Therapy notes

Labeling theory

-Labeling Theory explains how the identity and behavior of people are influenced by how society has classified them.

In the so illogical sense, this usually applied to deviance. If society labels a person a criminal then they are more likely to carry on that assumption and complete criminal behavior.

Personally, getting the letter from the veteran's administration saying “disabled American veteran” was a kick that shock my soul. There was no way in hell I am “disabled” but….. soon enough the label of disabled and the accompanying Post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis put me in a mindset that whenever I got angry, overreacted, or had a flashback, flashbacks, thoughts, or the nightmare, I used My diagnosis to excuse it away.

This was not done intentionally but as a matter of being overwhelmed with my new identity. It wasn’t until I redefined myself that these cognitive distortions began to fall apart.

On the side of therapy, this is why a lot of therapists do not tell you your diagnosis unless asked.

Having the mindset that, I have a few hard days and a few good days, I just need some help to minimize the bad ones is usually how a client starts therapy. That mind set up healthy. Sometimes though, they will hear “major depressive disorder “ and the wonderful manner in which…