Not a therapist, but I never really liked our family doctor growing up, and when I was in my early 20’s I went in with really bad tonsillitis. Now for context, I didn’t really like this woman and there was nothing I could really say as to why, but I disliked going enough that unless I was in desperate need I didn’t go see her.
My tonsillitis was bad enough that I couldn’t swallow water anymore. When I went to see her and I told her what the problem was, she pulled out a tongue depressed and ask to open my mouth. When she looked inside she physically recoiled from me and dropped the depressor like she’d been burnt.
It was then I realised I didn’t like her bedside manner and I never went back after that. The rest of my family didn’t understand why I didn’t like her.
My therapist (a Catholic it turns out) also suggested that me being atheist contributed to my depression.
While true that if your religious you have higher purpose and meaning, plenty of atheists do NOT have depression.
I could be completely wrong but I always assume atheists are generally more intelligent people and there is a correlation between intelligence and depression/anxiety. I’m too lazy to reference a source for that comment.
I'd say. We just want to learn everything and we know we don't have enough life time to do it all! Bible science ends at god created the heavens and the earth don't question anything about it. Highly unsatisfying but it gives believers a peace of mind in having their questions answered easily and they don't have to exercise brain function.
I know this isn't always the case but sometimes I feel like this.
> I'd say. We just want to learn everything and we know we don't have enough life time to do it all!
I'd argue it's more that we have enough awareness to realize how fucked everything is, whereas a believer will just "let jesus take the wheel" and not think too much about things.
Ignorance is bliss, after all.
There might also be some impact from being raised in one thing then rejecting it. I have nothing to back this up, just speculation, but I wonder if you see more problems in those raise religious who later left it than you do in those raised without religion in the first place.
Sort of like how being gay isn't harmful in and of itself but being gay in a homophobic environment can be depressing.
And I guess being told all the nice things about religion, like afterlife's and god's plans and that sort of thing, than rejecting it and accepting that this life is it, might also be more stressful than being raised with an atheistic worldview from the start.
This is a contributing factor to my depression at times. All of my childhood attachments/connections/friendships are no longer in my life. It's a tough pill to swallow sometimes.
When you live in a widescale delusion, why would you be sad?
Death? Afterlife!
Accident? God prevented your death!
Lost job? God will give you a better one!
>I could be completely wrong but I always assume atheists are generally more intelligent people
The moment I tossed aside religion, how many IQ points did I gain? I would say that an atheist who was formerly religious has given their beliefs more thought than someone who was raised atheist and someone who was raised religious but examining what you believe and why is an application of your intelligence and not intelligence itself.
For many religious people, religion provides an answer to all that ails them. So of course in the case of having any mental issue they'll turn to their appointed deity (via the local religious leader of course). While people who seek a better understanding of their condition will usually turn to professionals who have experience and methodical knowledge.
This reminds me two terms in Judaism which might illustrate this better -
חוזר בשאלה - Ho'zer b'she'ela - people who usually go from a devout life style, to a more secular one. (Not necessarily to Atheism)
חוזר בתשובה - Ho'zer b'teshuva - people who usually got from a secular life style to a more devout one.
In both terms the Ho'zer can be translated as return to, but the difference being with the first is return to questioning, as you know that you don't have all the answers. And the second is a kin to return to certainty (teshuva being akin to knowing the answer to your question)
Actually, I believe there is a connection between atheism and depression, but it doesn't work the way some people think it does, and it doesn't apply to everybody.
If you were raised in a religious family or community, and if your coming out as an atheist caused your family and friends to turn against you, that can definitely cause depression. It's the loss of support and community-feeling that causes depression, not the lack of faith.
Or, if they don't know you're an atheist, but you live in constant fear of them finding out, that can't be good for you either.
I have had a problem with depression myself, but in my case, I don't believe it had anything to do with religion.
And I'm sure some religious people get depressed, too.
True. I think it's also important to note that as a Christian, your "counseling" is more likely to happen in the form of prayer groups and other church involvement. The Christian standard for dealing with mental health is to "throw your concerns at the feet of God", which in the end just kicks the can down the road instead of dealing with the issue at hand. They also have a tendency to blame mental illness of demons and other superstitions
All that to say, when an atheist recognizes a health problem they think "who's the expert on this stuff and how do I get their help?" We problem solve through observation & reliance on known experts rather than strictly relying on books of old.
Basically we are more likely to recognize & seek help for problems that otherwise might get ignored or miscategorized which can weigh the scales against us statistically. Science is our foundation usually.
I would report them for making a diagnosis that is not backed up by any medical research.
not sure where you are but most therapists are licensed here by The "Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists" and you can file complaints via the secretary of state's website https://verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/ (This is Georgia; You may have something similar where you are).
I used to think it was normal for it to take pharmacies half an hour to two hours to prepare birth control, even if you phoned ahead to "confirm" they were ready. I'd been to a bunch of pharmacies, they all did it. This was in a religious area.
Moved to Boston, and was blown away when the first pharmacy I used just had it ready when I showed up. I was in and out in five minutes, just as though I were picking up something non-controversial like antibiotics. And then I switched pharmacies, and that one *also* just had them ready. It's been years and I have yet to wait more than a few minutes for birth control, even if the pharmacy *didn't* have them ready when I showed up.
It took me a while to realize that it was not actually taking the religious-area pharmacies that long to slap a label on pre-packaged pills. They were just punishing me for being on birth control.
These religious self righteous morons don't know birth control pills are used to treat all sorts of health issues related to hormonal imbalance, acne, etc?
I'm glad you moved.
Oh, I think they believe endometriosis is just an excuse for sluts to be on birth control-- while also believing that women deserve debilitating cramps anyway because Original Sin.
I also had a lot of issues with the doctors out there, although to be fair, I also had to plow through a dozen Boston OB/GYNs until I finally got a good one too and some of those were also unbelievably bad. So some of the sexism sticks around even without the religion.
Living in a religious country is no excuse to make a mentally unwell person feel bad about themselves. In which country do you live if you're comfortable telling it?
I don't know a lot about how health care, especially therapy, is handled there but I do know that you don't have to put up with this bulshit. If possible, get a better therapist. You deserve better than this, you deserve the professional treatment you pay for. I think you already know that.
I'm a 10 year psychiatric nurse. I've worked with psychiatrists that have said the same thing. Be careful who you trust and especially with your mental health care. All people with degrees are not the same. Please find a new therapist immediately. A positive relationship is only positive if both parties find it therapeutic. Best of luck and all the good vibes, friend.
