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to answer your question, like my mutual said i think we can separate it into the ethical critique and the epistemological one. ethically, a therapist has the power to institutionalize you, call the cops, divulge personal information to people around you (and depending on the situation, they might be legally required to). its also laughable to give people pointers on what to look for in a therapist, ive never been in a position in which that was under my control because of the cost and waiting times and i dont know anyone who's ever been able to realistically "therapist shop" in any way. epistemologically, and that one is less of a consensus, i dont think therapists can offer what they claim to offer; they are just as clueless about the effects of commonly prescribed psych meds as any psychiatrist, and the advice most of them give is just shit from a worksheet. a lot of ppl confide in their therapist because they have nobody else in their life but i think thats an indictment of their circumstances and not an endorsement of therapy. additionally therapy doesn't exist in a vacuum, even if someone personally loves their therapist and buys them chocolates every year i think they can recognize that the role of therapy is to make people functional and convince them it's in their head (sorry, that it's "biopsychosocial factors"). to me at least, that's the basis of therapy that feels off that you're talking about - and one factor in a lot of people needing to "justify" not being in therapy. if, for example, you're somebody who regularly uses a significant amount of substances and is very satisfied with that state you are pretty much barred from all therapy because even your "harm reductionists" will think it's a necessary evil, inherently inferior to sobriety state of being. try bringing up that you cut yourself for all sorts of reasons and you don't see a problem with it. or try getting them to actually take you seriously if you say that everyone in your life hates you and wishes you harm. i dont think you can even draw broad strokes about solutions, states and strategies as much as those people seem to think, and for that reason i dont think anyone can claim to have any kind of expertise on that topic. and i dont think anyone who doesn't know me, is in a position of power over me, sees me once a month for an hour, and is going to convince me that my actions are irrational and that i should change my mindset has anything to tell me about life