Magical Overthinkers Overthinking About Therapy-Speak
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Oct 15, 2025 Joe Nucci, a licensed psychotherapist and author, joins to unpack the intricate world of 'therapy speak.' He dives into how mental health language has invaded daily conversations, sometimes empowering us but often oversimplifying complex emotions. Joe critiques the overuse of terms like trauma and argues that jargon can dehumanize therapy experiences. Together, they explore how casual usage of these phrases can lead to misunderstandings and how authentic, conversational support often trumps scripted responses.
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Why Therapy Terms Went Mainstream
- TherapySpeak rose because therapy and social reckonings made mental health language more relevant in daily life.
- When jargon leaves its in-group, misunderstanding and manipulation risk increase.
Choose Words That Clarify Action
- Pause and ask what your goal is before using therapy language in a situation.
- Use more specific, straightforward nouns and verbs to clarify problems and plan action.
A Continuum For Psychological Language
- Joe Nucci maps mental experiences onto three concentric circles from disorder to everyday problems.
- The further from clinical dysfunction, the more likely therapy terms will mislead or harm.