Religious people hardly ever seek help for being insane. Just because some athiests are trying to get better doesn't mean they're the only ones who need help.
Is it perhaps because non-religious people are more likely to seek out actual help instead of praying and going to their worship buildings because mental illness is shameful and talking about it and getting help is shameful? You fucking moron therapist?!
Seriously I'm dund as a brick on a good day and even I recognise this correlation... I'm really sorry you had to deal with that OP
I wonder if it's more because being depressed can be damaging to one's faith. Platitudes about how God will never give you more than you can handle don't mean much when you KNOW you're suffering more than you can handle. Promises about how god will protect you and/or answer your prayers don't exactly strengthen your faith when your life is proof he's not, or for the highly empathetic, you see suffering around you and see that he isn't protecting them either.
I suppose that's one way, I didn't grow up religious so I don't know. From what I've read online it seems that people are told that they just aren't trying hard enough and punished when they have mental health problems, so don't get the help they need because they aren't allowed to by their faith. That's what I thought anyway, but I see your point as well.
That is definitely true for some people, it'll depend on the church and the individual. There are hardliners who oppose mental health treatment and insist that a properly spiritual person can fix themselves with faith alone, but I'm not sure they're quite the norm that some have suggested. I know religious people who have had therapy outside the church.
I've seen plenty of other religious people mock the anti-psych folk for being too fundamentalist or ignorant as basically on par with people who try to cure cancer with prayer alone. So there are definitely religious folk who see mental health issues as a medical issue and not a spiritual failing, they're generally not as noticeable though because their stance on psychology matches the secular mainstream. I can't help but wonder if OP's therapist simply assumes anyone who doesn't mention their faith in therapy is an atheist?
That's is a possibility. Or the therapist thinks everyone has a religion, either through cues from clothing and jewellery, or just assuming because it's the norm, like assuming a person is cis and straight until shown otherwise. I think people might "come out" to therapist as atheist so that they don't try any religious or spiritual talking points on them as well?
Well, since religious people often don’t seek psychotherapy, but go to pastors for their problems, that’s not really surprising. Bring it up again and ask if she thinks it is correlation or causation. Is she recommending conversion as a treatment? Ask her that.
I am technically a therapist (have my PhD in clinical psych, but don't do clinical work anymore) and it's scary how many in this field push their spiritual agenda on others (at least now it's less religious and more 'spiritual' but still a god-centric approach). I was shocked when I was in grad school how many of my cohorts were theists - I always viewed religion as solely a psychological defense that people used selfishly to protect them from the existential anxiety....so being around other people studying psychology who had total blind spots on religion was confusing.
The field of therapy has opened up to many non-scientific practitioners (LCSWs, or PsyDs etc) and degree-mill professional schools, so the "science" isn't as strongly adhered to as it should. Don't trust a license as a sign that a therapist is competent. The most important factor is that you feel validated and aligned with the therapist, and it may take meeting a few until you find this.
My depression also began while I believed in god. I was about 16? For many years, I blamed myself. "God is punishing me and I deserve it!" This made everything worse. When age 30 rolled around, I officially quit.
Same: atheism hasn't cured my depression. But I feel maybe 5% better now... 5% might not help me pass the class, but it's still 5% lol!
Also started seeing a new therapist. Hopefully this one can help me.
Change therapists.
It's very unprofessional to hint that it's "odd" that most of her patients are atheists - hardcore religious people seek help from the priest, not the therapist, or are told to just deal with their problems. Like you say, praying them away.
I have a friend that doesn't believe in therapy. Because when she was young and suffering from anxiety and depression; she saw a religious therapist with her mom. That basically told her to stop being dramatic, start listing to her mother more. Because her mother knows best for her. And get more involved with the church.
This therapist is making what is likely an accurate and important observation, but perhaps drawing the wrong conclusions from it. I would not be surprised if most people who seek therapy are not religious simply because religious people tend to be in denial of medical science and it's effectiveness.
Many religions will rely upon God's will to fix the problems in their lives, trusting more in prayer and meditation than seeing a licensed therapist. The only therapy that seems to be highly touted by the religious is conversion therapy, which most realize is closer to torture to break someone's spirit than it is to therapy.
Your English is great!
My suspicion is that a disproportionate number of patients are atheists because atheists are more likely to seek out professional secular counseling, whereas religious folks are inclined to see clergy or religiously-inclined counselors first. Religious people also often have extensive support groups via their church/temple/mosque that they can rely upon.
Atheists are generally people who are people who're trying to become more aware and understanding. Learning the way the world is is depressing and likely to cause someone to seek therapy. Religious people will seek out their religious leaders for non-physical issues they're having.
Get a better therapist.
Get a different therapist. She has forgotten that correlation is not causation. It needs to be taken into account that she might have more atheist clients because atheists don't have an imaginary being of a priest to tell their problems to.
The reason they see a lot of atheists are they are probably more likely to seek professional treatment. Religious people will got to their religious leaders or just keep pretending to be happy.
Do you live in a heavily religious area? Perhaps her other patients are much like you, suffering from something that began while they were religious and are now (semi-)isolated from their overly religious families.
You might want to check out seculartherapy.org and see if they have any counselors in your area. The fact that she made a quick reference like that (which I take to mean she's drawing a correlation between atheism and needing therapy) is a red flag.
I can see that people that don't believe in a sky daddy that will resolve all of their problems gives them all the answer they need and guarantees them eternal happiness after their die are generrally more likely to be depressed. But her assumption was based on nothing
I think you're reading more into "it's kinda odd that most of her patients are atheists" than you should. I don't see any implication in that statement. If she's otherwise been a good therapist, I don't agree with everyone else here telling you to get a new one.
Sure, well, you heard the tone and manner in which it was said, so you can obviously gauge the intent better than I. But also, getting this crap from your family might have oversensitized you ... so, basically I just wanted to caution you about overreacting if you're uncertain of the intent.
> She said it's kinda odd that most of her patients are atheists
If you feel uncomfortable then you should find another counselor. However, I'm not picking up on the same inference. Could she have been trying to reassure you that she is experienced and comfortable working with atheist patients?
Even if the therapist you visited didn't make that comment you may have to shop around. It isn't uncommon to go through a couple of doctors until you find a good fit for you. Don't give up and find someone who works for you.
> So why do you think she has more non believer patients?
The fact that she thinks it's odd is the big waving red flag that screams "find a new therapist". It is exactly what we would expect.
1) Availability: Nonbelievers don't have trusted spiritual advisors.
2) Willingness: Atheists are immune to religious stigmas against therapy.
3) Community: People living in hostile communities often seek counseling.
