r/Zimbabwe • u/Academic_Warthog_372 • 15h ago

Discussion Does therapy even work in Zimbabwe

I'm unemployed but taking into account that I was employed, would therapy even do anything for me... And what I mean is that the idea seems impractical... Zimbabweans generally view therapy as you being weak, most people don't understand mental health struggles

Then there's needing approx $100 per session for good therapists.. While an average Zimbabwean makes 250 a month, won't that increase your stress? Then there's the toxic negativity part, "it'll all work out, have faith" but does faith and hope fix anything? Does some words by a stranger fix chronic illness? Idk

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u/Chitsi23 11h ago

If your therapist is telling you to just have faith, they are not a good therapist. Therapy should be an opportunity to give you tools to navigate the circumstances or to help you shift your perspective. Yes it is to talk through your problems, but it should also be helping you break out of the cycle of decisions that are keeping you there if applicable, or at the very least helping you change how you view your circumstances.

That's why they say therapy is hard, a good therapist will encourage you to do the work, not just listen to you vent.

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u/1xolisiwe 12h ago

It depends on what you’re accessing therapy for. If you’re unemployed, it might not be the best use of your money. Instead, access free resources online and start there. Also get some healthy friendships where you can share your current struggles. The friendship bench, from recollection is a free resource in Zim.

Sometimes you’d also have to trial several different therapists to find a suitable one because not all therapists are helpful.

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u/Sl33pyBrown 10h ago

Yes Therapy works. I'm not based in Zim, but I know that there are therapists there who charge much lower rates than 100 bucks.

Most problems requiring therapy are related to how we feel (anxiety, stress, anger, sadness, grief etc) and the way we think (often negative, self-defeating, paranoid etc).

Therapy helps you to understand where your thoughts and feelings came from, and supports you to gain more control and achieve changes. It's not supposed to be easy, but it can be done. There is also plenty of material YouTube which also helps you to develop your understanding.

Faith, prayer, and kind words aren't usually enough to get you there.