News Nov 26, 2012 at 8:01 am

Comments

1
Gottlieb's article about the decline of psychotherapy doesn't really address the dismal reputation of her profession. Only recently has psychotherapy solidified into a semi-scientific pursuit; it was only in 1980 that the book, "Feeling Good" was published, which popularized cognitive behavioral therapy, which I believe is the only type of therapy proven to actually help people suffering from depression, the malady of our age.

Before the advent of CBT, a lot - a lot - of people were exposed to absolutely reprehensible therapy that was either complete bullshit or actively harmful, such as the marriage and family counseling popular in the eighties that was found to have done more harm than good.

It's unfortunate that the current generation of psychotherapists have to pay the price for the irresponsible, harmful and haphazard behavior of the boomer generation's so-called therapists, but blaming potential patients for wanting quick fixes isn't going to make any progress at all toward addressing the profession's sadly deserved reputation for being woo-woo bullshit.
2
@1: Add to that the false memory syndrome/recovered memory therapy red herrings of tragedy.
3
OMG ONCE BITTEN! the only jim carrey movie i can stomach.
4
Guantanamo!
5
Wow, Jen Graves totally missed the point of the article about the US abortion rate (the decline of which is a good thing, no matter your political leanings).
6
There is a dance number near the end of Once Bitten that may be the best work Carrey has ever done. Certainly it is the smallest ego performance of his real skills.
7
@2: Oh my god, yes. So awful.
8
@5: Adjust your sarcasm detector.
9
@1 - "Before the advent of CBT, a lot - a lot - of people were exposed to absolutely reprehensible therapy that was either complete bullshit or actively harmful..."

I know about the false memory thing in the 80s, but that's not what you were referring to here. I know a good chunk of psychoanalysis, based as it was in Freud's penis-and-poo obsessions, is complete bullshit, but I don't know if that's what you're talking about either.

So now you've aroused my curiosity - what's the bullshit/harmful you're referring to? Can you sum it up, or recommend a book or article that gives at least a good overview? I'm interested in learning more about the subject, but I'm not sure where to start.

Thanks.

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