Psychotherapist Questions Focus on Identity in Modern Therapy

Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert states that therapy has become more common while anxiety and social division have increased. In his new book, he examines whether certain therapy methods contribute to these trends. Alpert describes a case in which a woman sought help for driving anxiety after a near-miss with a truck.

He reports that the therapist instead asked about her gender, race, and political views on abortion laws.

Alpert says many training programs now teach therapists to view patient issues through identity and power dynamics. He references frameworks such as the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies that place social justice at the center of treatment.

According to Alpert, this approach can lead patients to interpret personal problems as results of external systems rather than develop individual coping skills. He notes that patients may spend years describing their issues without gaining tools to act.

Alpert writes that therapy language has moved into everyday conversation. Terms such as toxic, trauma, and gaslighting are applied to routine disagreements, he states. He argues that this framing can make relationships more fragile and increase a sense of grievance.

Alpert adds that culture and identity remain relevant in some cases but should not replace the goal of helping patients function better. "Therapy has never been more ubiquitous, yet we’re anxious, fragile, lost, and more divided than ever.