Comment by notananthem | Hacker News Reader

Comment by notananthem | Hacker News Reader

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Hey incredibly rude, self-centered internet comment troll, if therapy doesn't work for you please don't try to spoil the experience for someone else. Evidence based research into efficacy of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) shows its response rate is higher than alternatives and especially beneficial for: anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, bulimia, anger control problems, and general stress. AKA, all your bullshit!

It is true that you need to click with your therapist- ask trusted friends who they see. Don't disclose to coworkers/bosses/work about seeing a therapist because its still stigmatized, case in point the idiot who posted the comment I'm replying to.

Credentials are important as to how/where therapists received training- and the difference between PHD, MD and other titles are CRITICAL to differences in psychiatrist vs psychology, etc. Some prescribe medicine, some don't, some shouldn't, some are quacks.

Find them based on reputation and perform your own checks to satisfy your concerns. Therapy is really healthy :)

Your own comment would have been a lot better without its first sentence and that "idiot" clause :) I didn't find the parent's comment rude or trollish.

It seems clear that therapy can help people. It also seems clear it is not a panacea, and that it can depend on both the person seeking therapy and the therapist, as well as the reason for therapy. It sounds like the parent was sharing their own experiences, which are just as valid as your own.

If we elevate therapy and therapists to be beyond criticism, all we end up with is a cult. Take the parent's comment on credentials and licensing: I'm sure that we want our therapists to be licensed, using evidence-based techniques, but that doesn't mean all credentials are created equally, or that because someone has credentials automatically means that they can be helpful to you personally.

According to the guidelines [1]:

> Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say face-to-face. Don't be snarky. Comments should get more civil and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive.

> When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. "That is idiotic; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3" can be shortened to "1 + 1 is 2, not 3.

> Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith.

> Please don't use uppercase for emphasis. If you want to emphasize a word or phrase, put asterisks around it and it will get italicized.

(so put asterisks around the words critical and aka)

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I only cited the guidelines that I believe you're in violation of. Your comment does show substance and it'd be more of a joy to read if you show that substance through editing your post so these guidelines violations aren't applicable anymore.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

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