[Lrad123]

I haven’t experienced trauma, but have certainly had some hardships like most people have. I came to therapy for some life struggles but it has become about something else entirely. It feels full of tension for me although I believe my therapist is good and kind. I keep pushing through because I like the idea of therapy and I like this therapist and also because I dislike the idea of failing at this. But I do wonder if I’ve had enough. It’s got me thinking that maybe therapy isn’t for everyone.

It seems like my therapist occasionally takes credit for some things going well in my life. I’m not saying he necessarily shouldn’t, but I’m not completely convinced. Maybe certain things would have gone well anyway even without therapy. After all, life is naturally full of ups and downs. I recently went out of town with my husband for a few days and we did some hiking. It was carefree and relaxing and I genuinely felt close to him in ways that might not have seemed possible a few years ago. I’m doing psychodynamic therapy, so no specific or at least no articulated goals, but it seems I’m working on opening up, trusting others, and taking care of myself, etc, so I suppose it could be related to therapy, but it’s not obvious to me. I’m curious if others have had similar experiences?

[ArtleyWilkins]

No, I don't think most people need therapy actually.

When I reached a place where I felt able to manage through life without needing to bounce it up against a therapist, I left therapy and I doubt I'll ever need to return.

[stopdog]

No - absolutely not. I do not think most people could benefit from therapy

I think most people who SEEK therapy have neutral or positive experiences.

I do not have much faith in therapy’s usefulness when it becomes excessively painful or tumultulous for certain clients.

[divine1966]

Some do and some don’t. I am not sure how to calculate “most”. Depends why someone is in therapy too.

Sometimes one just need neutral person to talk to. Some people find bereavement therapy very helpful. When my daughter unexpectedly lost her husband she saw specifically bereavement therapist. She swore by it. I found my therapist unhelpful with grief and bereavement but she is very good with other things.

Some people like group therapy. Not me. I have zero interest and absolutely no time for sitting listening to other people’s Issues.

So there is no cookie cutter approach. People who had bad experience or unrealistic expectation of therapy will tell you how all therapy is bad and all therapists are crooks. Words like “All, never, always” don’t appeal to me and “most” is impossible to calculate as it would be really hard to collect statistical data like this

[nottrustin]

My friend and I have discussed this often She has never been to therapy but she does she a spiritual director who has educational training as counselor. However he is not a counselor. My friend believes most people could benefit from therapy at some point in life.

[Misery Business]

No, I don't think most people need therapy and I also don't think therapy is something that should go on in someones life forever. If you have a struggle in life and you want to talk the issue out with someone that is fine and go do just that. Once you feel that is resolved than move on.

[stopdog]

Well, at least some (most I would say if you do a quick search) seem to believe the answer is yes (which does help them stay in business). And those guys don't seem to have any problems with the idea of most or all etc
Who Doesn't Need Therapy? | Psychology Today

(I greatly dislike this guy -but his attitude about therapy is pervasive and (I believe) quite dangerous)

How can anyone answer this.
No one walks in anyone else's shoes.
How someone wishes to negate their life. What they use. What they find useful, what they don't find usefulis purely a personal decision.

Putting Personal bias aside, is up to the individual.

[Misery Business]

Originally Posted by The mouse

How can anyone answer this.
No one walks in anyone else's shoes.
How someone wishes to negate their life. What they use. What they find useful, what they don't find usefulis purely a personal decision.

Putting Personal bias aside, is up to the individual.

This is a very good answer.

[Misterpain]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Some do and some don’t. I am not sure how to calculate “most”. Depends why someone is in therapy too.


Sometimes one just need neutral person to talk to. Some people find bereavement therapy very helpful. When my daughter unexpectedly lost her husband she saw specifically bereavement therapist. She swore by it. I found my therapist unhelpful with grief and bereavement but she is very good with other things.


Some people like group therapy. Not me. I have zero interest and absolutely no time for sitting listening to other people’s Issues.


So there is no cookie cutter approach. People who had bad experience or unrealistic expectation of therapy will tell you how all therapy is bad and all therapists are crooks. Words like “All, never, always” don’t appeal to me and “most” is impossible to calculate as it would be really hard to collect statistical data like this

Group therapy is good for the therapist billing hours,not so much for the patient ,people need individualized therapy targeting what issues they are actually confronting ,in order to overcome it ,big break throughs don't happen in group dynamics ,sure everyone gets the warm fuzzy feeling " i am not alone" ,until they realize crap i am alone ,because even someone who is also grieving ,may not be stuck on the same concept or stage ,so really in my opinion ,group doesnt allow a person to drill down on there exact issue (yes i realize most people dont exactly know whats bothering them in the beginning ) but i have never seen anyone have spontaneous break throughs sitting in groups BS ing about a topic ,once or twice the comadrie of the experience is helpfull and making friends with other people also struggling ,and you make mutually understanding social groups ( I don't care if your trying to be socially isolated, your going to suffer thru this movie with us ,and help eat these milk duds and popcorn tonight ,you can withdraw again tommorow ,is sometimes great at protecting everybodys mental health,and only something another patient can "shame you into" ,take one for the team tonight ,see a movie, have coffee,break up the day to day blahs ,have a gripe session, the enegy and momentum of others not as depressed can be helpfull ).

[SlumberKitty]

I think some people benefit from therapy. I certainly have. But I have friends that have tried it and it didn't work for them. I think it depends on a lot of factors like the therapist, where the person is in their life, if the person clicks with the therapist, etc. HUGS Kit

Originally Posted by The mouse

How can anyone answer this.
No one walks in anyone else's shoes.
How someone wishes to negate their life. What they use. What they find useful, what they don't find usefulis purely a personal decision.

