A relatively short while ago, I came across a subreddit thread under “TikTokCringe” on Reddit that addressed an individual’s experience with BetterHelp. For those who are unfamiliar with the company, BetterHelp markets itself as the “world’s largest therapy service. 100% online.”
For full disclosure, I have no relationship with BetterHelp, though representatives from the company have reached out to me in the past regarding employment opportunities. As well, I list the service on my website as a resource for people seeking mental health treatment elsewhere.
Moreover, the current blogpost isn’t intended to disparage BetterHelp in any way. Unique disclaimer out of the way, the subreddit post featured a video of a woman who criticized BetterHelp, presumably due to her subjective experience with the service.
Scrolling through the comment section of the subreddit post, I found many replies from people who validated criticism of the company. In particular, I laughed at one individual’s assertion, “BetterHelp yourself.”
What is inferred by such a response, that a person cannot rely on a mental health service and therefore is better off seeking self-improvement? Perhaps the moralistic implication is that people should, must, or ought to help themselves instead of seeking aid from BetterHelp.
Though I remain unaware about the response I found humorous, I think about the times when prospective or newly-acquired clients have contacted me and expressed beliefs about how they thought mental health, illness, or wellness treatment should function.
Person X may conclude that while undergoing treatment with me he will wondrously become free from all annoyance, disappointment, frustration, anxiousness, sorrow, or displeasure. This is a fanciful notion that I cannot support.
Person Y may reason that through services with me, others will inexplicably treat her well and that life will be easy for evermore. This delusional idea is virtually impossible to attain.
Person Z may believe that because he undergoes psychotherapy, he can show up to sessions and vent the entire time so that he can simply feel better. Catharsis—the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions—may feel better, though I’m less concerned with temporary relief and more focused on helping people get better long-term.
When the persons X, Y, and Z of the world discover that the information covered in how I market myself is accurate—that I don’t take away their woes, change the world, or coddle clients in a “safe” though patronizing manner—they inevitably disturb themselves with their irrational beliefs about how therapy must go and how I’m not giving them what they demand.
Using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach clients about tools which may be used to help themselves. Many of these psychotherapeutic devices are offered for free throughout my blog—though they are not intended to serve as a form of therapy herein.
This is why I found the comment in the subreddit humorous, because yes—helping yourself is the ultimate goal of REBT. Essentially, I assist clients with becoming their own therapists.
Throughout the comment section of the subreddit, I read a lot of whining, moaning, bitching, and complaining about how BetterHelp therapists weren’t as people expected. A number of commenters even expressed dismay at the alleged suggestion of some therapists apparently inviting clients to read their blogs or buy their books.
The audacity!
Imagine paying for an up-to 50-minute session with someone and this sort of treatment occurs once per week. How much information will a client consume during the course of the appointment?
Now envision the practitioner augmenting the therapeutic relationship with a composite of information garnered from years of practice in the field and through interacting with hundreds to thousands of people. A client could attend the relatively short session and benefit from a useful resource outside of the appointment.
The audaciousness!
With the exception of those individuals experiencing serious mental illness symptoms, it would appear as though many people would rather remain stuck in self-induced mystery of their unhealthy beliefs. Personally, I don’t know of a psychotherapist who could compete with a person’s imagined therapist.
For such people, I wish them well. However, for those who are willing to challenge unhelpful beliefs which cause unpleasant consequences, I remain available to assist.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
BetterHelp. (n.d.). BetterHelp [Official website]. BetterHelp. Retrieved from https://www.betterhelp.com/
Enriquez, A. (2021, October 25). Q. How does fair use work for book covers, album covers, and movie posters? Penn State. Retrieved from https://psu.libanswers.com/faq/336502
Geo_Jam. (2022). Woman recounts terrible stories with BetterHelp. Reddit. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/TikTokCringe/comments/z3ovag/woman_recounts_terrible_stories_with_betterhelp/
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Blog – Categories: Tools. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/blog/categories/tools
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, May 7). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2022, March 25). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Resources. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/general-5
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought
Hollings, D. (2022, June 21). Therapeutic safety. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/therapeutic-safety