Therapy and Culture (1 Viewer)

[raymondchouku]

So I heard in a movie recently a phrase like, "I've never actually attended counseling because I'm Irish..."

It got me to investigating this claim. Apparently in the 19th and 20th Century the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) was heavily involved in many aspects of life, such as politics, education, healthcare and so on. Adding to the fact that the church took a strong stance against Psychoanalysis. My family [the Irish Immigrants and 2nd gen that I was raised with/by] tended to not utilize services as well. Its obviously a cultural thing.

Does anyone feel uncomfortable about attending such services because of cultural and family reasons?

 

[LeeriaYa]

I attend therapy because they wanted me to try it, but in the end I’m usually the one who comes up with my own answers so I could do without the service. I find a lot of my father’s side contributed to that.

Spoiler: Funny

I’m also part Asian, but the ironic part about that is the fact have you heard of many of us actively attending therapy even though we come from families who need more help than us

So, I do think it’s a cultural thing because I feel uncomfortable about attending it, too.

 

[Chaeee]

As an Irish person, I went to counselling for a short period and my family didn’t have anything against me doing it, most probably because they aren’t that religious. I don’t really know about you saying it’s become a “culture thing”, but the reason behind why you think that is because Catholicism was so heavily followed in Ireland for hundreds of years that it became blended into our culture. But even then I don’t believe it really affects as many people nowadays.

Apparently in the 19th and 20th Century the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) was heavily involved in many aspects of life, such as politics, education, healthcare and so on.

Yeah, it really was. Even today Ireland still isnt very secular, though we have come a long way from where we once were

 

[raymondchouku]

I don’t really know about you saying it’s become a “culture thing”

When I was referencing the culture thing I was referring to my own experience within the dynamics of the mid 20th century immigration of my family and certain cultural norms that impeeded engagement with these services. Again my experience is based on family immigrants who were raised in Ireland during the early 20th Century (i.e. 1920s) and as such norms then would differ 100 years later. However, such norms were passed down through my family.. Also a great disdain for the northern irish was passed down as well, which is unfortunate. Not sure if that is a cultural thing or a familial thing.

 

[Chaeee]

When I was referencing the culture thing I was referring to my own experience within the dynamics of the mid 20th century immigration of my family and certain cultural norms that impeeded engagement with these services. Again my experience is based on family immigrants who were raised in Ireland during the early 20th Century (i.e. 1920s) and as such norms then would differ 100 years later. However, such norms were passed down through my family.. Also a great disdain for the northern irish was passed down as well, which is unfortunate. Not sure if that is a cultural thing or a familial thing.

I see what you’re getting at now; for ancestors who would’ve been quite pro-Catholic church that’d make sense for them to shun counselling/therapy. But what I’m saying is that in Ireland now it’s not so much a culture thing because Catholicism isn’t as influential as it would’ve been in the 20th century, that’s why I wasn’t so certain on it being cultural dynamics. It seems it is for your family though.
Think your family’s dislike of NI is a familial thing; most in present day Ireland don’t have anything against them & just want the island to be fully united again.

 

[raymondchouku]

Think your family’s dislike of NI is a familial thing; most in main land/present day Ireland don’t have anything against them & just want the island to be fully united again.

I figured this was the case, but wasn't certain. Regardless I do find it a bit moronic when family members do hold such feelings when they weren't around during the war of independence and still hold negative feelings for Northern Irish and the Brits... so dumb.. But then again I do have family members who get mad when non Irish-American people call them during St. Patrick's Day... and I'm like, "Why did I chose to attend this gathering again "

 

[Chaeee]

I figured this was the case, but wasn't certain. Regardless I do find it a bit moronic when family members do hold such feelings when they weren't around during the war of independence and still hold negative feelings for Northern Irish and the Brits... so dumb…

It is stupid. Very stupid🤦🏻Even my older relatives who were abused in England (well after gaining independence) don’t hold a grudge against the British now. You can’t blame a middle Aged Brit for something done 100 years ago.

 

[raymondchouku]

It is stupid. Very stupid🤦🏻Even my older relatives who were abused in England (well after gaining independence) don’t hold a grudge against the British now. You can’t blame a middle Aged Brit for something done 100 years ago.

And truth be told... its not very Catholic to hold grudges for things done centuries ago because one's ancestors may have done something to my ancestors. Well... its not very Catholic to hold grudges at all. lmao

 

[brekker]

my Eastern European family still doesn´t think seeing a therapist is anything to talk about or to admire. they do consider people going using those services as crazy. funny is that my mother was suggested to see a psychiatrist. if only she would go, maybe it could have helped her tremendously.