“having another person reflect your situation back to you” sounds exactly like “paid friend”
I do suspect the reason everyone needs therapists now is that we’ve destroyed our communities in the west and are in the middle of a loneliness epidemic. Though a therapist is a friend who spends all day talking to people about their issues, so they’re probably particularly good at it.
I think therapy is probably around as helpful as exercise, for example, but you might be foolish not to do both if the effect size of both is significant enough to make both worthwhile. They’re independent, and doing one doesn’t rule out the other. Having a therapist to keep you accountable also helps you stick to things long-term.
Anyway, the cost of trying it is very low compared to the possible payoff.
I do suspect the reason everyone needs therapists now is that we’ve destroyed our communities in the west and are in the middle of a loneliness epidemic. Though a therapist is a friend who spends all day talking to people about their issues, so they’re probably particularly good at it.
I think therapy is probably around as helpful as exercise, for example, but you might be foolish not to do both if the effect size of both is significant enough to make both worthwhile. They’re independent, and doing one doesn’t rule out the other. Having a therapist to keep you accountable also helps you stick to things long-term.
Anyway, the cost of trying it is very low compared to the possible payoff.