Is the current anti-therapy trend just a modern day witch trial?
As a therapist, I recently had the profound experience of traveling through Scotland, a land steeped in history, rugged beauty, and the ghosts of its past. While there, I found myself drawn into the chilling narratives of the Scottish Witch Trials – a period of immense suffering, fear, and systematic persecution that saw thousands, predominantly women, accused, tortured, and executed.
Walking through ancient villages and windswept moors, the stories of these "witches" resonated deeply within me. Not just for their historical significance, but for the uncanny parallels I began to draw between those dark times and what I observe in our contemporary world: the subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle, demonization of therapy and healing practices.
The current only monument dedicated to the women who lost their lives in the witch trials in Scotland
The Historical Echo: Power, Control, and the "Dangerous" Woman
Let's first remember what the witch trials truly were. They weren't just about superstition; they were about power and control. Women who held knowledge, who practiced healing arts outside the male-dominated and male-focused medical establishment, who were economically independent, didn't conform to societal expectations or even simply because a man said so. These women became targets. Their perceived power, their autonomy, their care and nurturance of others and their deviation from a rigid patriarchal norm were framed as dangerous, demonic, and worthy of eradication.
During a Witch Tour I took while in Edinburgh, I learned of a woman, a healer, and a comfort to her community, Geillis Duncan. Geillis was a maidservant in the 16th century who would often sneak out of her “employers” home in the evening to help and heal those in the community she heard needed support, whether it was to treat an ailment or bring over a cup or tea and listen about other’s life struggles (sounds kind of like a therapist of the time, huh?). Her “employer”, witnessing her late-night excursions and inexplicable ability to mend ailments, accused her of witchcraft. Ultimately, her compassionate spirit and innate ability to help, nurture, soothe and support were her undoing. Geillis Duncan was executed in 1591, a tragic reminder of how powerful acts of healing and empowerment can be dangerously misconstrued when fear and control reign supreme.
These women, often herbalists, midwives, and community healers, offered an alternative form of wisdom and care, one that threatened the established male authority in medicine, religion, and governance. The accusations of witchcraft served to dismantle female networks, suppress alternative knowledge systems, and reinforce a hierarchical structure where male control was absolute. Geillis’s story as well as all the women of the Witch Trials in Scotland and around the world underscores a devastating truth: for centuries, those who dared to bring comfort and challenge the status quo, especially women, have faced the harshest of consequences.
The Modern Parallel: Blaming the Healer, Silencing the Healed
Now, fast forward to today. While no one is being burned at the stake, the rhetoric surrounding therapy and healing practices often carries a similar undercurrent of fear, blame, and a desire to control narratives that challenge established power dynamics.
Consider the increasing negativity, the eye-rolls, and the outright hostility directed towards mental health support and practitioners. This isn't just about individual discomfort; it's a systemic pushback, particularly evident in certain arenas:
"Therapy is breaking up families!" - The Scapegoat Therapist: This is perhaps the most glaring parallel to the witch trials. I've heard countless stories from clients, and seen countless online discussions, where estranged parents explicitly blame therapists for their children setting "boundaries" or identifying "trauma." The language used is often accusatory: "The therapist brainwashed my child," or "They filled their head with these new-fangled ideas like 'boundaries'!"
This mirrors the historical blaming of "witches" for societal ills – crop failures, illness, or familial discord. Instead of acknowledging underlying dysfunction, the external "other" (the therapist) is blamed for "poisoning" the mind with concepts like boundaries and trauma. Why? Because these concepts empower individuals to recognize and challenge unhealthy dynamics within relationships, particularly those steeped in patriarchal expectations of unquestioning obedience and deference to authority.
"You're too sensitive/It's all in your head!" - Invalidating Inner Wisdom: Just as the wisdom of female healers was dismissed as "witchcraft," the lived experiences and emotional realities of those in therapy are often trivialized or invalidated. To acknowledge trauma, to articulate needs, or to set limits is seen not as a sign of health, but as a flaw, a weakness, or an overreaction. This directly undermines an individual's sense of self and keeps them dependent on external validation, reinforcing a system where their inner voice is silenced.
"Self-care is selfish/indulgent!" - Policing Autonomy: The very act of prioritizing one's well-being, especially for women, is often framed as selfish. In patriarchal structures, women are historically expected to be caregivers, self-sacrificing to the point of depletion. When therapy encourages self-care, healthy boundaries, and personal needs, it directly challenges this deeply ingrained expectation, empowering individuals to reclaim their time, energy, and emotional resources.
An Anti-Patriarchal Call to Embrace Healing
The parallels are striking. Just as women's innate wisdom and healing abilities were perceived as a threat to a patriarchal order centuries ago, today, the very act of seeking emotional health, self-awareness, and personal empowerment is often met with suspicion, ridicule, or outright dismissal. Why? Because therapy, at its core, is a subversive act in a patriarchal society.
Therapy encourages:
Emotional literacy: Breaking down the patriarchal ideal of emotional suppression.
Boundary setting: Challenging the expectation that individuals, particularly women, should be endlessly accommodating.
Self-discovery and agency: Empowering individuals to define their own lives, rather than conforming to externally imposed roles.
Challenging dysfunctional systems: Enabling individuals to recognize and extricate themselves from unhealthy dynamics, including those reinforced by patriarchal norms.
A Feminist and Anti-Patriarchal Stand for Healing
The common thread linking the witch trials to the current anti-therapy sentiment is the fear of empowered individuals and communities, particularly those who step outside prescribed roles and question established norms.
When we engage in healing, we reclaim our power. We dare to feel, to question, to grow, to connect and to define what health means for ourselves. This is a powerful antidote to a system that thrives on keeping individuals disempowered, isolated, and compliant.
So, the next time you hear a dismissive comment about therapy, or feel a pang of shame for prioritizing your mental health, remember the women of Scotland. Remember their resilience, their wisdom, and the forces that sought to silence them. And then, choose to embrace your healing journey, not just for yourself, but as a quiet, powerful act of defiance against the lingering shadows of patriarchy. Your well-being is not a weakness; it is a revolution.
