The Commercialization of Therapy: When Entertainment Replaces Transformation
Let's be direct: therapy has become entertainment. Nowhere is this more evident than in the rise of celebrity therapists like Esther Perel, who has transformed the intimate work of psychological healing into a sophisticated media product.
The Performance of Healing
When therapy becomes entertainment, we lose something essential. Consider:
- A podcast that turns private therapeutic moments into public consumption
- $5000 workshops where therapy becomes theater
- Clever observations replacing actual transformation
- Complex trauma repackaged as elegant sound bites
The European accent and polished metaphors might sound profound, but they often serve to distance us from the raw reality of authentic therapeutic work.
What Real Therapy Looks Like
Authentic therapeutic work isn't designed for public consumption. It's:
- Sometimes uncomfortable
- Often challenging
- Rarely tweet-worthy
- Fundamentally private
- Actually transformative
When we turn therapy into entertainment, we're not just commercializing healing - we're fundamentally altering its nature. Your healing journey isn't content for someone else's platform.
A Professional Concern
To my fellow therapists: We need to remember that our work isn't about creating memorable quotes or building a media presence. It's about creating space for real transformation, even when (especially when) it's not camera-ready.
To those seeking therapy: You deserve more than emotional fast food. Look for someone who prioritizes your transformation over their performance.
"Real therapeutic work happens in the quiet moments of genuine connection, not under the spotlight of public performance."
