In a thought-provoking discussion, Abigail Shrier, a best-selling author known for "Irreversible Damage," dives into the troubling state of modern therapy and its impact on children's mental health. She critiques how overprotective parenting and misguided therapeutic practices can hinder emotional resilience in youth. The conversation touches on the alarming trend of misdiagnosis and the need for children to confront life's challenges, promoting independence over dependency. Shrier emphasizes the importance of traditional values in fostering well-adjusted individuals.
01:37:49
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Irreversible Damage and Therapy's Role
Shrier's book, "Irreversible Damage," addressed the rise in transgender identification among teen girls, hypothesising it as a social contagion.
She found therapists often worsened the situation, leading her to explore therapy's broader impact.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Chloe Cole's Experience
Abigail Shrier and Jordan Peterson discuss Chloe Cole's experience with therapists.
Cole's therapists didn't inform her about normal negative emotion increases during puberty, body image focus in women, and the high likelihood of gender dysphoria resolving on its own.
insights INSIGHT
Therapist Affirmation and Diagnosis
Therapists commonly affirm patients' existing beliefs, potentially altering their self-understanding through diagnoses.
Many kids identify with mental health diagnoses, a negative side effect of therapy.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
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.
Irreversible Damage
The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters
Abigail Shrier
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.
Dr. Jordan Peterson speaks with best-selling author Abigail Shrier. They discuss her landmark first book, “Irreversible Damage,” as well as her latest publication, available now: “Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up". From this, they break down the state of the therapeutic industry, the overgrown tendency of professionals to “treat the well, rather than the sick,” the existence and need for necessary trauma, and the now-generational impact of harmful therapy, and by extension, harmful parenting.
Abigail Shrier received the Barbara Olson Award for Excellence and Independence in Journalism in 2021. Her best-selling book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters (2020), was named a “Best Book” by the Economist and the Times (of London). It has been translated into ten languages. Her upcoming publication, Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up is slated for release in early 2024.
- Links -
2024 tour details can be found here https://jordanbpeterson.com/events
Peterson Academy https://petersonacademy.com/
For Abigail Shrier:
On X https://twitter.com/AbigailShrier?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Website https://www.abigailshrier.com/
Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up (Book) https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Therapy-Kids-Arent-Growing-ebook/dp/B0CBYHTV2D
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast 
