Going to therapy is an essential part of true self-care. It is a process that helps people understand themselves better. Therapy provides tools to navigate the often stormy world of relationships, and shows how to communicate effectively and how to locate your emotional needs.
However, increasing awareness about mental health has certain disadvantages, Specifically, the prevalence of “therapeutic language.” which can be defined as the use of psychological language in everyday life.
Incorrect use of therapeutic language can occur when people use certain terms incorrectly, such as applying them to situations that do not fit their meaning.
Below are 11 examples of “therapeutic language used as a weapon”:
1. Labeling
TO Mental health content creator named Dr. Ana He described therapy as “a prescriptive way that primarily therapists and therapy clients have learned to communicate with other people.”
While part of a therapist’s job is to teach people how to communicate effectively, Dr. Ana acknowledged the dangers of therapeutic language, saying, “There is a malignant side to therapeutic language, as people use it in a very hyper-individualistic way.”
“They use it in a way that seems inauthentic and unnatural, and in a way that seems like they’re shutting down their empathy for the person they’re talking to,” she continued. “Sometimes manipulative people use it as a weapon.”
A common example of weaponized therapy is assigning clinical labels to people without a professional diagnosis.
Labeling is also known as “armchair psychology.” It is an inherently harmful practice, especially when carried out by people who are not trained mental health professionals.
Labeling can take various forms, such as Calling someone who is self-centered a narcissist or use the term “maniac” to describe someone’s behavior.
Not only does it distill complex issues into overly simplistic terms, but labeling makes people feel excluded, forcing them to stand on the sidelines, without the person doing the labeling having a full understanding of what they are going through.
2. Blame
Weaponized therapy also occurs when people use psychological terms to blame others for their own behavior.
Saying things like, “This wouldn’t be a problem if you knew how to manage your emotions” or “Your feelings have nothing to do with me” are examples of blaming.
Blame damages relationships in clear ways. It toxically diverts attention from one person’s actions to their partner, while denying any responsibility they may have for the negative interaction.
3. Projection
Projecting is similar to blaming. It occurs when A person puts his personal and internal feelings on another person. without really understanding or considering the other person’s experience.
When a person projects, they essentially misinterpret their own difficult or negative emotions and superimpose them on someone else, such as claiming their partner is angry when, in fact, they are the one who is angry.
Projecting damages relationships because it diverts attention from the emotional issues at play and allows the projector to pretend that nothing bad is really happening.
4. Dismissal
Dismissal can be defined as using derogatory comments to undermine someone’s feelings and make them feel like they don’t matter.
It arises in moments of conflict or tension when one of the members of the couple basically tells the other that… Your lived experience has no value.
Discarding makes people feel small or insignificant, reducing them in a way that gives one person power or control over another.
5. Invalidation
Invalidating someone hurts others because it denies their inherent humanity. Ignoring what someone is going through emotionally sends the message that you don’t care.
There is a lot of value in acknowledging how someone feels, even when you disagree on the topic that has come up. Letting someone know that you see and hear them is a crucial part of Maintain close relationships and deep emotional intimacy.
6. Diverting
Deflecting is the act of shifting the focus of attention from oneself to one’s partner, as in saying, “It’s not me who’s dysregulated, it’s you.”
It’s a way of saying, “It’s not me, it’s you,” which can make people in a relationship feel isolated, like they’re alone when it comes to working through emotional issues.
7. Getting defensive
Defensiveness is another version of diverting attention that occurs when someone finds it difficult to control their emotions.
Becoming defensive sometimes means a person shuts down, shutting down their ability to listen and have a difficult conversation or hear criticism about their actions.
It can be seen as a maladaptive survival tactic, adopted when someone has difficulty witnessing and holding space for their own feelings.
8. Using clinical words out of context.
A major part of misusing therapeutic language in a way that causes harm is assigning terms to people’s behavior without understanding the full scope of their lived experience.
This can manifest itself in many different ways. A common denominator in pop psychology and social media is diagnosing people based on fragments of their personality without having professional accreditation to do so.
Telling someone that they are manipulating you When, in fact, they are not, or telling a person that they display sociopathic tendencies solely because they are acting in a way you don’t like are clear examples of using psychological terms out of context.
9. Being emotionally manipulative
Using therapy as a weapon causes harm when it is used to manipulate other people into behaving the way you want.
Gaslighting is a clear example of emotional manipulationsuch as being passive-aggressive or not saying what you really feel.
Emotional manipulation in relationships is a form of coercive control that often involves abuse. It can be subtle, but it makes the person who is being manipulated feel unstable or guilty.
10. Not taking responsibility
Knowing how to say I’m sorry It is a key part of conflict resolution in relationships, which is a normal part of being in a relationship with someone.
We all make mistakes, but it’s the steps we take next that determine whether we present ourselves authentically to ourselves and our partners.
Not taking responsibility for your negative actions creates a feeling of distance, which can mean the dissolution of a relationship.
Leading with repair in mind is a healthy approach to the inevitable fights that arise between people, while using weaponized therapeutic language allows people to build walls and remain disconnected from one another.
11. Avoid conflicts
Incorrect use of psychological terms can also be a way to avoid direct conflict with your partner.
Deflecting, dismissing, and invalidating another person’s emotions forces you to retreat rather than open a dialogue where agreement can be reached.
At its best, the use of therapeutic language can help people express themselves and have compassion for how they feel and how other people come into the world. It can offer a sense of community.
At worst, it creates a major disconnect, leaving people stuck in a place of scarcity and rejection rather than understanding.
Alexandra Blogier is a staff writer on YourTango’s entertainment and news team. She covers social issues, pop culture and everything related to the entertainment industry.
