now known. and that can be intervened through psychotherapy. And it is also known how to take advantage of these mechanisms to not only mitigate much of the discomfort, but to 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 certain strategies and therapeutic tools.

Today, the type of psychological intervention with the most scientific evidence of its efficacy is cognitive-behavioral therapy.This is the current from which most of the psychologists in Spain start.

2. Examples of celebrities who go to a psychologist

It may seem silly, but the simple fact of seeing that people who are admired and who enjoy a very good image nationally or internationally go to a psychologist is more powerful than many PR campaigns.

In many cases, moreover, these famous people do not show any qualms in saying that they have attended or are attending psychotherapy; they understand that it is relevant information.They understand that it is a relevant information because they are people with a strong public life, and that it does not damage their image because they do not pretend 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 particular problems and needs realize that going to a psychologist makes all the sense in the world.

4. 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 emphasis is placed on the need not to be prejudicedWe must not fall into the trap of hating for the sake of hating, of excluding for the sake of excluding, and of not feeding a hypocritical mentality based on accusing others of not fitting a model of perfection that no one fulfills.

The 5 keys to choose a good psychologist

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 they want to attend therapy, they can make the right choice. Here are some keys to make the best choice when deciding which professionals to turn to.. It is necessary to look at:

1. Experience

The practice of psychotherapy is based on a lot of practice; someone who only has the theory will probably not be able to achieve all that is asked of him/her..

2. Specialization

There are many profiles of psychotherapists; for that reason, the best thing to do is to sharpen the shot and go to one that you know knows how to deal with the problem you are havingamong others.

3. Recommendations and recognitions

If you can, look for recommendations of the psychologist you have in mind. It is also a good idea to check their accreditations.

4. Update

In the world of psychology there are always new developments; that's why, the best professionals are always training: attending seminarsThey are always 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 professional and academic background.