Overlap between organized religion and the mental health system

A recent conversation with a friend brought to mind the overlap between organized religion & the mental health system.

In both of them, you’ll find representatives or “agents of the ststem” using a chosen text to determine other peoples’ level of either virtue or mental well-being.

However, I’ve noticed something:

The more healed I become, the less of a need I have to be over another human being or to tell them anything at all about how to live their life.

For many, the “therapist” role is a protector part. A way to avoid their own healing work by over-focusing in others; & maybe even a way to feel better about themselves by pointing out the “sickness” in others.

In the medical field, there’s definitely a “power over” dynamic & an unspoken agreement that the doctor knows best.

TBH, it all feels really gross to me.

Not to say I’ll never show up in a clinical setting again, but I’m just exploring how egoic it is to sit there and hold a book of all the rules or all the criteria and basically say “let me tell you about you.” 🤦‍♀️

So my question is:

Can you actually be an integrated person and operate in systems where there’s a power differential?

I’m talking specifically about systems that are predicated on the hierarchy (particularly military, medical, and religion), as opposed to settings where the power differential is merely a direct result of a service being offered and can be neutralized without destabilizing the system, such as acupuncture, hairdresser, etc.

Also, I realize the functionality of hierarchies & that they are necessary at times, such as war, etc.

I’m exploring this more from the angle of what attracts us to these systems and what keeps us there.

What societal functions do they serve, and is there a secondary gain (ego hit) for those in positions of power. ..and if that is true, if they’re using their position of power to avoid doing their own personal work, then how credible are they, really?

Sidenote: (2 things)

I’ve noticed a difference in mental health professionals as opposed to physical/medical professionals (even between psychiatrists/psychologists and therapists).

Therapists are more likely to be self-critical and to use the DSM to diagnose themselves to death; whereas med professionals and religious leaders tend to focus the scrutiny outside themselves/onto others.

I’m not saying it’s any better to weaponize the DSM against yourself. It’s two sides of the same coin