NOT so long ago, mental health was a taboo topic. There wasn’t the understanding, vocabulary or opportunity for people to talk honestly about what they were experiencing. As for having therapy, it was something you only saw on American TV dramas.
Cut to today, and mental health dominates the conversation, with people keen to know what they can do to improve their wellbeing. This has prompted a trend in self-therapy, where people take a DIY approach to the work typically done with a trained professional. The aim is to dig deep into the unconscious workings of the mind in the hope of moving away from limiting beliefs or behaviours.
“Shadow work” took off as a TikTok trend last year, based on the findings of psychologist Carl Jung, who said each person’s “shadow self” represents what they hide or don’t like about themselves. But self-therapy should also be approached with caution..
. Contact your GP or a mental health organisation first. BACP provides information to charities and services that offer free support including CALM, Mind and Rethink.
Always use the BACP Therapist Directory to find a therapist. Only registered or accredited BACP members meet standards for training, experience and ethical practice ( Bacp.co.
uk/about-therapy/useful-links ). Professional private therapy is still a luxury for many people living on a tight budget, and NHS waiting lists are long. There’s a greater interest in therapy, too – how often do you hear a friend say: “As my thera.