Critics of psychotherapy have always been prevalent, but some critics today may be especially dangerous. Some far-right politicians and so-called “influencers”, like Andrew Tate, perpetuate the idea that therapy is for weak people—that people need to just “grow thick skin” and stop “playing victim.” They spout rhetoric claiming that issues only arise when people focus on them so much, and that if people stop focusing so much on their problems, the problems will just go away. Andrew Tate has even made a post on the platform X, stating, “Depression is a choice”. You CHOOSE.” This ideology, however, clearly contrasts the fundamental ideals of psychotherapy. Since the advent of therapy, proponents have advocated that neglecting a problem will only…show more content… Ultimately, while rumination and reflection in isolation can be harmful, the importance of confronting, reflecting on, and talking about trauma, especially in a therapeutic context, is paramount, and modern influencers who advocate the opposite pose a serious hazard, especially for children. A complete avoidance of one’s problems and traumas only exacerbates the struggles they face. A study published in the National Library of Medicine titled “Trauma Reactivity, Avoidant Coping, and PTSD Symptoms: A Moderating Relationship?” measured the correlation between trauma reactivity—measured using the participants’ heart rates—and avoidant coping strategies in 55 participants after they experienced a sexual assault. The study cites the fact that an abundance of prior research had already reported the possible dangers of avoidant coping strategies: “Avoiding trauma memories or reminders may impede the natural recovery process that would allow for heightened arousal to decrease over time. Avoidance may also reinforce PTSD symptoms by signaling the individual that the memories are in fact dangerous”…show more content… The critical issue is allowing yourself to know what you know. That takes an enormous amount of courage” (Van der Kolk). Kolk illustrates that avoidance only leads to more self-conflict and that an honest confrontation of your situation is a crucial step forward, despite it being very difficult. Yet, since this self-confrontation can usually not be successfully done with isolated rumination, psychotherapy comes into play. Therapy has proven for decades to be effective in helping patients understand themselves and their emotions, ultimately paving the way for healing and growth. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the modern go-to treatment for a wide range of mental health challenges. In a review of 106 meta-analyses examining CBT, the authors reported, “our review of meta-analytic studies examining the efficacy of CBT demonstrated that this treatment has been used for a wide range of psychological problems. In general, the evidence-base of CBT is very strong, and especially for treating anxiety disorders” (Hofmann). Thus, there are dozens of studies supporting the strong efficacy of modern therapy
