Memes as a form of Therapy

Over the past year I have come across so many Memes related to people's experience in therapy. The humor in them is important as it often normalizes the therapy process.  It also provides an opportunity for people to see that the use of humor is a wonderful tool in our work.  Below are some of the best I have seen, many shared by colleagues and clients of mine:

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We all have socially learned ways of going about our lives.  When we are presented with a new way to go about something it can make a lot of sense in the moment but also take a lot of practice.



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Often times the best things that come from therapy involves collaboration between the therapist and the client.  I can assure you I don't have a magic wand in my desk.  Of course I still wonder if my therapist has one that he doesn't want me to know about.  


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Not much I can add to this one.


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This is what it looks like when I have tried to be my own therapist.

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There is an old saying of : "a Cadillac or a Buick, it doesn't matter as long as you get there."  Many times I've had clients share memes with me that perfectly encapsulated what they were actually going through.   It can be healthy to use these as a form of self expression when you might feel frustrated trying to name your experience.  It also provides a sense of safety in knowing that someone else created that meme and knows what you're going through.  As Brene Brown says: "Two of the most powerful words in the english language:  Me Too." 

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Yes, sometimes we use humor as deflection.  It is especially tempting if you are as funny as this guy is.  

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This was shared with a friend of mine who is also a therapist.   It really describes the experience I have had with so many wonderful clients who think they are the one who is going to be "too much" for their therapist or are the one human being who "can't be helped".   Go see someone then and find out.  I think you will be surprised to find out that much of what you experience has a name, and more importantly, that someone else who has experienced it also found ways to overcome it.  

 We all have burdens.  We are also built to not have to carry them alone.  

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Yes I snuck a serious one in here.  Doesn't make it any less relevant.  Take care of yourself everyone!