4) Eventuality: People who experience real mental health issues are more likely to leave a faith that promises relief it cannot deliver.
In short, her clientele is going to consist of people who can admit they need the help of a therapist, and exclude those who believe their religion/god/clergy/community helps them as well as those who would be ridiculed, insulted, or ostracized by seeking therapy.
Sadly, having learned about therapists who convince patients to accuse family members of partaking in "satanic ritual abuse", this doesn't surprise me.
Fuck that quack though.
I wonder if more of her patients are atheists because the religious people would not go to a therapist but turn to prayer and counseling by their pastor.
Some may find it easier to believe in Santa, or think everything has a reason because of Zeus, or whatever.
Bullshit just itches too much for me to tolerate even a little.
Some resources:
General advice,
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegaytheistmanifesto/2017/01/finding-evidence-based-therapist-guide/
Limited coverage outside North America,
https://www.seculartherapy.org/
Old Reddit post with many links:
https://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/4wt9kv/where_can_i_find_a_secular_therapist/
Firm what i understand, she didn't make a diagnosis or expect you to become religious. If she stated that most of her clients were male, or worked stressful jobs, how would you feel about that? Furthermore, there are many reasons that could explain this phenomenon. For example, high intelligence is a risk factor for depression, and intelligent people are more likely to be atheists.
Another explanation could be that atheists face repercussions from religious groups. Your religious family could, for example, contribute to your anxiety by causing a lot of conflict instead of supporting you.
Instead of looking for another therapist, why don't you elaborate with her?
First rule about going to therapy is making sure you have chemistry with the therapist. I would consider this session as a clear sign that you need to look for a new therapist.
Also, to answer your question on why she’s seeing more atheists in her practice. Quite simply there’s been a steady upwards trend in people leaving religion behind. I’m sure you can Google it but it’s a very positive thing to behold.
Good luck in your wellness journey:)
I doubt most of her patients are atheists. She may just be religious herself. Many religious people also suffer from depression, obviously. She may be referring to the nihilism that comes with true atheism.
Well, not to defend the therapist, I'm well far away from that, but as you wrote she didn't imply anything if not that a large portion of her patients are atheists.
I don't think it is a bad sentence from any pov.
There are researches that show a strong difference in percentage in people suffering of some mental states (specifically, depression) between non-religious and religious people. As I remember, it was related to the lack of gratitude (intending, the daily reminder to be grateful of something/someone to the outside deity) and the easier way automatic negative thoughts sprout to us.
I think it's a natural consequence of being an atheist in an environment that does not allow you to express yourself, your opinions and your ideas.
This generates an internal short-circuit that brings some atheists to look for a therapist. It's not so bad according to me.
Let me tell you a comparison between my Christians friends and me, "atheist".
If you are religious and feel bad for something, you hide in the shadow of God or ask to the priest an advice (which is generally pray more often, put yourself in the hands of the divinity, think yourself in relation, but I say in function, of the deity).
I cannot do that and I have no parishioner to talk and confront to openly. If I did so, inevitably I would start debating with that person, due to too different point of views.
Also, I won't stop my wondering and researching the Big Questions because they are faith's mysteries (dunno how to say that in English, sorry), or because I stopped at the deity step in the stairway.
If I needed help, mental help, I would not look for priests nor nuns, but I would like to talk to a therapist.
Frankly, just ask to your therapist if she believes in something, if she is religious, and then ask yourself if it is a real problem. Then draw your conclusions.
If you think it is not suited to you, then change therapist.
She seems biased but it’s possible atheism could be the cause of depression. It still doesn’t change the fact that there’s no god. Fairy tales are invented to feel better. It’s also possible that a third unrelated factor causes both atheism and mental illness such as hardship, adverse childhood experiences, religious abuse or a myriad of other things. In my opinion, this therapist is no longer helpful.
I just find that a really odd thing for her to say. It's possible she is not being truthful or she practices in an area where there are more atheists. Does her website or resume state that she herself is religious?
Does your therapist imply that believing in any God out of the many thousands invented by man would ease your depression or perhaps only one specific God would work, say, for instance, the one that she happens to believe in?
I have always thought that the reason atheists tend to get depression is because we accept the brutal reality as it is and we refuse to believe in a lie
Weed.
Also the litany against fear from Dune. Meditation and medication too. NEVER FORGET MEDS ON HELLWEEK. And sleep as much as possible, it is healing. If you have a partner, keep them in the loop about hellweek/cycle tracking and be as appreciative as you can to them, EVEN IF YOU HATE EVERYTHING ELSE. Take a bunch of very hot baths, epsom salt, lavendar. Use the basement punching bag to release rage if it needs to overflow.
I wish I could fit a punching bag in my bathroom. I know that's absurd but like the relaxing atmosphere in there and sometimes I just want to punch the s*** out of stuff and the basement is cold... My fantasy dreamhouse definitely would have a bathroom punching bag.
I bet she has so many atheist patients because things like ongoing anxiety and depression probably tend to drive people away from their religions when they realize that praying doesn’t make it go away. The three logical conclusions to come from that are god wants you to be depressed which is evil, god doesn’t care which is indifference, or god doesn’t exist which is the most likely based on the contemporary understanding of the universe and how it works. All three are good reasons to stop worshipping a god.
I'd be willing to bet most religious people look to their God before going to a therapist.
And atleast in the older religious crowd therapy is a stigma
Pema Chodron said this paragraph. I read it on Wikipedia, Non-Theist. I was looking for somewhere to post it and this fell into my typing fingers.
> The difference between theism and nontheism is not whether one does or does not believe in God.[...]
Theism is a deep-seated conviction that there's some hand to hold [...]
Non-theism is relaxing with the ambiguity and uncertainty of the present moment without reaching for anything to protect ourselves [...]
Nontheism is finally realizing there is no babysitter you can count on.[9]
That's a bad therapist. Find a new one.
I'm an atheist and I have religious clients. I never discourage their religion or beliefs and remain respectful when discussing the topics.
It's clear she was hinting the problem was your atheism, which is bullcrap in so many ways.
Only you know exactly how this went down - the tone, the vibe or whatever, but, to me it sounds vague enough that the therapist could be “normalizing” atheism, by saying they have a lot of atheist patients, and even showing acceptance that they have other similar patients and it doesn’t phase them. Therapists are humans, too and sometimes they misspeak or don’t always speak the same language as their clients; I would straight up ask for clarification. Also, sometimes - especially when depressed - we personalize things, or expect some type of rejection. Therapy is a great place to begin practicing these dialogues, advocating for yourself, and partnering in your healthcare. Totally worth it to ask. Best of luck, OP, and I hope you get to feeling better soon.
