This really depends on where you are located and what degree/license the therapist has.

For example, I’m a licensed clinical social worker in the Denver metro area. I got a ton of education on the issues of power, oppression, and privilege in grad school. All my colleagues are aware of those issues and would fully support you in your view.

But go South, and it becomes harder to find a therapist who is aware and won’t push god and religion on you.

In general, if you want more anti-capitalist therapists, lean towards social workers and check out the https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/ directory.

In terms of therapy, what are you looking for?

I understand at a nuanced and historically informed level what’s happening at a political and geopolitical level here, and all of my bleakest predictions keep coming true

Let's test this: Make some specific predictions for various points over, say, the next 5 years (start near future and work your way out). Put them somewhere where they can remain generally fixed but available (say on a pastebin or lemmy post or something). Then come back to look at them after those times have past and see how accurate you are. This would let you see your actual rate of accuracy as opposed to just the ones that stand out because they ended up true), which would ideally lessen your panic or alternatively if you really are getting it right in a consistent fashion we can start calling you gravitas_deficiency the Bleak Prognosticator.

For example just glancing at your profile one you seem to be doubling down on a lot recently is that there will be either no US presidential election in 2028 or no peaceful transfer of power in January 2029. That is easily verifiable in four years time. How do you imagine this will happen? Is it enough to satisfy this if the election happens and the GOP wins with a non-Trump candidate? Do you think opposition to the GOP will simply be made illegal? Do you think they will push an amendment to let Trump run again? Do you think Trump will just run again regardless and argue that the Constitution doesn't apply to him because seemingly no other law does?

I know what you mean. I largely predicted what is happening now back in 2015, and in this case it was my husband, not my therapist, who told me he believes “the system of checks and balances won’t allow it to happen.” He is an optimist and wanted to believe the US was still a good country. He now agrees with me and gets sad and angry any time something new and horrible happens.

It would be really helpful for the depression if I could stop being proven terribly correct every single time anything happens.

Most of my clients know why they are coming, it’s childhood (or other) trauma. That doesn’t mean they don’t get to have new insights on the topic. Also, while we talk, that’s not my main modality. We do EMDR and similar therapies that actually help people process the trauma. I’ve seen it change lives.

Yes. I knew (or at least thought I knew) what my problems were but needed help with figuring out what to do about them. Finally started seeing someone to help me with that and they did.

About it feeling fake: It's their job to help, but I did feel the same at first and told them so. That helped them understand me better.

That's just self sabotage talking. Knowing about a problem is step one and it's what gets you in the door.

Just because you know you've got a broken pipe doesn't mean you don't need a plumber, just because you know your car is broken doesn't mean you don't need a mechanic, etc. There's nothing wrong with someone helping you being a job. That doesn't mean they won't do that job.

The main point of therapy is to get you to look at your circumstances in different ways and provide you with coping skills you may not necessarily have developed. You may even be unaware of whatever current maladaptive coping mechanisms you've built up over years of just trying to survive. This is where outside professional perspective comes in handy.

However! That's not to say therapy is a bulletproof process or that all therapists are good or that every therapist is a good fit for every person. I would liken it to finding your preferred barber or massage therapist or something. Sometimes you just got to try options till something works.

Emotional problems often require solutions that work on the emotion level. In my experience, trying to self it yourself sets you up to try to solve it with rationality. But that often does not work, because the problem is not rational in nature.

This is where a therapist helps. It helps you to solve the problem at the emotional level. That is something a person cannot do by themselves. Asking for help is way easier than trying to do it all yourself.

I personally benefit a lot from https://healthygamer.gg/ as a stopgap measure. I still needed actual therapy, but this helped me through the rough times.

Depending on the problem or rather on your model of the psyche. If you are following a depth analytical approach then you need therapy to reenact your problematic relationships or traumatic events in a healing relationship with another person to integrate them into your conscious self even if you already are fully aware of them.

Yes it actually helps to talk about it and get some outside views onto the topic. Even if you know your issues and possible solutions just talking about it makes one 'more aware' of it.

Think of it similar when studying for a math exam. Looking at a solution and saying to yourself "ahh yes, I know that and that's how I would also do it" is different from just trying it yourself.

And yes it's the other person's job but they also want to help, that's why they chose this career. In Germany there are also a few sessions in the beginning just to check if the patient and therapist are 'compatible', because if the patient doesn't feel safe then it doesn't help as much.

Does therapy actually help you if you know what your problem is?

Yes, then you're already steps ahead. For some people, figuring out what the problem is, already takes therapy, but it doesn't end there. If you know, what the problem is and know how to fix it, you probably don't need therapy. But if you know what's wrong but can't fix it alone, that's what therapy is for.

Also knowing that they're talking to you because it's their job feels like the whole thing is a lie and a waste of time.

Only if you somehow follow the idea, that the therapist has to like you. That is not the case. It is their job and that's okay. You're also just talking to them because it's their job. Why would you open up to a stranger otherwise?

I mean you should get along together somehow, but you don't have to be friends with your therapist.