Episode 5 : Why Does Everyone Sound Like a Therapist Now? Therapy Speak, Boundaries & The Unregulated Wellness Industry

In this episode of Too Sober For This, recovery advocate Shell Righini and comedian Iain Anderson take on a very 2026 problem: Why does everyone sound like a therapist now?From TikTok to group chats, therapy language has gone mainstream. Words like “boundaries”, “triggers”, “narcissist”, and “holding space” are everywhere. But are they helping us understand ourselves… or just helping us win arguments?Shell and Iain unpack the rise of wellness culture and the explosion of self-help language online. What started as tools for healing are now often used as shields, weapons, and personality traits.  They explore how therapy-speak is being misused, overused, and sometimes completely stripped of its meaning. From calling people “toxic” instead of having hard conversations, to diagnosing exes with zero qualifications, to setting “boundaries” that are actually just control.This episode gets into the grey area between genuine growth and performative self-awareness, and asks whether we’re becoming more emotionally intelligent… or just better at sounding like we are.In this episode• Why therapy language is everywhere right now• The difference between real boundaries and control• How words like “narcissist” and “triggered” are being misused• Wellness culture and the business of self-improvement• Social media, identity, and performative healing• When self-awareness becomes avoidance• The fine line between growth and superiority• Why not everything needs a label• What actually helps vs what just sounds goodGet ready for uncomfortable truths, sharp observations, dark humour, and at least a few moments where you’ll wonder if you’ve ever said “I’m protecting my energy” and really meant “I don’t want to deal with this.” 😅 Connect With Us@toosoberforthispodcastShell Righini - @shell_righini  Iain Anderson - @iainanderson.comedyTraumedy Show - https://iainandersoncomedy.com/Listen to Shell’s podcast We Recover Loudly here on Spotify  This Podcast Is Brought to You By We Recover Loudly MerchBold recovery slogans and wearable reminders that recovery doesn’t have to be quiet.Shop here: www.werecoverloudly.com@werecoverloudlyMastered and edited by Unmuted Studios.  Podcast production, editing, and creative support.www.unmutedstudios.com