Therapy

This video is about economics as much as it's about therapy. It's about how we sometimes forget that every business is liable to chase profits, even if we conceptualise them as being 'good'.

For many of us, therapy has become like getting our teeth cleaned regularly or going for a physical check-up. We assume it's a necessity, so we pencil it in, pay and place it in the same category of self-care. That's not necessarily bad in itself. It's the logical response to the right idea – treating your mental health with the same esteem as your physical health.

The problem is that therapy isn't like those other things. Often there is no 'all clear'. And business-minded therapy practices have zero incentive to kill repeat business. That's just being commercially minded. You wouldn't expect McDonald's to tell you when you've had enough either.

There's a risk that therapy culture ends up undermining our collective mental health by framing the day-to-day events of life as something that will harm you irreparably without ongoing support. I think that idea is contributing to wider problems – including a growing number of people, especially young people, who are being lost to welfare for mental health problems that are treatable.

This video isn't about how therapy is bad – but for those arguing it's good, they may want to first ask their therapist when they'll be cured... and see their reaction.