Seeking Therapy for Bar Girls and Farang Couples in Bangkok

[aiden15632]

Before diving in, I want to acknowledge that seeking therapy is a personal choice, and I appreciate your understanding of this.
We need to recognize that many girls working in the bar scene endure significant challenges. Their experiences can be intense and multifaceted, extending beyond their work in the bars to include personal and emotional issues from their pasts. Older patrons, like myself, often contribute to these challenges, even if unintentionally, by perpetuating certain dynamics.
If you find yourself in a relationship with a former bar girl and feel that therapy might be beneficial for both of you, here are some considerations and recommendations for therapists in Bangkok who work with such couples:

1. Cultural Sensitivity: Look for therapists who are culturally sensitive and experienced in dealing with clients from diverse backgrounds, particularly those familiar with the dynamics of working in the bar industry.
   
2. Language Skills: Ensure the therapist is proficient in English if you’re not comfortable conversing in Thai. Effective communication is crucial for meaningful therapy.
   
3. Specializations: Seek out therapists who specialize in relationship counseling, trauma, or the psychological effects of working in high-pressure environments.
   
4. Reputable Clinics: Consider reputable clinics or therapy centers known for their professionalism and understanding of complex personal issues. Some well-regarded options include:
   • The Banyan Tree: Known for a range of counseling services, including relationship therapy.
     
   • Bangkok Therapy: Offers various therapeutic services with English-speaking counselors.
     
   • The Mind Center: Provides specialized therapy for diverse issues, including trauma and relationship challenges.
     
5. Recommendations: You might also ask for recommendations from expatriate communities or online forums for personal experiences with therapists who have successfully worked with similar couples.
   

Seeking therapy can be a proactive step in addressing and overcoming the challenges faced in such relationships. If you have personal experiences or recommendations, sharing them could be beneficial for others in similar situations.



4o mini

[daniel74]

I'm not sure what you're doing to contribute to their problems. I just give them a large amount of money for a little bit of boom boom... :lol:



Never heard of a bargirl going to a therapist or met a former bargirl who needed to go to one. Other than the ones that do drugs, I haven't seen one who was mentally damaged. But why not just Google "Therapist Bangkok" if that's what you think you need?



A bargirl sitting in a room with farang, talking to another Thai person about all the other farang she fucked sounds odd. I imagine it would humiliate her and do more harm than good, to be honest. What exactly would she gain from it? It isn't going to wipe her memory... I'd understand a couple going to a therapist if they have serious relationship issues, talking about behaviors that they can change to save their relationship, or someone going because they have thoughts of hurting themselves or others... but going just because she was a bargirl seems very presumptive.

[hilululu]

Your experience is very different than mine, Tom-Tit. All the former bargrils who I've stayed in touch with who have gotten out of the game went on to live perfectly normal and happy lives. They are happily married, have kids children, work normal jobs and generally have swept the bargirl portion of their life under the rug.



I will admit that I do not know any former bargirls who've had successful relationships with mongers. Indeed those all ended eventually, but that's probably because they jumped into a relationship too fast, it was based on money rather than love, etc.



Will some girls end up damaged? I'm sure some will, yes. But I think that saying that all girls bargirls will be damaged is an extremely upside down blanket statement. With the number of former bargirls that span the generations and virtually none of them seeking mental health, there would be a whole lots of depressed woman running around, living in the streets, throwing their life in the gutter. But this is still the land of smiles. The suicide rate in the United States is higher (where there are no bargirls and a therapist is on every block), and generally men in Thailand kill themselves at a ratio of 5 to 1 vs women. Those numbers are very telling.

[johnson13]

Not to downplay the seriousness of mental illness, but it’s worth considering that depression might be somewhat overstated in Western society. There seems to be a tendency for people to self-diagnose in an exaggerated manner, similar to how some might claim they have the flu when they really just have a common cold. This overemphasis can sometimes lead to an inflated perception of the severity of our emotional states. While it's important to acknowledge and address mental health issues, it’s also crucial to differentiate between serious conditions and everyday challenges.

[shant234]

I’ve gotten to know two unrelated Thai nationals quite well, and both have had truly difficult backstories. Despite the severity of their past experiences, their approach to coping is strikingly different from what I might expect. Rather than seeking out antidepressants or other medications, they’ve chosen to move on and "hand it over to the Buddha." Their focus is on finding peace and acceptance through spiritual means rather than relying on pharmaceutical solutions. This perspective is both interesting and somewhat enlightening, showing a different cultural approach to dealing with life's challenges and emotional pain.