Photo: The Local
Built as an experimental attempt to help the city’s citizens get wider smiles, a Swedish taxi company has launched a new project that involves therapists sitting in the back of their cars. The initiative comes after a customer survey showed that around 70% of people said their taxi journeys were a good time for reflection.
If the days when the bartender would be your best adviser through tough times seemed weird, we’re pretty sure you will definitely find this one odd. It turns out people in Sweden are experiencing quite the grim days, especially with the winter in Stockholm being so long.
An experimental project started a week ago offered Stockholmers the possibility to book a trip in advance and air their issues while jetting across town. Not only will they be advised by shrink taxi drivers, but the cabbies have all signed non-disclosure agreements.
Mia Fahlen, one of the psychologists involved in the project, told The Local the trips need not to be very long, as even a ten-minute ride could be enough to point a customer in a direction that could change their sate-of-mind.
As a matter of fact, the whole idea started from a customer survey the taxi company recently carried out.
“Around 70% of people said their taxi journeys were a good time for reflection and that they often found their minds wandering. And when you think about it, the drivers can even become like therapists. So we decided to put the two together for all the Stockholmers - especially considering it’ getting so cold and dark now,” Natalia Santos, a press officer at Taxi Stockholm explained.
Whatever the case might be, we’re pretty sure it could work pretty good in US as well. At least that is what the stats show us. According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40 million adults aged 18 and older (that is about 18% of the country’s population). Imagine how that taxi service would work!
An experimental project started a week ago offered Stockholmers the possibility to book a trip in advance and air their issues while jetting across town. Not only will they be advised by shrink taxi drivers, but the cabbies have all signed non-disclosure agreements.
Mia Fahlen, one of the psychologists involved in the project, told The Local the trips need not to be very long, as even a ten-minute ride could be enough to point a customer in a direction that could change their sate-of-mind.
Cheaper than the classic shrink
As things wouldn’t be cool enough already, it turns out the therapy-cabs will charge smaller fees an actual shrink would do. As to what problems people have, it seems the main issue is once again love. Well, sort of. Even though she joined the crew for the thrill of the unknown, Fahlen believes the main topic people in Sweden’s capital would talk about is being lonely.As a matter of fact, the whole idea started from a customer survey the taxi company recently carried out.
“Around 70% of people said their taxi journeys were a good time for reflection and that they often found their minds wandering. And when you think about it, the drivers can even become like therapists. So we decided to put the two together for all the Stockholmers - especially considering it’ getting so cold and dark now,” Natalia Santos, a press officer at Taxi Stockholm explained.
A good idea for the US
According to the source the taxi therapy trial begun November 3rd and was scheduled to run for at least one week. It's a trial, but this practice could turn out to be a global phenomenon.Whatever the case might be, we’re pretty sure it could work pretty good in US as well. At least that is what the stats show us. According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40 million adults aged 18 and older (that is about 18% of the country’s population). Imagine how that taxi service would work!
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