Article: Psychotherapy as a Cult

Quote BayBrony: "That being said, potato chip ads promise to change the way you see the world these days so hopefully people would be saavy amd not take these to be literal guarantees"

I agree.

But a potato chip does not purport to be a health care professional. If a surgeon says she can remove a gall bladder and pain will stop - doesn't one expect their gall bladder to be removed and the pain to cease?

Quote BayBrony: "That being said, potato chip ads promise to change the way you see the world these days so hopefully people would be saavy amd not take these to be literal guarantees"

Many people (myself included) are more compromised when we look for a therapist and are vulnerable to exploitation. Good for you for being savvy and able to not be taken, but please don't assume we are all able to be as skilled at this. I, for one, would not be in therapy if I were better able to spot people who will take advantage. I'm glad to have found a therapist who doesn't judge me for having fallen for things that the average person doesn't.

BB. From what I've perused, psychotherapy marketing appears to be big business. There is much talk of it on the web. I easily found some website examples of outrageous advertising, but hesitate even to quote them because I like to keep my discussion general rather than picking on one therapist. But there seem numerous therapy websites employing the phrase "fully alive."

(Psych Central's directory listings I scanned don't have gushing ad copy--kudos for that.)

Some therapist websites use the classic advertising technique of problem/solution, asking the reader if he has such and such a problem and then offering their services. (Again, exact quotes would single out one person.)

Many sites seem to use emotional and "implied" promises, with graphics of cool meadows, pretty footpaths, and silhouette beach walkers with arms outstretched.

I did this search because I wanted to "reverse engineer" factors that might have pulled me into poor therapy.

I still believe a vegetable slicer will make me as happy as the people in the ads.

For me, this is a horrifying thought. I like the way my brain works - I don't want them messing with my brain and how it works.

After my surgical experience a few months ago, I would not expect that outcome at all, whatever the surgeon said. In fact, I would be shocked if it actually happened.

I think Bay's point is that there is a spillover effect. You see enough potato chip ads to realize that they're overblown - 'cause it's not like choosing Cape Cod over Lay's is going to change your life - that you might start wondering about other ads you see. Or professions that are purported to do X.

That's just wrong. If the person is a U.S. state "licensed psychotherapist" then that is something she/he most likely will get sanctioned for if someone sends a picture of the ad to the state board. If the person labels themself a counselor or Christian counselor she/he can do whatever they want.

. . . and honestly, do people really pick therapist through advertising? I guess they do; in fact, unfortunately I know they do, but as in all advertising, buyer beware. Be savvy of deceptive advertising techniques, propaganda, etc. These aren't a particular new strategies to any kind of advertising. Heck, I teach my high schoolers how to detect manipulation and fallacy in writing and advertising. It's a life survival skill.

My brain sucked! My brain was telling me I was worthless and I should kill myself 24 hours a day. I'm glad you were are one of the lucky ones.

So, I am grateful for the brain change.

Yes....but that isn't a fair comparison. My T can't remove my memories and undo the trauma. If you badly wreck a leg you may get use back through time and travail and luck and science. But no one can say how much use or how long it will take.. A mangled leg with crushed bones bears more resemblance to my soul than a blocked gall bladder.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor for 20+ years.

Obviously you've researched it a lot. I've honestly never seen ads like that. I'm horrified that there is no legislation preventing this and that the ptofessional ethics board does not prohibit it. Is both unprofessional and misleading.

My prejudice will show here. The harder your degree was to get the better policed they are. A psychotherapist would not be allowed to advertise that way. License or no I don't want anyone without at least a masters degree working on my brain. At least then I know they sat for boards and had decent clinical training. I'd never see or recommend someone else see an LSW or mental health counselor.y

I guess I just wouldn't consult a therapist from a web-site: there are ambulence-chasing lawyers, and bogus financial advisors, and MDs who perform procedures they have no specialization in. I wouldn't consult any of them, either. There probably is a relationship in the professions between a higher rate of advertising and lower quality of service: the best in their fields don't need to advertise because their work is known through referral. It's illogical to make the leap the practice of law is inherently unethical, or that there are no principles of financial advising, nor that the practice of medicine is without ethics and expertise because there exists bogus practitioners.

