For seekers and clinicians
Using Banyan alongside therapy.
We want to be honest about what Banyan is and is not. It is a sanctuary of voices to sit with the great questions — grief, meaning, parenting, the inner life. It is not therapy, not psychiatry, not medical advice, and not a crisis service. Some people use it alongside their therapist; some use it instead of a journal; some use it on Sunday mornings. Here is how to use it well.
If you have a therapist
Bring what comes up here into the room with them. Many people find that a Banyan thread surfaces a feeling or question they couldn't access alone — and that is exactly the material therapy is built for. A few specific ideas:
- Use the wizard before a session: tell the council what's heaviest this week, and bring the thread (or just the question) to your therapist.
- Export a thread (the share button on any council reply) and read one line aloud in session. Notice what happens in your body.
- If a reply gives you something — language, a frame, a permission — share it. Your therapist will know how to work with it.
If you are a therapist or coach
Some clinicians have begun recommending Banyan to clients between sessions — as a structured way to journal, as a way to introduce a tradition the client is curious about, or as a tool for clients who think more clearly in dialogue than alone. We are not a clinical tool. We do not diagnose. We do not store anything you wouldn't want a thoughtful stranger to read.
If you'd like to talk with us about responsible use with clients, or to flag concerns, please reach out: hello@banyancouncil.com.
What Banyan will not do
- Diagnose any condition.
- Recommend, name, or comment on medications.
- Claim to be a therapist, doctor, or crisis counselor.
- Promise confidentiality we cannot keep — see our privacy policy.
- Tell you your feelings are wrong, or minimize them.
If you are in crisis
Please don't bring crisis-level thoughts here. Banyan's voices, no matter how warm, are not trained for it. See the crisis resources — and reach a human now.