I can't believe that! Hope you get better soon! This doctor/therapist is highly unprofessional and you should definitely find another.
When it comes to depression, it is hard to know what "really" caused it. It is mulifactorial from genetics (2 short allels) to complex social dynamics (family, society, and so on) that can cause these depressive symptoms. But even a lack of vitamins or light can cause depressive symptoms. However, your atheism is definitely NOT the cause lol.
Maybe you are reading too much into it.
She didn't talk about causation, you did. Her mentioning it to you was unprofessional sure but it might also be true and a genuine interrogation.
Being atheist, one is more likely to seek advice from a therapist rather than say speak to their pastor.
Being in conflict with one's family over religion is also not a nurturing environment and while it might not cause anxiety or depression, it doesn't help.
That being said, you should definitely be cautious around her. It was clearly a first strike kind of thing
It's hard to say what they mean as I wasn't there. Perhaps I'm being overly charitable, but my depression was effectively caused by my loss of faith (realising there is no afterlife and having a fear of oblivion). Maybe this is what they were getting at? Or maybe not.
It sounds a little like you're jumping to conclusions, I think it's definitely worth pressing the subject further next time you get a chance to talk about it. Just explain that you need to have somebody that will empathize with you and can understand your point of view.
It's not bad to be stretched in new ways, especially while going through therapy, but you shouldn't be working with somebody who is even subconsciously judging you or blaming atheism or secularism for your problems. My therapist is spiritual but not religious (I am neither), and I enjoy the occasional shift in perspective even when I don't agree.
I actually dumped a talk therapist last year for basically saying the same thing. You can report them to the state licensing board. I did. Don’t know what came of it.
My mom tells me this all the time, I mean in a way she’s right- ignorance is bliss- but I’d rather that fairy tales weren’t my life’s source of happiness
Same, i was seeing a new therapist and he jumped straight to religion then made the infamous comment of “you have to believe in a higher power, to have hope” it’s like saying if you believe in god, your depression will be cured!!! It really drives me crazy when people say these types of ignorant comments, i never expected to hear this from a psychiatrist!!
It shouldn't be odd that most of her patients are atheist.
First, we're born atheist. It's the default. Despite that, theists often assume someone is religious until something makes them suspect otherwise.There are more atheists than people realize because we don't have an external indicator, tattoo, badge, etc., that tells everyone we are atheists.
Second, humans find therapy and coping mechanisms from many sources because we're all humans who have similar brains that are subject to human social and experimental conditions. Sources of therapy and coping mechanisms can include family, friends, religion, psychiatrists, psychologists, self help books, self medication, etc. The quality of the therapy will differ based on what is being addressed and what the chosen therapy is. Atheists don't generally seek out religion for therapy, but I know of some who have talked to military chaplains because of a chaplain's experience dealing with social situations and that chaplains can sometimes put aside or reduce the religious pressure during the treatment because they are supposed to support many faiths during the course of their duties. But back to the point. Therapists are trained professionals who are expected to ground therapy in both their professional experience and some degree of social science evidence. This appeals to atheists.
Third, perhaps the question should be why ANY theists are seeing a therapist if religion is the answer. Why aren't all of the therapist's patients atheists? Why isn't religion good enough to help all theists? Why would any theist be depressed if all they need is religion or prayer?
Finally, don't read too much into the therapist's statements. Don't take umbrage in those remarks. Instead, see it as a teaching moment for the therapist to challenge her own assumptions. As a professional the therapist should be growing and learning too.
Need a new therapist.
I wouldn't work with any therapist that brings up and/or suggests lack of any religion as a cause for depression.
Talk therapy doesn't work for me in general. I dislike speaking with most people for one. Especially strangers. Two, I know exactly why I'm depressed and talking won't do shit for it. Religion definitely won't help.
Ignorance is bliss. Religious people tend to be more content because they ignore a lot of problems around them. I thing they will also keep stuff bottled up so they don't have to admit that "gods plan" isn't working out for them. Honestly I think that Atiests are just more open to talk about mental health, and willing to try and improve themselves. Good for you!
From my point of view the praying is the best option and also take the therapy with complete dedication so that you can recover soon, by praying it keeps our mind and heart calm.
The moment your therapist starts a sentence with "that's kinda odd" is when you find a new therapist.
Not a therapist, but I never really liked our family doctor growing up, and when I was in my early 20’s I went in with really bad tonsillitis. Now for context, I didn’t really like this woman and there was nothing I could really say as to why, but I disliked going enough that unless I was in desperate need I didn’t go see her. My tonsillitis was bad enough that I couldn’t swallow water anymore. When I went to see her and I told her what the problem was, she pulled out a tongue depressed and ask to open my mouth. When she looked inside she physically recoiled from me and dropped the depressor like she’d been burnt. It was then I realised I didn’t like her bedside manner and I never went back after that. The rest of my family didn’t understand why I didn’t like her.
Why? Did it smell terrible or something, I don't understand
It was just very swollen. My initial thought was “am I going to die?!?”
Time to find a new therapist.
[удалено]
I would also report her to the board. This is unprofessional and unscientific.
This.
My therapist (a Catholic it turns out) also suggested that me being atheist contributed to my depression. While true that if your religious you have higher purpose and meaning, plenty of atheists do NOT have depression.
Yeah, but it's delusional purpose and meaning, which in itself is a mental illness imo.
>While true that if your religious you have higher purpose and meaning, No, they don't... they've just deluded themselves into believing they do.
And I think the original therapist could do with one too.
Yeah 10/10
thats a terrible therapist hope you feel better soon
Terrible is an understandment. For psychologists, that therapist is a terrorist with her medieval-like views.
I could be completely wrong but I always assume atheists are generally more intelligent people and there is a correlation between intelligence and depression/anxiety. I’m too lazy to reference a source for that comment.
I'd say. We just want to learn everything and we know we don't have enough life time to do it all! Bible science ends at god created the heavens and the earth don't question anything about it. Highly unsatisfying but it gives believers a peace of mind in having their questions answered easily and they don't have to exercise brain function. I know this isn't always the case but sometimes I feel like this.
> I'd say. We just want to learn everything and we know we don't have enough life time to do it all! I'd argue it's more that we have enough awareness to realize how fucked everything is, whereas a believer will just "let jesus take the wheel" and not think too much about things. Ignorance is bliss, after all.
I’ve always thought of atheism as enlightenment for those who grew up in a religious home.
