Lateral Alternatives to Therapy for the Therapy Traumatized?

[u/transginda]

Are there any anarchist resources for therapy alternatives?Mental health options that don't have all the power dynamics of the traditional system?

[u/cumminginsurrection]

Soma therapy (play therapy) was produced by anarchist Roberto Friere as an egalitarian alternative to traditional therapy.

[u/valis2030]

Check out M.A.S.T, or Mutual Aid Social Therapy. Originally created by the Jane Collective out of NY. I participated in a group for a while and it helped me work through some stuff. https://drive.proton.me/urls/JNGKV94TNC#DH89nFtiHHvK

Edit: Tried to find their web site but it got torched when noblogs was targeted by the State. Grab the materials while you can.

[u/transginda → u/valis2030]

Thank you.

[u/AtTheEndOfTheDay18]

Therapy isn't really how it used to be with someone lying on a chair and someone asks them to free associate anymore. Going to a therapist is like having a conversation with anyone else except they're experts in psychology. You don't have to take medicine if you don't want. If you've experienced trauma I encourage you to seek professional help.

If you really don't want to, you can try to study psychology on your own. I did this for a little bit, but since I've gotten the help I need with therapy, I didn't need to anymore.

[u/YsaboNyx → u/AtTheEndOfTheDay18]

I'm glad you found the help (and the therapy) you needed.

As someone who has also studied psychology and done tons of therapy, I think the current system is still very much steeped in dominance, hierarchy, and weaponized diagnoses, The APA is neck deep in creating systems which psychologically tamper with us. There are numerous connections between prestigious psych programs (Harvard, Stanford, etc) and MKUltra & the Epstein files. I also studied marketing at one point, and the way that psych research is used in advertising is egregious.

The DSM's focus is on identifying patterns that make one less productive and functioning in our current sick society and calling them disorders. Nowhere in this supposed bible of human functionality do they identify the underlying systemic trauma, nor do they label, diagnose, or recommend treatment for the people perpetrating that systemic trauma. Near as I can tell, the DSMV is a handbook for maintaining the status quo while covering up systemic awareness and preventing change.

And lastly, if you do go to therapy, chances are your records are going to be housed electronically somewhere and I don't have confidence that they cannot be accessed. Tthose same records can be subpoenaed and used against you in a court of law which severely undermines the whole trust and confidentiality that is essential for effective therapy.

It could be an amazing thing. We all need therapy. Finding a truly skilled therapist is a gift that can change one's life. But overall I agree with OP that, systemically, it's part of the dominance game.

[u/AtTheEndOfTheDay18 → u/YsaboNyx]

I had OCD extremely bad, and fortunately, it's textbook simple to treat with ERPT, but it did wreak havoc in my life for many years. So, the therapist was very helpful in diagnosing and treating it.

I do agree that the diagnosis of mental illness can be weaponized to have power over people in society. However, sometimes, the label is helpful to getting the treatment you need. So, one should be educated that the label (from DSM) does not define them, but they define it.

When you talk about things that psychologically tamper with us, are you also referring to this social media website? I am aware that television, radio, social media, the internet, music, etc. is all a form of mind control.

[u/SilverHare23]

Check out co-counselling. It was developed in the 1970s as a simple, non-hierarchical and reciprocal method of therapy. Two people who have done the training, give equal time to one another, to facilitate the other in exploring their issues. It's highly effective and affirming.

[u/Intrepid_Angle_815]

I've been doing some self-guided therapy. reading up on specific therapy modalities suited to my needs has helped give me tools to handle them somewhat more effectively

then again sometimes what I need is to talk to someone I can trust, in which case I turn to community