Lost in Translation: The Impact of 'Therapy Speak' and Pop-Psychology on Therapy

“She’s such a narcissist.” 

“I cannot believe he actually is trying to gaslight me right now.” 

“It was honestly such a toxic relationship.” 

“That class was so traumatic, I’m never taking it again.”

“You can’t hang out with them, it crosses my boundaries.”

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In the ever-evolving landscape of mental health and therapy, the terminology and concepts utilized in the field have grown increasingly complex. Learning the language of therapy is an incredibly complicated journey, especially when we consider the array of jargon, acronyms, and specialized terminology that can leave many folks who are beginning to dive into this subject overwhelmed and overloaded. Just consider the amount of books and articles about therapy, self-help topics, and research around the topic. So many people, opinions, and voices on a subject can begin to alter original meanings to terms. 

Let’s take it back for a sec to the origins of language in the first place. There are many different theories as to how language was developed within homosapiens. Some theories include that language came about by a single mutation in the brain where humans began to express complex meanings through a combination of sounds (grunting, whining, cooing, etc…). Other theories include components of language evolving in stages, over millions and millions of years. What we do know is that language has been around since long before our great-great-great-great (insert so many more greats) ancestors were born. 

A wonderful example of the evolution of language includes the word, “nice.” We all probably use that word every week, maybe even daily. But did you know that the origin of the word nice is not really all that nice? Around the 14th century, nice actually meant ignorant, or stupid.

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Over time, the word nice changed meaning, to extravagant, then to finely-dressed, landing more in the category of positive adjectives surrounding looks. It has since evolved into a word we frequently hear that may even have its own meaning individually for folks depending on their own experiences with the word. 

So why does this English lesson matter when it comes to therapy? Well, we know in the therapy world that language has power. The main concept of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a widely practiced psychotherapy approach, is to take the language we are using in our brains (a.k.a. our thoughts), look at the impact they are making on our feelings and behaviors, all the while challenging what isn’t working well for ourselves. Language is involved with how we speak to ourselves, how we think about things, how we process information, the decisions we make - I could keep going on an endless list of the power of language, but I’ll save that for another time. 

Language is incredibly important in the therapeutic space. If you and your therapist are missing each other's points and feeling misunderstood by one another, the space will evolve into the antithesis of what therapy is all about. So how does the concept of ‘Therapy Speak’ and pop-psychology come into play? 

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Unhelpful Aspects of ‘Therapy Speak’

Meaning can get skewed

Like mentioned previously, it is a fundamental piece of therapy to feel heard and understood within the therapeutic space. Complex psychological conditions can be oversimplified into catchy terms, which can lead to misunderstandings or trivialization of serious issues. This can result in people not taking mental health problems as seriously, or a disconnection in understanding between the client and therapist.

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Misdiagnosis, self-diagnosis, and maladaptive coping skills

The widespread use of pop-psychology terms can encourage individuals to self-diagnose without professional guidance, leading to incorrect self-assessments and potentially harmful self-treatment. This can possibly show up in utilizing coping strategies and tools that encourage unhealthy behaviors or patterns.

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Stigmatization and labeling

While the increase in conversations around psychology, coping tools, and people sharing their own experiences can reduce stigma (more on this later!), it can also contribute to it by creating labels that people might use to judge or categorize others unfairly. Terms can be used derogatorily, reinforcing negative stereotypes.

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Dismissing professional help

The abundance of self-help strategies and pop-psychology advice on social media might lead individuals to neglect seeking professional mental healthcare. Believing that they can manage on their own with popular techniques, people might avoid or delay getting the help they may benefit most from. 

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Unrealistic expectations and dismissal of the individual experience

Within therapy, content matters! As a therapist, I believe it’s important to understand the full picture of what is going on for a person (as best as one can) before applying any strategy. ‘Therapy Speak’ terms and pop-psychology tend to provide one-size-fits-all advice, ignoring the unique circumstances, backgrounds, and needs of the individual person. This can lead to recommendations that are not suitable for everyone, potentially causing harm if people try to apply generic advice to their specific situations without considering their personal context. It also can promote “quick fixes” or overly simplistic solutions to complex problems. This can lead individuals to have unrealistic expectations about the speed and ease of personal change, potentially resulting in frustration or a sense of failure when those expectations are not met.

• Benefits of social media on providing education and mass messaging

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Helpful Aspects of ‘Therapy Speak’

Accessibility and Awareness

Let’s be real: therapy can be expensive, especially without insurance coverage! While pop-psychology terms often simplify complex psychological concepts, we can also note the positive impact of this aspect and how it makes the information more accessible to the general public. This can raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues, leading to more people seeking help when they need it.

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Communication

These terms can provide a common language for discussing psychological issues, making it easier for people to communicate their experiences and feelings with others, including friends, family, and professionals. As an encouragement for other therapists or healthcare workers reading this: I would encourage you to ask your clients about what the term means for them specifically and why they are choosing to use it in their content, hopefully creating more understanding of meaning in the therapeutic space for the both of you! I have personally seen that holding space for understanding my client’s meanings helps to open up conversations around healthy vs. unhealthy relationship patterns, psychoeducation around boundaries and communication, as well as identifying and healing past traumas.

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Self-Help and Empowerment

Pop-psychology and ‘Therapy Speak’ terms can empower individuals by providing them with tools and strategies to improve their mental well-being. Concepts like growth mindset or emotional intelligence can motivate people to make positive changes in their lives. Also, there are absolutely wonderful creators out there on social media sharing helpful coping skills and analogies that encourage healing. 

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Reduces Stigma

By normalizing discussions around mental health, these terms and topics can help reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses. When these terms are widely used, they can contribute to a more accepting and supportive societal attitude towards mental health.

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Early Intervention

Knowledge is power! Awareness of terms and definitions like burnout or hangziety can help individuals recognize early signs of mental health issues, encouraging them to seek help before problems escalate further. 

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In summary, pop-psychology and ‘Therapy Speak’ can have a variety of impacts on a person, both harmful and helpful. While the terms can democratize mental health information and facilitate important conversations, they carry significant risks if not addressed appropriately. Discrepancies in understanding, misdiagnoses, stigma, and unrealistic expectations underline the need for cautious and informed use of these terms. Balancing the accessibility and empowerment of these concepts can provide appropriate, professional guidance and an understanding of the individual context is crucial in doing this. When we can foster a nuanced approach to mental health and the language we use, we can maximize the benefits while minimizing the potential harms!

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Resources:

• How Did Language Begin by The Linguistic Society

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Other related articles:

• The Rise of Therapy-Speak by Livia Kent & Matthias Barker
• What Is Pop Psychology by Arlin Cuncic
• ‘Therapy Speak’ is everywhere, but it may make us less empathetic on NPR

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