As an aside, I just looked on the "Find Help" index on PC for my area (which is a medical hub service area for my state): one LCSW listed. So clearly, in my area with hundreds of Ts, there's no perceived need to be part of a data base of what I would assume is a pretty high rate of traffic.

How is this different from the website for any other product? This is the advertising age. That therapists have jumped on board is not a surprise.

Pretty footpaths, strolling arm in arm on the beach, nice nature scenes - all used in TV ads for medications (beach walking in my mind now equals ED medications) or feminine hygiene products.

I am very happy to criticize therapists if I think it's warranted, but I do not see the point of criticizing them for joining the advertising zeitgeist. They run businesses. They need clients. They advertise using over-inflated promises and images and words intended to induce a certain effect. This does not make them a cult (the original topic of this thread). It may seem cultic, but then it suggests that our entire age is cultic (which someone said earlier, and I do believe is true.)

True.

As a veterinarian the only advertising I do is a couple sponsorships for local pony club activities which is as much to support the organization as to promote my services. My name and number printed in the show progra . Other advertising is a waste of money. My work speaks for itself. Around here If an equine clinic is suddenly sending out fliers promoting services its means business has fallen off.....usually because the service wasn't good enough to start with

Thus I'd be leery of a T with fancy advertising just as I am leery of surgeons with fancy advertising. If you are good at what you do you should not need a fancy ad

The first site I spotted with the language was a PhD/psychologist. I know of another psychologist who's claimed miracle cures in her blogs and consumer Q&A. In retrospect I can see the folly. But it's another story when a client might be less experienced, hurting and vulnerable. I agree it shouldn't be allowed. There's also a line between what is stated and what is implied The latter still could affect a vulnerable client.

Sorry bad quoting on my part. I meant the one advertising personal prayer that ruhroh spoke of. Who they said was a mental health counselor. I totally believe you about the ads
I don't think a psychotherapist could advertise prayer....

I want to clarify something. The term psychotherapist in the U.S. is regulated by the different states, and many titles can fall under that title, including LSW, LMC, and so on. I originally thought it was a federal limiting of the title.

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong or chime in if you know more.


ETA: a list of professionals that use the term (some more than others):

Clinical social worker
Associate clinical social worker
Pastoral Counselor
Marriage and family therapist
Marriage and family therapist registered intern or trainee
Physician specializing in the practice of psychiatry or practicing psychotherapy
Psychologist
Psychological assistant
Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatrist
Though they are similar, each profession has a distinct emphasis and scope of practice.

Found on myshrink.com

But what level of competition are you facing? If there were a huge number of equine vets in your area, you might advertise differently. You might have to to stay afloat.

Similarly, except in rural areas, there are usually a decent number of therapists in most communities, competing for the pool of potential clients. At some point, they start using websites to advertise.

I've never found a therapist from a website, and my method is the result of the one you use: rely on referrals to good people. But personal referrals don't reach a large or consistent audience in areas with sizable populations, hence other methods are adopted to keep the business afloat.

That's what my thinking was.

I believe there are many cultic relationships out there.

I don't think I've posted a judgment, good or bad about the marketing beyond just saying this is out there. I could question whether markteting might sway more vulnerable clients. I'd also wonder if a therapist's actual or implied salesmanship also might be conveyed one-on-one in sessions. I won't label this either.

I've also spotted "salesmanship" in medical waiting rooms and know mass media drug advertising is all around.

I think psychotherapy can only become a cult as we make it our sole dependency for survival. To everything there must be a proper balance and therapy is to help us find that balance. When we go beyond it it becomes a cult to where we find it is our fix. Good topic and excellent points everyone made and contributed.

What's creepy to me is not necessarily that prospective clients believe this stuff, but rather that the therapist believes it.