113: Too Much of a Good Thing: Bad Therapy

"We’ve never had a generation more focused on its feelings and, frankly, not one more tyrannized by their feelings.”

Welcome back to another episode of Made You Think! Today, we're delving into Abigail Shrier's Bad Therapy, a thought-provoking book which highlights the impact of therapy on individuals, especially younger generations. Join us as we explore the nuances of therapy, its incentives, and its effects.

We cover a wide range of topics including:

• Challenges of parenting in a therapy-centric culture
• Unintended consequences of therapeutic incentives
• The fine line between taking thoughts too seriously vs. dismissing them
• Why boundary-setting is crucial as a parent
• Implications of having an external locus of control

And much more. Please enjoy, and make sure to follow Nat, Neil, and Adil on Twitter and share your thoughts on the episode.

Links from the Episode:

Mentioned in the Show:

• Arnold (15:37)
• Spiritual bypassing (23:21)
• Washington Post on birth control (46:55)
• How We Feel (54:01)
• Coach Carter (57:47)
• How to Understand the Well-Being Gap between Liberals and Conservatives (1:25:31) 

Books Mentioned:

• Bad Therapy
• The Body Keeps the Score (07:09) (Book Episode) 
• Irreversible Damage (40:44)
• The Fourth Turning (1:08:32) (Book Episode) 

People Mentioned:

• Abigail Shrier

Show Topics:

(0:00) In today’s episode, we’re covering Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier, who discusses the impact of therapy on individuals, particularly younger generations, and questions the efficacy and motives behind widespread therapeutic practices. 

(1:57) We provide an overview of the book, examining the sense of loneliness and sadness prevalent in today's youth. It poses the question of whether therapy-related interventions are actually a part of the problem rather than the solution. 

(5:32) How incentives in therapy can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Shrier highlights that therapists often prefer patients with milder mental health issues, as these sessions can be more relaxed. This raises questions about the subjective nature of screening and diagnostic tools in mental health care.

(10:15) The distinction between chronic and acute treatment, noting how the medical industry often favors chronic cases for their profitability. We touch on various types of therapy, noting that the results of physical therapy, for example, are much more tangible than talk therapy.

(12:42) Nat, Neil, and A