Abigail Shrier, author of 'Bad Therapy' and 'Irreversible Damage', dives into the dangers of therapy for children and how it may inadvertently harm family dynamics. She questions the efficacy of gentle parenting, emphasizing that self-centered empathy can stifle children's emotional growth. The conversation also covers the troubling rise of social-emotional learning and its potential to exacerbate anxiety. Shrier challenges the idea that therapy is the key to happiness, urging a re-evaluation of contemporary parenting methods and the implications of therapy culture.
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insights INSIGHT
Youth Suffering Despite Therapy
The rising generation suffers despite unprecedented mental health interventions and therapy access.
They also show no interest in traditional adult roles like driving, marriage, or parenting.
insights INSIGHT
Therapy's Hidden Harms
Therapy can cause iatrogenic harm, worsening anxiety and alienation from parents.
Many therapists either deny these harms or are unaware of them.
insights INSIGHT
Child Therapy Dynamics Differ
Therapy for children differs from adults due to lack of child autonomy and pushback.
Therapists pander to children to gain their agreement, potentially creating harmful dynamics.
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In this book, Abigail Shrier delves into the phenomenon of rapid-onset gender dysphoria among adolescent girls. She discusses how this condition, once rare and typically found in males, has suddenly become more prevalent among female teenagers. Shrier attributes this rise to social contagion, influenced by internet communities, school assemblies, and 'gender-affirming' educators and therapists. The book critiques medical interventions such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries, highlighting the risks and long-term consequences. Shrier also interviews girls, their parents, counselors, doctors, and 'detransitioners' to provide a comprehensive view of the issue and offers advice for parents on how to protect their daughters from this trend.
Bad Therapy
Abigail Shrier
Abigail Shrier's "Bad Therapy" delves into the increasing trend of pathologizing normal childhood behaviors. The book examines how the therapeutic landscape has shifted, leading to the overdiagnosis and treatment of children for conditions that may simply be part of typical development. Shrier critiques certain therapeutic approaches and their potential negative consequences, sparking debate about the appropriate use of therapy for children. The book challenges readers to reconsider the boundaries between normal childhood experiences and diagnosable conditions, prompting a critical examination of current therapeutic practices. It encourages a more nuanced understanding of child development and the potential pitfalls of overmedicalization.
Today we're joined by author Abigail Shrier to discuss her newest book, "Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up." She dives into the unknown dangers of therapy for children, the differences between worry and anxiety, depression, and sadness and why therapy is different for adults. She also explains the dark motives that fuel some therapists and inevitably cause harm to the family unit as a whole. We discuss whether gentle parenting is a valid parenting style and the dangers of manipulative empathy. Abigail answers a few of the most pressing questions about mental health, such as: Is therapy the "responsible" thing to do? What is "social emotional learning," and why is it in our children's schools? And is the widespread use of antidepressants an example of social contagion?
Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey 
