Therapy for Internalized Capitalism in NYC
I am an anti-capitalist therapist in NYC. I offer therapy for internalized capitalism.
This is quite different than offering political affirming therapy. This is more like- I think capitalism is affecting me and changing my behaviors.
Do you constantly worry about “optimizing” your life?
Do you spend late hours at work and catch yourself working over 40 hours a week?
Do you justify in your head why it makes sense that you’re not getting over-time or feel worried that your co-workers are unionizing?
Do you feel torn between being a worker and being promoted somehow?
Do you feel guilty resting?
Do you feel a constant dread that you are not productive enough or not earning enough?
Do you feel a pressure to monetize literally any of your hobbies, be it gaming, playing music, talking about books you like, the list goes on?
Are you constantly doing mental olympics to manage the moral fatigue at your job?
Do you feel that you are not living in parallel to your leftist values or your activism?
Do you work at a “progressive company” that barely pays its workers?
We can’t just live in a system and not become changed by it. It’s unfortunate. What begins to happen in capitalism is that we live in system that demands more and more of us- and ironically we feel exhausted, unfulfilled and more. We give and give and what is the result? Definitely not an “optimal” one.
Psychoanalysis can look at formative influences in your life that draw you to such systems or make these systems hard to defend against, but more importantly, you maybe don’t see a therapist who thinks treatment is acquiring 10 new hobbies or making more money somehow. The goal of analysis is often to live a more fulfilled and happier life- which can be odds with a system that demands productivity at every turn- and even worse, rewards it.
I’m not saying that it is silly to become more lucrative, that can be life-changing. I’m not saying it’s silly to grab the instrument underneath your bed that’s covered in cobwebs either, music is an incredible hobby, passion and also outlet.
I’m saying that it’s important you end up in real therapy and not some sort of life optimization course. You can consult AI or a life coach for that. Therapy can explore the formative influences and unconscious defenses that have made someone more prone to internalized capitalism for example.