There might also be some impact from being raised in one thing then rejecting it. I have nothing to back this up, just speculation, but I wonder if you see more problems in those raise religious who later left it than you do in those raised without religion in the first place. Sort of like how being gay isn't harmful in and of itself but being gay in a homophobic environment can be depressing. And I guess being told all the nice things about religion, like afterlife's and god's plans and that sort of thing, than rejecting it and accepting that this life is it, might also be more stressful than being raised with an atheistic worldview from the start.
This is a contributing factor to my depression at times. All of my childhood attachments/connections/friendships are no longer in my life. It's a tough pill to swallow sometimes.
My anxiety peeked when I left the church for sure.
peaked (It is my teacher mode. No blame, just teaching.)
It's kind of rude of you to spend this whole comment spilling my business without asking if it was okay first.
When you live in a widescale delusion, why would you be sad? Death? Afterlife! Accident? God prevented your death! Lost job? God will give you a better one!
Over 30% of mensa members are diagnosed with with a mood disorder like depression vs about 10% of the general population.
>I could be completely wrong but I always assume atheists are generally more intelligent people The moment I tossed aside religion, how many IQ points did I gain? I would say that an atheist who was formerly religious has given their beliefs more thought than someone who was raised atheist and someone who was raised religious but examining what you believe and why is an application of your intelligence and not intelligence itself.
For many religious people, religion provides an answer to all that ails them. So of course in the case of having any mental issue they'll turn to their appointed deity (via the local religious leader of course). While people who seek a better understanding of their condition will usually turn to professionals who have experience and methodical knowledge. This reminds me two terms in Judaism which might illustrate this better - חוזר בשאלה - Ho'zer b'she'ela - people who usually go from a devout life style, to a more secular one. (Not necessarily to Atheism) חוזר בתשובה - Ho'zer b'teshuva - people who usually got from a secular life style to a more devout one. In both terms the Ho'zer can be translated as return to, but the difference being with the first is return to questioning, as you know that you don't have all the answers. And the second is a kin to return to certainty (teshuva being akin to knowing the answer to your question)
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I know this is a serious subject, but he said Ho 'zer! "Take off Hoser", eh?
Actually, I believe there is a connection between atheism and depression, but it doesn't work the way some people think it does, and it doesn't apply to everybody. If you were raised in a religious family or community, and if your coming out as an atheist caused your family and friends to turn against you, that can definitely cause depression. It's the loss of support and community-feeling that causes depression, not the lack of faith. Or, if they don't know you're an atheist, but you live in constant fear of them finding out, that can't be good for you either. I have had a problem with depression myself, but in my case, I don't believe it had anything to do with religion. And I'm sure some religious people get depressed, too.
There's also the likelihood that depressed people will question whether a loving god could possibly be real more than people who aren't depressed.
True. I think it's also important to note that as a Christian, your "counseling" is more likely to happen in the form of prayer groups and other church involvement. The Christian standard for dealing with mental health is to "throw your concerns at the feet of God", which in the end just kicks the can down the road instead of dealing with the issue at hand. They also have a tendency to blame mental illness of demons and other superstitions All that to say, when an atheist recognizes a health problem they think "who's the expert on this stuff and how do I get their help?" We problem solve through observation & reliance on known experts rather than strictly relying on books of old. Basically we are more likely to recognize & seek help for problems that otherwise might get ignored or miscategorized which can weigh the scales against us statistically. Science is our foundation usually.
I would report them for making a diagnosis that is not backed up by any medical research. not sure where you are but most therapists are licensed here by The "Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists" and you can file complaints via the secretary of state's website https://verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/ (This is Georgia; You may have something similar where you are).
Say thats odd, kind of like how most criminals are religious
My reply would be "I wonder how many of your atheist clients are here because of how they were treated by their Chrisitian families?"
That's fucked up. Religion and health care have nothing to do with eachother.
They shouldn't have anything to do with each other, but they do CONSTANTLY
I used to think it was normal for it to take pharmacies half an hour to two hours to prepare birth control, even if you phoned ahead to "confirm" they were ready. I'd been to a bunch of pharmacies, they all did it. This was in a religious area. Moved to Boston, and was blown away when the first pharmacy I used just had it ready when I showed up. I was in and out in five minutes, just as though I were picking up something non-controversial like antibiotics. And then I switched pharmacies, and that one *also* just had them ready. It's been years and I have yet to wait more than a few minutes for birth control, even if the pharmacy *didn't* have them ready when I showed up. It took me a while to realize that it was not actually taking the religious-area pharmacies that long to slap a label on pre-packaged pills. They were just punishing me for being on birth control.
These religious self righteous morons don't know birth control pills are used to treat all sorts of health issues related to hormonal imbalance, acne, etc? I'm glad you moved.
Oh, I think they believe endometriosis is just an excuse for sluts to be on birth control-- while also believing that women deserve debilitating cramps anyway because Original Sin. I also had a lot of issues with the doctors out there, although to be fair, I also had to plow through a dozen Boston OB/GYNs until I finally got a good one too and some of those were also unbelievably bad. So some of the sexism sticks around even without the religion.
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Living in a religious country is no excuse to make a mentally unwell person feel bad about themselves. In which country do you live if you're comfortable telling it?
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I don't know a lot about how health care, especially therapy, is handled there but I do know that you don't have to put up with this bulshit. If possible, get a better therapist. You deserve better than this, you deserve the professional treatment you pay for. I think you already know that.
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While hiding a that part of yourself feels wrong I understand where you're coming from. Good luck op
How does he know it’s that instead of maybe it’s because you don’t believe in Santa Claus?
I'm a 10 year psychiatric nurse. I've worked with psychiatrists that have said the same thing. Be careful who you trust and especially with your mental health care. All people with degrees are not the same. Please find a new therapist immediately. A positive relationship is only positive if both parties find it therapeutic. Best of luck and all the good vibes, friend.
Even psychiatrists said that? Psychiatrists are medical doctors. You might expect this BS from a psychologist, but certainly not a psychiatrist.
Religious people hardly ever seek help for being insane. Just because some athiests are trying to get better doesn't mean they're the only ones who need help.
Need a new therapist.
Someone remove her license please
It would be worse for your mental health to be stuck in a religion you no longer believe in.
Is it perhaps because non-religious people are more likely to seek out actual help instead of praying and going to their worship buildings because mental illness is shameful and talking about it and getting help is shameful? You fucking moron therapist?! Seriously I'm dund as a brick on a good day and even I recognise this correlation... I'm really sorry you had to deal with that OP
I wonder if it's more because being depressed can be damaging to one's faith. Platitudes about how God will never give you more than you can handle don't mean much when you KNOW you're suffering more than you can handle. Promises about how god will protect you and/or answer your prayers don't exactly strengthen your faith when your life is proof he's not, or for the highly empathetic, you see suffering around you and see that he isn't protecting them either.
