Stigma In Therapy

The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients warns that diagnoses inhibit growth and creativity in therapy; even though, often times therapists are forced to label patients in order for their much needed care to be financed by insurance agency. Everyone seems to be looking for the quick fix with a diagnosis to medicate then push clients out after only a few sessions. However, it is expressed that no one is exempt from life’s ups and downs; therefore, clients and therapists should be seen as “fellow travelers”.

Madhouses, looney bins, insane asylums, monsters, witches, and lunatics. These are the terms that haunt both the mentally ill and the facilities that provide their treatment. The stigma of mental illness prevents persons in need of treatment from seeking help for their mental illnesses. The roots of the stigma of mental illness need to be dissected to reduce the discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping of the mentally ill. There are things that can be done to prevent this stigma including changes in federal policy, public cooperation, and individual advocacy.

Snap out of it! It is all in your head! It is your punishment for not being Christian! These are some of the bizarre statements heard by people experiencing symptoms of mental illness. Patients suffering a physiological illness rarely hear these words, but they have begun to sound like a broken record to the mentally ill. Everyone sympathizes with the stomach, the liver, the eye, and many other organs in the body when they begin to malfunction, but no one sympathizes with the brain. It is unimaginable and almost abominable for the brain to get sick. Mental illness is probably the most misconstrued and trivialized illness, and this misconception led to the stigma that is prevalent in today’s society. This stigma has portrayed mental illness

With that being said, anti-stigma programs have been developed to enhance the understandings of those labeled as mentally ill. The anti-stigma programs are aimed at both specific target groups and the general public (Henderson, 2013), to provide individuals with an opportunity to become knowledgeable and experienced with mental health (Corrigan,

In the most recent decades, mental disorders have entered to the medical model just as any other physical disease. If a person starts hearing voices, suffers from certain paranoia, or feels like is falling into a depression, he or she can call a specialist and take care of those symptoms just as back pain or a flu. However, mental disorders are not only permanent incurable, such as most of the physical illnesses, but they are susceptible for any stigmatization for people diagnosed with any mental condition. Therefore, a mental impaired individual suffers from the illness, and the reaction from the people around him or her being double condemned for their condition. In other words, they are double stigmatized. Nevertheless, social factors also

Navigation of life is not void of challenges; however, in the presence of a mental disorder, these normal life challenges are exacerbated. Because of this continued mental health services are of fundamental importance for the suffer given they can ease the burden of the disorder. Unfortunately, numerous barriers interrupt the path to care and treatment, which many suffers cannot navigate, thereby severing their link to these vital services. Barriers are either attitudinal (stigma and adverse perception about mental health efficiency) or structural (e.g. location, distance, accessibility, inadequate health coverage) both of which appear to have an impact in this particular case (Eaton, 2012). Ms. Jones unwillingness to accept her diagnosis with paranoid schizophrenia is indicative of the power of stigmas, as well as their ability to obstruct treatment.

People that suffer from mental illnesses are often thought to have drawn the short hand in life. Not only must they experience the hardships that many go through from day to day, but they must do so with a whole new layer of issues that are no walk in the park. On top of everything, they have to mull over the different methods of coping with their condition. From “talk therapy” to drowning in medications, all are temporary solutions to a major issue that has been plaguing humanity for as long as history can record. What about this situation could possibly be changed? One viewpoint theorizes that a lack of public awareness about mental health is the greatest downfall when it comes to treatment options. Another point of view states that a lack

Society has created tags or categorization for individuals with a mental illness, but this types of labeling can affect an individuals’ emotionally and socially. The stigmas that our society is generating towards mentally ill individuals is clearly discriminating them by developing hostile attitudes, perception and unequal opportunities for them. According to the author “Second, patients’ damaged the self-concept then triggers defensive behaviors aimed at warding of others’ rejection: concealing psychiatric treatment history, educating others about mental illness and withdrawing from social interaction” (Kroska, 2011). The effects of cultural stigma can disturb a person’s daily live by restricting them to fully engage in social interactions.

The main question is, what percent of our society is open to treatment of the mentally ill? What can we do to decrease the inevitable stigma and encourage these folks to get treatment? The following studies have been conducted to help determine the effects of stigma on seeking help and how seeking help is influenced by support from family and friends.

The research paper, “Psychological Treatments That May Cause Harm” written by Scott O. Lilienfeld examines treatments that either probably produce harm in some individuals or possibly produce harm in some individuals. Harm can caused in various ways, including worse or more symptoms occurring, excessive dependence on therapist, avoiding all therapies, and physical issues. The author notes that as mental health professionals, it is critical for patients’ wellbeing that the field actively challenges the idea that doing something is always better than doing nothing in therapy, because research has shown that this is not true. As there is no governing agency currently in place in the United States to decide what treatments can and cannot be administered,

The stigma of mental illness has led many to suffer in silence. For those afflicted, acceptance or even treatment is too unrealistic of a notion to seek out the help they so desperately need and want. In the field of psychology, therapy is a way for experts and patients to collaborate, and over the course of their relationship, understand and eliminate problematic behaviors and thought processes that may be affecting their patient’s life. There are quite a few different approaches to therapy; common therapeutic approaches are humanistic, behavior, and cognitive therapies. For someone in need of a way to rectify a mental disorder or as a method of self-improvement, therapeutic assistance in any of these fields may be a boon.

Most people need the support from others but many people who are suffering from a mental illness may have agoraphobia. This is extreme anxiety about going out in public places as well as being in situations. There are only one hundred, two thousand, eight hundred and five practitioners in Australia, whereas there are over 1 million people who suffer from mental illness in Australia. This means that practitioners are so busy they may not have time to deal with people who are in need of some canceling. Due to this, it can actually lead to mortality, so there is not enough reinforcement in the world. By saying the wrong point to people can actually form them to be worse.

The first issue that leads to mental stigma is discrimination from society for those who wielder any kind of mental illness. Stigma is actually different from discrimination, as discrimination is the unfair treatment or judgement of one’s self based on colour, origin, religion, or citizenship. (Mental Health Commision of Canada, 2017). However, unfortunately since recent times those with mental illness were believed to be possessed by evil spirits (Davey, 2013). Furthermore, this idea created the belief that those with mental illness have two options: either to say they are fine and not try to seek help, or seek help and tell the society that they have a mental problem and in that case, they would either be executed or shut from the whole society because of that mental illness. Fortunately, today people would not be executed for having mental illness, but they will still be considered as outcasts from the society.

I wondered about why she feels stigmatised and ways to reduce it. There is undeniable power imbalance between mentors and counsellors even though we try to reduce it. There is also a stigma attached to asking for help, which I could understand. I tried to reduce it by humanising counsellors and mentors like myself, that we are not so different. I told her that I see counsellors as well when I am struggling and find it extremely helpful. I also expressed that I think that she is strong and I admire her for that, but there’s only so much that we can handle and carry on our shoulders. I think if I had more time, I would continue to work on reducing stigma related to seeking help. For future transition, Ariana has mentioned that she had good experience

Mental Illness is a universal health issue which causes mass amounts of suffering amongst the general population. It can become a majorly debilitating when subjected to a psychiatric illness, however, this is not entirely due to the undesirable symptoms from the conditions themselves but also the stigma that’s inherently linked