Aunt Bashes Idea of Therapy, Unintentionally Ends Up Quoting Therapist Weekly
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A woman who claims "therapy is for the Faithless" has unwittingly been giving a therapist's advice.
The original poster (OP), user My_Alchemy22, shared their story on Reddit, explaining that their aunt is someone who routinely discourages therapy in favor of prayer.
She even once told the OP's cousin that discussing problems with a therapist instead of God "is a sign of spiritual weakness".
The OP, however, has been seeing a therapist for a while, but was surprised when their aunt confessed to feeling "spiritually dry".
Stock image of a therapist talking with her patient.
Stock image of a therapist talking with her patient.
Photo by Valeriy_G / Getty Images
"Honestly, [after that comment] I felt this quiet ache in my heart," they told Newsweek in a Reddit message. "It reminded me of what it felt like before I decided to turn to therapy. In a way, she was asking for help, and she didn't even realize it.
"I was torn between giving it anonymously or staying out of it altogether. Eventually, well, turns out kindness doesn't cost a dime. I offer what I can. A little ironic, but I sleep better knowing I made a difference, somewhat."
In their post, the OP explained, "I shared something my therapist once told me: 'Sometimes we mistake emotional exhaustion for a spiritual crisis. They feel the same, but they need different care.'
"She blinked. Said it sounded like something from a devotional. Asked me to send her the quote.
"Now she's been texting me weekly for 'more little gems'."
The OP told Newsweek the "little gems" include "You don't have to perform your healing to prove you're getting better" and "Feeling stuck isn't the same as being broken".
"I'm not sure how conversant she is with the Internet, because there's plenty of quotes floating out there that I know she'd love and resonate with," the OP noted.
"Until she gets there, we'll keep boosting her with the weekly gems."
Reddit Reacts
Hundreds of Redditors took to the comments to applaud the OP, with one writing appreciatively, "It's this type of petty I'm here for."
Another agreed, adding, "Sometimes the best lessons come when people don't know they're being taught. Your therapist should get royalties for all these 'divine revelations'."
"The 'PRO' version of this is, sometime down the road, inviting her to meet with the 'pastor' or 'devotional leader' that you're getting your advice from, and sitting her down with a real therapist," one Redditor pointed out.
Generational Experience of Therapy
Different generations have varying attitudes to therapy, with Monica Cwynar, a licensed counselor and social worker with Thriveworks, telling Newsweek, "[Baby boomers'] lower rate of engagement [with therapy] can reflect a cultural background shaped by different societal norms around mental health, where there has traditionally been a stigma associated with seeking help.
"Boomers are more likely to emphasize resilience, self-reliance, and the belief that personal struggles should be handled privately, that seeking help is a weakness, resulting in a hesitance to seek external support like therapy."
'Felt like a win'
The OP told Newsweek they had only told "a few cousins" about going to therapy, and "they loved it".
"We grew up watching our elders prioritize social acceptance over well-being, so watching that shift, even in disguise, felt like a win," they added.
"Therapy and spirituality don't have to cancel each other out. Sometimes healing starts with language that feels safe. Even if it's borrowed."
Concerns over AI
While therapy can be a useful tool for those seeking help, the increase in use of artificial intelligence has caused problems for some patients.
In one incident, covered by Newsweek, a patient was urged to report their therapist after he accidentally revealed he was "cherry-picking" responses from ChatGPT.
Newsweek reached out to My_Alchemy22 requesting further comment on Friday, June 6.
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