"I've met other couples like Sam and Cate who have been in therapy for years, using it to relieve stress and better manage their daily lives. Do you think they find it helpful? Absolutely. They always feel better when they walk out than when they came in. But honestly, I wince when I hear this for a couple of reasons. One possible ethical concern is dependency."
"All therapy fields warn practitioners in their codes of ethics to be careful about fostering dependency-cultivating a positive relationship, but without making real progress. You attend therapy on Tuesday at 2 p.m. because you have therapy on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Now, Sam and Cate might say they are doing better with their weekly sessions than if they didn't go, but are they truly making progress? Hmmm... maybe a gray area."
Regularly using therapy merely to relieve weekly stress can create dependency and limit meaningful progress. Active therapy consumers set clear goals, create agendas for sessions, learn skills, test new behaviors, and periodically review progress. Different therapeutic approaches share the aim of applying insights to change responses and improve functioning. Continuing therapy solely out of routine or comfort risks stagnation. Ethical guidelines caution clinicians against fostering dependency without measurable improvement. Periodic evaluation and intentional direction in therapy maximize psychological benefits and encourage lasting change rather than temporary relief.
Read at Psychology Today
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