I noticed that on your website you talk
about how best to discuss mental health. What is the language you do advocate
using when discussing mental health and mental illness? I’m aware how loaded
both terms are.
In today’s media-heavy environment, the way mental health
issues are discussed is of dire importance. Perpetuating harmful stereotypes or
labels in the social discussion about mental health has devastating effects on
the way people view mental health and therapy; this only perpetuates negative
stigma that can cause serious, long-term damage to our society as a whole. We
advocate using language that does not label people as defective, flawed, or
damaged. For example, the general use of the word “disorder” can imply that
something is inherently wrong with a person. Similarly, referring to a person
with a substance abuse problems as an “addict” can suggest that the addiction
is the person’s entire identity, rather than a challenge that person can
overcome. Using neutral language that does not label—for example a “person
experiencing addiction” instead of an “addict”—can contribute greatly to
reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health issues. Eventually, seeking
help will not be seen as a weakness, but simply a normal and routine part of
maintaining health and wellness.
What is the GoodCause Sponsorship Program?
The GoodCause program was developed to support nonprofit
organizations that promote mental health and wellness in line with our mission
and vision. GoodTherapy.org membership and readership have grown exponentially
since its inception, and we are using the increase in visibility to encourage our
audience to give their attention, time, and available resources to help support
these organizations. New GoodTherapy.org members can now make monetary
donations during member registration, and the general public can donate to the
program at any time. We also support GoodCause organizations by developing and
sharing relevant content with our audience on our blog and in a multifaceted
social media strategy designed to increase awareness about each cause.
Are there any other sources that you would
recommend more widely?
GoodTherapy.org offers a wide variety of resources on our
website for therapists and people interested in learning more about mental
health and therapy. Also, to further our network of resources, we partner with
select organizations in line with our mission and vision. Additional resources
that we recommend for anyone considering therapy are the codes of ethics
outlined by the most notable therapist licensing boards:
· American
Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Code of Ethics
·
American Psychological Association (APA)
Code of Ethics
·
American
Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics
·
National
Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics
·
United
States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP) Code of Ethics
While most therapists strive to practice ethically, we believe that it
is important for consumers to be savvy about the differences between ethical
and unethical therapy and to know there is help available to them if they have
had negative therapy experiences.