Putting Personal bias aside, is up to the individual.

Statistically there is an answer to this. Or there would be, if a variety of data points were collected from former therapy clients. Unfortunately no such metric is readily available regarding psychotherapy success rates. I’m not sure the field would enjoy the scrutiny or forced self-reflection of having to quantify something so subjective.

I believe the OP was looking for speculation and opinion, which yes, varies wildly by personal experience.

[Salmon77]

At its most basic I think of therapy as a practice of listening and questioning, and I believe that most people can benefit from talking/thinking about their lives (especially when things get difficult) with a supportive person whose own interests won't get in the way. That person might be a therapist but could have some other role, like a teacher or spiritual advisor or even a good friend. Does everyone need a professional therapist, probably not.

Originally Posted by Salmon77

At its most basic I think of therapy as a practice of listening and questioning, and I believe that most people can benefit from talking/thinking about their lives (especially when things get difficult) with a supportive person whose own interests won't get in the way. That person might be a therapist but could have some other role, like a teacher or spiritual advisor or even a good friend. Does everyone need a professional therapist, probably not.

I find this to be true.

[MobiusPsyche]

Benefiting from therapy requires a talent for introspection and self-awareness that I believe "most people" lack, so my answer is no.

But I do think that your being more open and trusting with people outside of therapy is probably related to what's happening inside therapy.

[Xynesthesia2]

How is "benefit" defined? I think most people who try therapy find it neutral or a waste of time and quit after a very few sessions. I think it is more the minority who benefit from therapy. I have seen quite a few people who raved about therapy and their therapist yet their main real life problems have not improved a bit even after years of going.

Originally Posted by MobiusPsyche

Benefiting from therapy requires a talent for introspection and self-awareness that I believe "most people" lack, so my answer is no.

I definitely consider myself as someone with those "talents" (and pretty much everyone who knows me think the same), although not really an emotional way, which may be in part why therapy is not really my medium. I did not find therapy useful really - one reason exactly because I already do those things by default all the time, it is very much my nature - therapy was extremely shallow in comparison. It also did not teach me anything I could not learn from everyday life, observation, relationships, the psych literature, trial and error etc. I routinely have a million times better and deeper conversations with friends and colleagues than I ever had with Ts. For free, and without the structure and unnatural limitations. Normal social connections are definitely beneficial for me.

I would agree with the statement that some people benefit from therapy, however it is defined. Most, absolutely not. I would say certain kinds of people with certain types of issues/personalities can benefit more than others. It is extremely hit and miss IMO.

[sarahsweets]

Yep, he sums it up:

My Disclaimer: I’m an evangelist for psychotherapy. Not only is it my profession, but I’ve been a consumer of the therapeutic arts for many years. Hell, I even formed a psychotherapy holiday. I drank the talking cure Kool-Aid a long time ago. Keep that in mind as you read my incredibly biased response to the latest Mailbag question.

Originally Posted by stopdog

Well, at least some (most I would say if you do a quick search) seem to believe the answer is yes (which does help them stay in business). And those guys don't seem to have any problems with the idea of most or all etc
Who Doesn't Need Therapy? | Psychology Today

(I greatly dislike this guy -but his attitude about therapy is pervasive and (I believe) quite dangerous)

[here today]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Well, at least some (most I would say if you do a quick search) seem to believe the answer is yes (which does help them stay in business). And those guys don't seem to have any problems with the idea of most or all etc
Who Doesn't Need Therapy? | Psychology Today

. . .

There are some interesting comments to this article, including one by Francesca on February 8, 2017 listing people people who CAN'T benefit from therapy. Some others disagreeing with the author as well.

[Lrad123]

When I first met my therapist he mentioned that he had encouraged his family members to try therapy at some point (he has 2 grown daughters). I think he was trying to tell me that he thought therapy was for everyone, not just those with a diagnosis of mental illness or history of trauma. I am continually both intrigued and cynical about my therapy and my opinion about it can change on a dime.

I seem to be an outlier. I think that most people could benefit from good therapy. The key word there is good.

[Taylor27]

I think allot of people could benefit from good therapy if they are open to it and want to change. I have been in therapy for 18yr's and i still benefit from going.

[Lonelyinmyheart]

I agree with the two posters above. I think most people would benefit from therapy if they are lucky enough to find a well qualified, professional therapist who they click with on a personality level AND if they are motivated to move forward. I've had therapy with four different therapists and they have all helped me change my life for the better. I can't imagine how I'd be now if it wasn't for them.

[InnerPeace111]

Yes, I believe most people could benefit from therapy if they are open to it and motivated to take initiative and do the work. We all have pretty much the same goals...to increase happiness/inner peace/etc. and decrease suffering. Therapy can absolutely help!

[BudFox]

I tried a lot of therapists. They were useless at best. One messed me up.

It's a shady profession. Very little transparency. Most people will have a hard time calculating risk vs benefit. I think the risk is considerable. Not just risk of serious harm, but more mundane stuff... wasting time and money, becoming subtly infantilized, becoming more self absorbed, habituating to asymmetrical relating, reliance on external authority (contrived), etc. Most people will focus on meagre benefits -- I had someone to talk to -- and miss these sorts of insidious detriments, because therapy is seen as credible and obligatory in the eyes of the masses.

I see the therapy relationship as fundamentally dysfunctional and much more suggestive of problems than solutions. I'd advise people to stay away.