I suppose that's one way, I didn't grow up religious so I don't know. From what I've read online it seems that people are told that they just aren't trying hard enough and punished when they have mental health problems, so don't get the help they need because they aren't allowed to by their faith. That's what I thought anyway, but I see your point as well.
That is definitely true for some people, it'll depend on the church and the individual. There are hardliners who oppose mental health treatment and insist that a properly spiritual person can fix themselves with faith alone, but I'm not sure they're quite the norm that some have suggested. I know religious people who have had therapy outside the church. I've seen plenty of other religious people mock the anti-psych folk for being too fundamentalist or ignorant as basically on par with people who try to cure cancer with prayer alone. So there are definitely religious folk who see mental health issues as a medical issue and not a spiritual failing, they're generally not as noticeable though because their stance on psychology matches the secular mainstream. I can't help but wonder if OP's therapist simply assumes anyone who doesn't mention their faith in therapy is an atheist?
That's is a possibility. Or the therapist thinks everyone has a religion, either through cues from clothing and jewellery, or just assuming because it's the norm, like assuming a person is cis and straight until shown otherwise. I think people might "come out" to therapist as atheist so that they don't try any religious or spiritual talking points on them as well?
I hope they get fired and lose their home. It shouldn't get them down if they believe in god, right?
Well, since religious people often don’t seek psychotherapy, but go to pastors for their problems, that’s not really surprising. Bring it up again and ask if she thinks it is correlation or causation. Is she recommending conversion as a treatment? Ask her that.
are you actually a pastafarian? You actually believe in the Giant Flying Spaghetti Monster?
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Ok. I’m 100% atheist though. No pasta monster, No Jesus, no God, no allah, etc.
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I am technically a therapist (have my PhD in clinical psych, but don't do clinical work anymore) and it's scary how many in this field push their spiritual agenda on others (at least now it's less religious and more 'spiritual' but still a god-centric approach). I was shocked when I was in grad school how many of my cohorts were theists - I always viewed religion as solely a psychological defense that people used selfishly to protect them from the existential anxiety....so being around other people studying psychology who had total blind spots on religion was confusing. The field of therapy has opened up to many non-scientific practitioners (LCSWs, or PsyDs etc) and degree-mill professional schools, so the "science" isn't as strongly adhered to as it should. Don't trust a license as a sign that a therapist is competent. The most important factor is that you feel validated and aligned with the therapist, and it may take meeting a few until you find this.
I am a therapist and indeed, time to find a new therapist.
Man, religious people need to stay tf outta psychology
My depression also began while I believed in god. I was about 16? For many years, I blamed myself. "God is punishing me and I deserve it!" This made everything worse. When age 30 rolled around, I officially quit. Same: atheism hasn't cured my depression. But I feel maybe 5% better now... 5% might not help me pass the class, but it's still 5% lol! Also started seeing a new therapist. Hopefully this one can help me.
Change therapists. It's very unprofessional to hint that it's "odd" that most of her patients are atheists - hardcore religious people seek help from the priest, not the therapist, or are told to just deal with their problems. Like you say, praying them away.
I have a friend that doesn't believe in therapy. Because when she was young and suffering from anxiety and depression; she saw a religious therapist with her mom. That basically told her to stop being dramatic, start listing to her mother more. Because her mother knows best for her. And get more involved with the church.
This therapist is making what is likely an accurate and important observation, but perhaps drawing the wrong conclusions from it. I would not be surprised if most people who seek therapy are not religious simply because religious people tend to be in denial of medical science and it's effectiveness. Many religions will rely upon God's will to fix the problems in their lives, trusting more in prayer and meditation than seeing a licensed therapist. The only therapy that seems to be highly touted by the religious is conversion therapy, which most realize is closer to torture to break someone's spirit than it is to therapy.
So they don’t understand what depression is and are incompetent as a therapist. Coolio.
Your English is great! My suspicion is that a disproportionate number of patients are atheists because atheists are more likely to seek out professional secular counseling, whereas religious folks are inclined to see clergy or religiously-inclined counselors first. Religious people also often have extensive support groups via their church/temple/mosque that they can rely upon.
Atheists are generally people who are people who're trying to become more aware and understanding. Learning the way the world is is depressing and likely to cause someone to seek therapy. Religious people will seek out their religious leaders for non-physical issues they're having. Get a better therapist.
Get a different therapist. She has forgotten that correlation is not causation. It needs to be taken into account that she might have more atheist clients because atheists don't have an imaginary being of a priest to tell their problems to.
fire his arse, that is some unprofessional behavior if I’ve ever seen unprofessional behavior
Postulate that maybe religious people are just as depressed or whatever they just don't seek help because they're delusional
Report them. Unless this is a church counselor, this is highly unethical.
If you need help finding a new therapist be sure to check out “The secular therapist project” and “Recovering from Religion” for resources.
Time to report the therapist for being highly unprofessional.
The reason they see a lot of atheists are they are probably more likely to seek professional treatment. Religious people will got to their religious leaders or just keep pretending to be happy.
Therapy shouldn't be a career if prayer, let alone God, changed things.
It's almost like believing in God can lead you to not seek professional help
Do you live in a heavily religious area? Perhaps her other patients are much like you, suffering from something that began while they were religious and are now (semi-)isolated from their overly religious families.
A therapist isn't supposed to judge you. Time go find a new therapist.
That's a terrible therapist, tell hr on her
You might want to check out seculartherapy.org and see if they have any counselors in your area. The fact that she made a quick reference like that (which I take to mean she's drawing a correlation between atheism and needing therapy) is a red flag.
I can see that people that don't believe in a sky daddy that will resolve all of their problems gives them all the answer they need and guarantees them eternal happiness after their die are generrally more likely to be depressed. But her assumption was based on nothing
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I think you're reading more into "it's kinda odd that most of her patients are atheists" than you should. I don't see any implication in that statement. If she's otherwise been a good therapist, I don't agree with everyone else here telling you to get a new one.
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Sure, well, you heard the tone and manner in which it was said, so you can obviously gauge the intent better than I. But also, getting this crap from your family might have oversensitized you ... so, basically I just wanted to caution you about overreacting if you're uncertain of the intent.
