Therapy is evolving as a profession to meet the new and changing needs of our society. Traditional models of therapy were developed by European and white men to maintain their own power – the therapist was the “expert” who knew more about the patient than the patient knew about themselves. New models see people as their own source of power and expertise.
Therapy is no longer about giving advice or unraveling subconscious issues. It’s about a collaborative change process, and it is about a relationship.
This is the foundation of Empower Mental Health – it’s a new way of looking at mental health as a “we” issue instead of a “me” issue, and giving all of us the tools to address mental health in today’s world, in our own lives, and in the lives of those around us.
Here are some emerging aspects of mental health that have to be addressed in today’s world:
1) New means of connection – and disconnection – Social media gives us instant connection with others, but it isn’t the same as real, face-to-face discussion and relationship. We are in some ways more connected than ever, and in some ways much less.
2) New technology and ways of delivering therapy – you can connect with a therapist online only if that is what is most comfortable for you! Check for updates to our Therapy page to see when we have connections with online mental health support!
3) Changes in stigma – There is less stigma in younger generations about talking about your mental health concerns – hurray! However, there is still a lot of stigma around getting treatment for your mental health. We need to make therapy and consistent attention to maintaining good mental health part of our everyday conversations, too, so it’s as much about what you’re doing to support your mental health as it is about what challenges you might have going on in your life.
4) Diversity/Inclusion – We need more perspectives at the table if we are going to have solutions that work for more of us. Often this means, for those of us in the dominant culture, getting out of our comfort zone and seeking novel experiences and connections. The stress and/or anxiety of doing this personal work is real, and it is so worth it! Therapy can help us move through the uncomfortable feelings we might have related to expanding our views and horizons.
5) Mindfulness as an intervention for pervasive anxiety – Anxiety is the number one mental health concern in American society today. We all need tools to deal with anxiety, worry, stress, adulting, all of it. Mindfulness practices are the most natural and instantaneous way to combat anxiety – and they’re free! Many therapists utilize mindfulness in their therapy practice. If you have questions about finding a therapist who practices a certain model of therapy, ask it here!
Check out our new Gallery of Mindfulness Activities!
6) Opioid epidemic – The opioid epidemic is about pain pills, for sure. It is about how many prescriptions are out there, how accessible and overused they are, how pharmaceutical companies profit from their overprescription. But none of that fully explains the opioid epidemic. To understand why we are now in an opioid epidemic, we have to understand pain. Not just physical pain, but emotional pain – and how afraid we have become to experience pain. (Contact us for more information or training on the opioid epidemic!)
6) Globalization – In our digital world, we are connected to other parts of the world (virtually) in ways we never have been before. This is exciting because we have access to more information about more parts of the world. This also means we see tragedy almost as it happens. We see the aftermath of violence visually instead of just reading about it. We take on worldwide trauma instead of being removed from it – this brings up new and different mental health concerns than existed when we were more geographically isolated.
7) Gender and identity fluidity – The respect for self-identification of gender and sexuality that is rising in our society is wonderful, and also creates new challenges for families, children and teens, as well as organizations and businesses. Working with all of these groups can help with inclusion, acceptance, and relationship that can withstand differences where we maybe didn’t see them before.
8) New family formations – Families are changing! Marriage rates are down, divorce rates are up, couples are having fewer children, and many more families have multiple adults in the workforce, all of which are major changes over just the last few generations. Traditional models of therapy were based on a two-parent family with a married male and stay-at-home female parental figure present. These models have to expand to be able to best empower families that look different and may connect differently – families today face different challenges, and are still striving to stay connected.
9) Politics – As much as therapists might not think this is their arena, it is starting to be a regular topic in many therapy sessions! We need to be able to help people navigate their reaction to controversy, as well as the relationship strain that many are feeling as politics become more divisive.
We offer training and consultation on any of the above issues, connect here!
