What is said in therapy, stays in therapy. Or at least, it used to be that way. Mental health topics that were originally ‘too taboo’ to discuss in public, Millennials helped normalize in a way no generation had done before. Through blogs and self-help content, they brought concepts like trauma, toxic relationships, and self-care into mainstream conversations. And as a result, clinical language escaped therapists’ offices. Young people started to use what they’ve dubbed “therapy speak” phrases casually, talking about “setting boundaries” with friends or identifying “love bombing” in relationships. Of course, social media only accelerated the trend. As creators, therapists, and everyday users shared their mental health experiences online, therapy language spread like a giant game of telephone into nearly every young person’s lexicon. By the time Gen Z came of age, talking about these topics—and using the language that came with them—was already the norm. But instead of debating whether Gen Z is using these terms perfectly—which we’ve all seen enough discourse about—YPulse thinks it’s worth...
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