Weaponized Words: How We're Using Therapy Terms to Avoid Feelings

Therapy language that was once meant to foster clarity and connection has quietly shifted into a defensive tool that often creates distance rather than understanding. 

• Clinical terms like "gaslighting," "toxic," "narcissist," and "trauma" are frequently misunderstood and misused in everyday conversations
• The real definition of gaslighting involves psychological manipulation that causes someone to question their reality, not simple disagreement
• "Narcissist" isn't just someone self-absorbed, but a personality disorder requiring five or more specific DSM-5 criteria
• Trauma bonding isn't connecting over similar traumas, but a psychological attachment formed through cycles of abuse and positive reinforcement
• The critical difference between boundaries (which protect) and ultimatums (which control)
• Using therapy language can become emotional avoidance when we label others instead of expressing our own vulnerable feelings
• True emotional maturity isn't about mastering vocabulary but learning to sit with discomfort and take responsibility for our reactions
• When holding space for others, focus on being present rather than analyzing or fixing them
• Before using therapy terms, ask yourself: "Am I naming a pattern or reacting to a moment?"
• One of the most healing phrases isn't clinical at all: "That sounds really hard. I'm here with you"

Visit our website at licensedandunfiltered.com and share your experiences with therapy language on our YouTube channel.

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