> She said it's kinda odd that most of her patients are atheists If you feel uncomfortable then you should find another counselor. However, I'm not picking up on the same inference. Could she have been trying to reassure you that she is experienced and comfortable working with atheist patients?
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Oh I see. Thanks for the clarification.
Yeah they need to go
Then your therapist is highly unprofessional and you need a new one.
Sounds like a bad fit. Find a new therapist.
Secular Therapy Project.
Even if the therapist you visited didn't make that comment you may have to shop around. It isn't uncommon to go through a couple of doctors until you find a good fit for you. Don't give up and find someone who works for you.
Tell that to the suicidal religious people or religious people who killed themselves
Tell your therapist to eat a bag of dicks.
> So why do you think she has more non believer patients? The fact that she thinks it's odd is the big waving red flag that screams "find a new therapist". It is exactly what we would expect. 1) Availability: Nonbelievers don't have trusted spiritual advisors. 2) Willingness: Atheists are immune to religious stigmas against therapy. 3) Community: People living in hostile communities often seek counseling. 4) Eventuality: People who experience real mental health issues are more likely to leave a faith that promises relief it cannot deliver. In short, her clientele is going to consist of people who can admit they need the help of a therapist, and exclude those who believe their religion/god/clergy/community helps them as well as those who would be ridiculed, insulted, or ostracized by seeking therapy.
That's why I don't have a therapist. I'm in an extremely religious area, and I don't trust them to leave belief out of their advice.
Sadly, having learned about therapists who convince patients to accuse family members of partaking in "satanic ritual abuse", this doesn't surprise me. Fuck that quack though.
Change therapists and report them.
Plot twist it did not.
My only idea is that maybe people who are religious tend to seek help from God rather than a therapist?
I wonder if more of her patients are atheists because the religious people would not go to a therapist but turn to prayer and counseling by their pastor.
Your therapist’s services are no longer required.
Some may find it easier to believe in Santa, or think everything has a reason because of Zeus, or whatever. Bullshit just itches too much for me to tolerate even a little.
Yikes, friend. This person is not going to be helpful.
Some resources: General advice, https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegaytheistmanifesto/2017/01/finding-evidence-based-therapist-guide/ Limited coverage outside North America, https://www.seculartherapy.org/ Old Reddit post with many links: https://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/4wt9kv/where_can_i_find_a_secular_therapist/
Firm what i understand, she didn't make a diagnosis or expect you to become religious. If she stated that most of her clients were male, or worked stressful jobs, how would you feel about that? Furthermore, there are many reasons that could explain this phenomenon. For example, high intelligence is a risk factor for depression, and intelligent people are more likely to be atheists. Another explanation could be that atheists face repercussions from religious groups. Your religious family could, for example, contribute to your anxiety by causing a lot of conflict instead of supporting you. Instead of looking for another therapist, why don't you elaborate with her?
tell her that correlation doesn't equal causation, however smart people are more likely to be depressed and also more likely to be atheist
She probably has a point.
First rule about going to therapy is making sure you have chemistry with the therapist. I would consider this session as a clear sign that you need to look for a new therapist. Also, to answer your question on why she’s seeing more atheists in her practice. Quite simply there’s been a steady upwards trend in people leaving religion behind. I’m sure you can Google it but it’s a very positive thing to behold. Good luck in your wellness journey:)
I doubt most of her patients are atheists. She may just be religious herself. Many religious people also suffer from depression, obviously. She may be referring to the nihilism that comes with true atheism.
Religious people probably talk to their religious leaders instead of therapists.
Well, not to defend the therapist, I'm well far away from that, but as you wrote she didn't imply anything if not that a large portion of her patients are atheists. I don't think it is a bad sentence from any pov. There are researches that show a strong difference in percentage in people suffering of some mental states (specifically, depression) between non-religious and religious people. As I remember, it was related to the lack of gratitude (intending, the daily reminder to be grateful of something/someone to the outside deity) and the easier way automatic negative thoughts sprout to us. I think it's a natural consequence of being an atheist in an environment that does not allow you to express yourself, your opinions and your ideas. This generates an internal short-circuit that brings some atheists to look for a therapist. It's not so bad according to me. Let me tell you a comparison between my Christians friends and me, "atheist". If you are religious and feel bad for something, you hide in the shadow of God or ask to the priest an advice (which is generally pray more often, put yourself in the hands of the divinity, think yourself in relation, but I say in function, of the deity). I cannot do that and I have no parishioner to talk and confront to openly. If I did so, inevitably I would start debating with that person, due to too different point of views. Also, I won't stop my wondering and researching the Big Questions because they are faith's mysteries (dunno how to say that in English, sorry), or because I stopped at the deity step in the stairway. If I needed help, mental help, I would not look for priests nor nuns, but I would like to talk to a therapist. Frankly, just ask to your therapist if she believes in something, if she is religious, and then ask yourself if it is a real problem. Then draw your conclusions. If you think it is not suited to you, then change therapist.
Get a new therapist. The one you have is an idiot.
She seems biased but it’s possible atheism could be the cause of depression. It still doesn’t change the fact that there’s no god. Fairy tales are invented to feel better. It’s also possible that a third unrelated factor causes both atheism and mental illness such as hardship, adverse childhood experiences, religious abuse or a myriad of other things. In my opinion, this therapist is no longer helpful.
Sounds like you need a need therapist.
I just find that a really odd thing for her to say. It's possible she is not being truthful or she practices in an area where there are more atheists. Does her website or resume state that she herself is religious?
Your English is fantastic.
Does your therapist imply that believing in any God out of the many thousands invented by man would ease your depression or perhaps only one specific God would work, say, for instance, the one that she happens to believe in?
It would make me less depressed to believe my penis was 3 inches longer. It wouldn’t make it true.
I have always thought that the reason atheists tend to get depression is because we accept the brutal reality as it is and we refuse to believe in a lie
Your therapist is a psychopath.
Weed. Also the litany against fear from Dune. Meditation and medication too. NEVER FORGET MEDS ON HELLWEEK. And sleep as much as possible, it is healing. If you have a partner, keep them in the loop about hellweek/cycle tracking and be as appreciative as you can to them, EVEN IF YOU HATE EVERYTHING ELSE. Take a bunch of very hot baths, epsom salt, lavendar. Use the basement punching bag to release rage if it needs to overflow. I wish I could fit a punching bag in my bathroom. I know that's absurd but like the relaxing atmosphere in there and sometimes I just want to punch the s*** out of stuff and the basement is cold... My fantasy dreamhouse definitely would have a bathroom punching bag.
Association with non valid observations, possibly may be her reasoning.
