Bad Therapy: How Mental Health Experts Are Destroying America
May 22, 2024
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Dan Berkholder, a pastor with a critical view of modern therapy, discusses the detrimental effects of psychotherapeutic practices on society. He explains the concept of iatrogenesis, where therapists can inadvertently cause harm. The conversation critiques the emotional fragility promoted by contemporary therapy, advocating for personal responsibility and biblical counseling. Berkholder argues against labeling mental health issues in children, suggesting it undermines growth. He emphasizes the importance of resilience in parenting and the dangers of over-reliance on therapy.
Excessive mental health screenings for children may lead to misunderstandings and compromise parental involvement in their child's well-being.
The therapeutic parenting style, while well-intentioned, can create environments that foster anxiety and dependency rather than resilience in children.
Mislabeling normal childhood behaviors as psychological disorders can result in unnecessary diagnoses and reinforce harmful narratives about children's identities.
The prevalent therapeutic culture promotes emotional vulnerability over resilience, potentially leading to a generation defined by helplessness and dependency.
Deep dives
The Consequences of Invasive Mental Health Screening
Mental health screenings for children are increasingly invasive and can lead to misunderstandings regarding a child's mental state. A case involving a pediatric urgent care illustrates how a standard procedure can thrust children into serious discussions about suicide, causing unnecessary distress. The privacy sought during these screenings often undermines parental involvement, leaving parents in the dark about their child's well-being. This practice raises concerns about whether such methods are genuinely beneficial or simply complicate the relationship between parents and children.
Therapeutic Parenting and Its Pitfalls
Many parents today adopt a therapeutic parenting style that emphasizes emotional well-being and psychological understanding, often to their detriment. This approach stems from a desire to avoid the authoritarian styles of past generations, leading parents to be excessively accommodating of their children's moods and preferences. As a result, parents may create an environment where their children's emotional responses dictate family dynamics. Although well-intentioned, this shift can foster anxiety and dependency in children instead of resilience and independence.
The Illusion of Perfection in Childhood
The modern goal of parenting is often erroneously equated with creating a perfectly happy childhood devoid of discomfort or struggle. This quest for an ideal childhood has led to heightened scrutiny of children's behaviors and overwhelming parental anxiety regarding their emotional states. Instead of allowing children to navigate minor setbacks, parents tend to rescue them, inadvertently depriving them of essential life lessons. Consequently, children become less capable of coping with the realities of life, leading to higher rates of diagnosed mental health issues.
Mislabeling Normal Behavior as Disorders
Today's mental health landscape tends to disproportionately label typical childhood behaviors as psychological disorders. Common childhood traits, such as shyness or curiosity, are increasingly being misdiagnosed as social anxiety or ADHD, respectively. This trend results in a misunderstanding of normal behavioral variations, which could otherwise be addressed through constructive parenting rather than clinical intervention. The result is a significant increase in the number of young people identified as having mental health challenges, which can further entrench harmful narratives about their identities.
The Feedback Loop of Mental Health Treatment
The mental health industry operates in a feedback loop where normal childhood behaviors are labeled, leading to increased medication prescriptions and therapies. This approach emphasizes surface-level solutions rather than addressing the root causes of discontent or frustration. Many children are introduced to pharmaceuticals without fully understanding the implications, which can exacerbate existing mental health issues rather than resolve them. This system perpetuates a cycle of dependency on mental health professionals and medications, leaving families caught in a complex maze of treatments and therapies.
Therapeutic Culture and Genetic Erosion
Therapeutic culture promotes a mindset that emphasizes vulnerability and emotional suffering as primary identities, undermining characteristics like resilience and self-reliance. Children and young adults are increasingly encouraged to view themselves as victims of their circumstances, hampering their ability to take ownership of their actions. This shift not only erodes agency but leads to a generation characterized by feelings of helplessness and despair. By framing mental struggles as fixed identities rather than challenges to be overcome, therapeutic practices risk fostering a society of dependency and emotional fragility.
The Role of Family in Mental Health Discussions
Family estrangement is becoming more commonplace as therapy often endorses the idea of cutting ties with 'toxic' family members. This approach is particularly detrimental as it undermines the foundational social support systems that families provide. When individuals are encouraged to sever ties based on emotional distress or perceived toxicity, they lose invaluable relationships that can offer stability and perspective. Consequently, the decline in familial bonds could contribute to the rising rates of loneliness and mental health issues prevalent in contemporary society.
Reassessing the Value of Therapy
The emerging consensus critiques the effectiveness of traditional therapeutic methods within mental health treatment. Evidence suggests that many individuals feel worse rather than better after exposure to therapy focused on emotional introspection. It highlights the importance of approaching mental health discussions with a practical mindset that encourages resilience, agency, and support from family and communities. Relying on behavioral modifications and proactive measures rather than dwelling excessively on distressing emotions could pave the way for healthier outcomes.
The majority of Americans have been catechized to believe that psychologists are the experts when it comes to happiness and human flourishing. But as Abigail Shrier says in her new book, "Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up," it's probably true that psychologists are the last people on earth to consult about how to raise healthy kids. Why is that?
In this episode, I talk with pastor Dan Berkholder about why psychotherapeutic methodologies are so anti-Christian and do more harm than good. We talk about iatrogenesis, the concept that healers—in this case therapists—actually do more harm than good.
Additional Resource: Check out Dale Johnson and Samuel Stephens' episode on Bad Therapy, on Dale's podcast, Truth in Love.
