"I don't need therapy, i have my bestie!'

You’ve probably heard it before, “I don’t need therapy, I have my bestie!” or a slew of other comments equating social support from non-trained individuals with professional counseling…even bartenders and hairstylists. 
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All the while much of our society still views talking through our feelings, relationships, or problems as weak, gossip, or complaining.​

Psychological counseling is as old as the ninth century, with the development of “Talk Therapy” for mental health conditions in the 1800’s by Sigmund Freud. Since the development of professional psychotherapy many theories were established to explain mental phenomena including a variety of treatment methods and strategies; all of which encompass different perspectives on the etiology of a problem and it’s mechanisms of change. For example, behaviorist models of psychotherapy rely on behavior change as a therapeutic goal and focus less on the emotional aspects of a problem while a primary feature of cognitive therapies is to change negative thinking and self-talk. The model of therapy may determine how a therapist engages in therapeutic conversation with their client. However, many people may still imagine counseling as an event where you are reclined on a couch speaking to a distant, analytical observer; even if you are a client-centered therapist who directs your sessions in the “here and now” and “allow your client to choose where they want to go,” odds are you still play a really big role in the structure and conversation within the therapy room.

How is counseling different than gossip?

Psychotherapy is medical intervention used to treat mental health disorders. There are many theories and models of psychotherapy that are scientifically proven to cure mental, emotional, and psychological ailments. Counseling and psychotherapy has been proven effective in treating a range of psychological, emotional, and behavioral conditions like depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and self-esteem issues. Professional counseling and psychotherapy follow a strict set of ethical and legal guidelines that frame therapeutic interactions. Further, counseling is based upon thorough clinical and diagnostic assessments that render a treatment plan which is facilitated in each session through the use of talk therapy.
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Interestingly, the methods used in a counseling session are reflective of the therapist’s style and treatment approach, and not every therapist practices counseling in the same way. In as such, some models of psychotherapy rely on the use of talk therapy more than others while the content and the manner in which a problem is discussed may also differ.

As a therapist who has been practicing for over 10 years, I find it beneficial to ask myself, “How does what we are talking about impact my client’s mental health?” and “How is my client’s mental health being affected by what we are talking about now?

Lastly, professional counseling and psychotherapy is different than gossip in that it requires personal accountability through the the development of insight and awareness. It is both the scientific and holistic approach to mental and psychological wellness that separates talk therapy from gossip.