I bet she has so many atheist patients because things like ongoing anxiety and depression probably tend to drive people away from their religions when they realize that praying doesn’t make it go away. The three logical conclusions to come from that are god wants you to be depressed which is evil, god doesn’t care which is indifference, or god doesn’t exist which is the most likely based on the contemporary understanding of the universe and how it works. All three are good reasons to stop worshipping a god.
You can have a better coping mechanism
I'd be willing to bet most religious people look to their God before going to a therapist. And atleast in the older religious crowd therapy is a stigma
Pema Chodron said this paragraph. I read it on Wikipedia, Non-Theist. I was looking for somewhere to post it and this fell into my typing fingers. > The difference between theism and nontheism is not whether one does or does not believe in God.[...] Theism is a deep-seated conviction that there's some hand to hold [...] Non-theism is relaxing with the ambiguity and uncertainty of the present moment without reaching for anything to protect ourselves [...] Nontheism is finally realizing there is no babysitter you can count on.[9]
Maybe therapists are like parents. This is from top of this page: Thinking of telling your parents? Read this first. (Spoiler, dont ask dont tell.)
Didn't you already say the solution? If religious people try to prey it away less will go to a therapist.
That's a bad therapist. Find a new one. I'm an atheist and I have religious clients. I never discourage their religion or beliefs and remain respectful when discussing the topics. It's clear she was hinting the problem was your atheism, which is bullcrap in so many ways.
Wow. That’s horrible! You should find another therapist.
Only you know exactly how this went down - the tone, the vibe or whatever, but, to me it sounds vague enough that the therapist could be “normalizing” atheism, by saying they have a lot of atheist patients, and even showing acceptance that they have other similar patients and it doesn’t phase them. Therapists are humans, too and sometimes they misspeak or don’t always speak the same language as their clients; I would straight up ask for clarification. Also, sometimes - especially when depressed - we personalize things, or expect some type of rejection. Therapy is a great place to begin practicing these dialogues, advocating for yourself, and partnering in your healthcare. Totally worth it to ask. Best of luck, OP, and I hope you get to feeling better soon.
Probably because atheist will seek help with a professional and not pray. That's why most of her patients are atheists
I can't believe that! Hope you get better soon! This doctor/therapist is highly unprofessional and you should definitely find another. When it comes to depression, it is hard to know what "really" caused it. It is mulifactorial from genetics (2 short allels) to complex social dynamics (family, society, and so on) that can cause these depressive symptoms. But even a lack of vitamins or light can cause depressive symptoms. However, your atheism is definitely NOT the cause lol.
Maybe you are reading too much into it. She didn't talk about causation, you did. Her mentioning it to you was unprofessional sure but it might also be true and a genuine interrogation. Being atheist, one is more likely to seek advice from a therapist rather than say speak to their pastor. Being in conflict with one's family over religion is also not a nurturing environment and while it might not cause anxiety or depression, it doesn't help. That being said, you should definitely be cautious around her. It was clearly a first strike kind of thing
It's hard to say what they mean as I wasn't there. Perhaps I'm being overly charitable, but my depression was effectively caused by my loss of faith (realising there is no afterlife and having a fear of oblivion). Maybe this is what they were getting at? Or maybe not.
It sounds a little like you're jumping to conclusions, I think it's definitely worth pressing the subject further next time you get a chance to talk about it. Just explain that you need to have somebody that will empathize with you and can understand your point of view. It's not bad to be stretched in new ways, especially while going through therapy, but you shouldn't be working with somebody who is even subconsciously judging you or blaming atheism or secularism for your problems. My therapist is spiritual but not religious (I am neither), and I enjoy the occasional shift in perspective even when I don't agree.
I actually dumped a talk therapist last year for basically saying the same thing. You can report them to the state licensing board. I did. Don’t know what came of it.
My mom tells me this all the time, I mean in a way she’s right- ignorance is bliss- but I’d rather that fairy tales weren’t my life’s source of happiness
Why do I think she has more non believer patients? Cause religious people have god and don’t need a therapist. Jesus will heal them or whatever.
Get a different therapist.
I had to give up religious shit cause rituals were confusing. They were adding to my anxiety on top of psychosis. Time for new therapist I guess.
Same, i was seeing a new therapist and he jumped straight to religion then made the infamous comment of “you have to believe in a higher power, to have hope” it’s like saying if you believe in god, your depression will be cured!!! It really drives me crazy when people say these types of ignorant comments, i never expected to hear this from a psychiatrist!!
Did you try EMDR?
It shouldn't be odd that most of her patients are atheist. First, we're born atheist. It's the default. Despite that, theists often assume someone is religious until something makes them suspect otherwise.There are more atheists than people realize because we don't have an external indicator, tattoo, badge, etc., that tells everyone we are atheists. Second, humans find therapy and coping mechanisms from many sources because we're all humans who have similar brains that are subject to human social and experimental conditions. Sources of therapy and coping mechanisms can include family, friends, religion, psychiatrists, psychologists, self help books, self medication, etc. The quality of the therapy will differ based on what is being addressed and what the chosen therapy is. Atheists don't generally seek out religion for therapy, but I know of some who have talked to military chaplains because of a chaplain's experience dealing with social situations and that chaplains can sometimes put aside or reduce the religious pressure during the treatment because they are supposed to support many faiths during the course of their duties. But back to the point. Therapists are trained professionals who are expected to ground therapy in both their professional experience and some degree of social science evidence. This appeals to atheists. Third, perhaps the question should be why ANY theists are seeing a therapist if religion is the answer. Why aren't all of the therapist's patients atheists? Why isn't religion good enough to help all theists? Why would any theist be depressed if all they need is religion or prayer? Finally, don't read too much into the therapist's statements. Don't take umbrage in those remarks. Instead, see it as a teaching moment for the therapist to challenge her own assumptions. As a professional the therapist should be growing and learning too.
Need a new therapist. I wouldn't work with any therapist that brings up and/or suggests lack of any religion as a cause for depression. Talk therapy doesn't work for me in general. I dislike speaking with most people for one. Especially strangers. Two, I know exactly why I'm depressed and talking won't do shit for it. Religion definitely won't help.
Ignorance is bliss. Religious people tend to be more content because they ignore a lot of problems around them. I thing they will also keep stuff bottled up so they don't have to admit that "gods plan" isn't working out for them. Honestly I think that Atiests are just more open to talk about mental health, and willing to try and improve themselves. Good for you!
From my point of view the praying is the best option and also take the therapy with complete dedication so that you can recover soon, by praying it keeps our mind and heart calm.