Millennials need to treat themselves – get therapy, says a doctor from the baby boomer generation.
“They’re going through a lot right now,” Dr. Terry Simpson, a California-based board-certified surgeon, told his Generation Y TikTok followers last week.
“You’re making career decisions. You’re thinking about maybe starting a family,” Simpson continued. “Maybe you’re planning a family, maybe you’re ending a relationship. All of those things are great to have help with.”
According to a survey of 1,099 people conducted in December 2023, 55 percent of millennials and Gen Z report having been in therapy. Anxiety, depression, stress, the desire for personal growth and trauma were the main reasons respondents cited for seeking a psychologist.
Simpson, who likes to give generational advice, says therapy is “one of the best things” millennials can do.
Millennials, born between 1981 and 1997, are considered the “unluckiest generation” because they struggled through the Great Recession when many of them were just entering the workforce. And they are still struggling with the student debt crisis, runaway inflation and skyrocketing housing costs.
“A lot of people could use some help,” Simpson argued. “You know what? Sometimes your best friend, your wife, your spouse, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your mother, your father, your sister or your brother is not the best person to talk to about your dreams, your ambitions and your problems.”
He cheekily added: “Find someone you work well with and understand that the best part is that you can talk about your favorite subject – yourself – and have someone who is always on your side and helping you.”
There are many types of mental health professionals, including social workers, family therapists, and psychiatrists, who can diagnose and treat mental illnesses.
NewYork-Presbyterian offers tips for finding a counselor, including how to schedule your first appointment.
How to make a therapy appointment
- Ask to speak to the therapist or counselor so you can describe your problem and see if they have experience with it.
- Find out how many people they have helped with this problem and their general opinion on the topic.
- Find out how long the consultation might take.
- Ask other questions that might help you participate in a meeting.
