3 Mental Health Wishes

Sometimes the best ideas come to you at the most random moments, right?

I was working in my garden this morning thinking about what my next blog post should be when the idea came to me: if a genie granted me 3 mental health themed wishes, what would they be? The rules are: you can't ask for unlimited wishes, and you can't make mental health struggles completely disappear (sorta following the rules the genie lays out in Aladdin). So, if a genie granted me three mental health themed wishes what would they be?

Wish 1: Mental Health Care Would be Affordable (or free), While also Paying Therapists What They're Worth

For my first wish, I would make mental health care affordable (or free). I totally understand from a client's perspective, looking at a therapist's fee and being unable to pay it. As a director of a practice, I can also totally see why the fee is what it is, and that for many therapists, it should be higher. Insurance does help with this for many, but comes with its own set of hoops to jump through (denials, out-of-network vs in-network, limiting/controlling how you can be seen etc.). How would this happen? Well that's for the genie to figure out ;) but options could include insurance pariety that actually works, publicly funded insurance, a mix of private and public funding, or maybe all of the above.

Wish 2: Only therapists who are truly ethical and act in their client's best interest would become licensed.

We have heard some wild stories of therapists and psychologists who truly should not be licensed. If Wish 1 came true, the issues surrounding Wish 2 would still be an issue. Therapist harm is real, as is the trauma that results from it. Yes, trauma.

There are some grey areas in therapy, which is where the second part of my wish comes in; acting in their clients best interest. However, friendships with clients, romantic relationships with clients. straight up abuse of clients can never be in the clients best interest. Full stop.

Wish 3: Schools would Teach Emotional Regulation, Journaling, Grounding, Communication Techniques

There were a few ideas I threw around for my last wish: ending the stigma surrounding mental health. A non-profit organization in my community where people could get free, quality therapy and community resources. But, I think that if you want to truly change a society, it starts with teaching our kids. If we raise a generation of children who are in tune with themselves and their emotions, who can communicate effectively and resolve conflicts... think about the impacts that could have on a society. Crime rates would drop. Divorce would decrease. Overall happiness would improve. I suspect poverty would decrease. People would find outlets for their emotions - creativity would flourish, exercise (which also improves physical health), people would look out for each other, not just themselves... As a whole, people would end up living happier, more fulfilling lives.

I would love to hear what your wishes would be in the comments. Which wish of mine was most surprising to you??

If you are located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania or the surrounding areas, or virtually across the state of Pennsylvania, and are considering tryng therapy, give us a call or shoot us a text to get started. 724.201.9815.

This blog is written and maintained by non-clinical staff and comments are not monitored regularly. Therefore, the contents of this blog should be taken as psychoeducation and entertainment only and not as a replacement for therapy. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis that is not life-threatening, please call 988.