{"id":1052,"date":"2024-11-16T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2024-11-16T06:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=1052"},"modified":"2024-11-16T06:00:12","modified_gmt":"2024-11-16T06:00:12","slug":"bad-therapy-by-abigail-shrier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=1052","title":{"rendered":"Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all seen the alarming headlines about skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among today\u2019s youth. As a society, we\u2019ve responded by pouring more resources than ever into mental health services<\/a> for kids and teens. So why aren\u2019t things getting better? In her provocative new book \u201cBad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren\u2019t Growing Up,\u201d investigative journalist Abigail Shrier argues that well-intentioned mental health experts may actually be making the problem worse.<\/p>\n

Shrier, who previously stirred controversy with her book \u201cIrreversible Damage\u201d about the transgender trend among teenage girls, once again takes aim at what she sees as misguided efforts by adults to help young people. But this time, her target is much broader \u2013 encompassing therapists, school counselors, parenting experts, and even the basic tenets of modern child-rearing philosophy.<\/p>\n

Drawing on hundreds of interviews with psychologists, educators, parents and kids themselves, Shrier builds a compelling case that our obsession with children\u2019s mental health has backfired spectacularly. By constantly monitoring kids\u2019 emotions, accommodating their every feeling, and rushing to medicate away normal developmental challenges, she argues we\u2019ve created a generation ill-equipped to handle the ups and downs of life.<\/p>\n

A Scathing Indictment of the Therapeutic Industry<\/h2>\n

Shrier pulls no punches in her critique of what she dubs the \u201cmental health-expert complex.\u201d She argues that an unholy alliance of therapists, pharmaceutical companies, and school administrators have a vested interest in pathologizing normal childhood behavior. The result? An epidemic of dubious diagnoses, over-medication, and learned helplessness among kids who\u2019ve never been allowed to struggle or fail.<\/p>\n

Some of Shrier\u2019s most damning evidence comes from the mental health professionals themselves. She quotes numerous therapists and researchers who admit, often sheepishly, that many popular interventions have little scientific backing. Even more alarming are the confessions from those who\u2019ve seen the iatrogenic harm\u2014doctor-induced illness\u2014that can result from overzealous attempts to treat kids\u2019 emotional issues.<\/p>\n

The Dangers of \u201cBad Therapy\u201d<\/h3>\n

A central argument of the book is that therapy itself can often do more harm than good for kids who aren\u2019t seriously mentally ill. Shrier outlines several ways that even well-meaning therapists can inadvertently make things worse:<\/p>\n

Inducing rumination by constantly prompting kids to analyze their feelings
\nUndermining resilience by framing normal life challenges as trauma
\nEroding family bonds by positioning therapists as the ultimate authority
\nStunting emotional growth by accommodating rather than challenging fears
\nMedicalizing typical teen moodiness and encouraging dependence on drugs<\/p>\n

Shrier is particularly critical of school-based mental health programs<\/a> that she argues have turned classrooms into de facto therapy sessions. She describes cringeworthy examples of teachers encouraging young kids to publicly share their traumas or engage in group anxiety exercises. The intention may be to foster emotional awareness, but Shrier contends it often just creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of psychological fragility.<\/p>\n

Gentle Parenting Gone Wrong<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not just the professional \u201cexperts\u201d in Shrier\u2019s crosshairs. She also takes aim at the prevailing parenting philosophies that have shaped how we raise kids today. The \u201cgentle parenting\u201d approach that eschews punishment in favor of validation and negotiation comes in for particular criticism.<\/p>\n

Shrier argues that by treating kids like \u201clittle adults\u201d whose every feeling must be honored, we\u2019ve created a generation of entitled tyrants. She shares cringe-inducing anecdotes of parents pleading with tantrum-throwing toddlers or teenagers who refuse to do chores without an emotional processing session first.<\/p>\n

The author advocates for a return to more authoritative parenting styles that set clear boundaries. She waxes nostalgic for the days when parents weren\u2019t afraid to say \u201cBecause I said so!\u201d and kids were expected to shake off minor disappointments. While some readers may bristle at this \u201ctough love\u201d approach, Shrier makes a compelling case that it ultimately leads to more resilient, capable adults.<\/p>\n

The Perils of Overprotection<\/h3>\n

A major theme throughout the book is how efforts to shield kids from all discomfort end up leaving them woefully unprepared for real life. Some eye-opening examples Shrier cites:<\/p>\n

Schools eliminating grades or competitive sports to avoid hurting feelings
\nParents hiring \u201cshadows\u201d to follow kids around and smooth over social interactions
\nColleges providing therapy dogs and safe spaces to help students cope with exams
\nWorkplaces adjusting to Gen Z employees who can\u2019t handle criticism or setbacks<\/p>\n

Shrier argues that this \u201csnowplow parenting\u201d approach\u2014clearing all obstacles from a child\u2019s path\u2014ultimately does them a huge disservice. By never allowing kids to experience failure or frustration, we rob them of the chance to develop grit and problem-solving skills.<\/p>\n

A Call for a Return to Common Sense<\/h2>\n

So what\u2019s Shrier\u2019s prescription for turning things around? In essence, she advocates for a return to a more hands-off, common sense approach to raising kids. Some of her key recommendations:<\/p>\n

Stop pathologizing normal childhood emotions and behaviors
\nAllow kids to experience natural consequences rather than constant accommodation
\nEncourage independence and problem-solving instead of rushing to fix everything
\nSet clear boundaries and expectations rather than endlessly negotiating
\nLimit smartphone use and social media exposure<\/a>
\nPromote unstructured play and risk-taking to build resilience<\/p>\n

Shrier acknowledges that for kids with serious mental illness, professional help can be life-saving. But for the vast majority, she argues that less intervention is often more. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for our kids is step back and let them figure things out on their own.<\/p>\n

A Provocative But Timely Message<\/h2>\n

\u201cBad Therapy\u201d is sure to ruffle some feathers, particularly among the mental health and education establishments that Abigail Shrier takes to task. Her breezy, conversational writing style and penchant for snarky asides may grate on some readers looking for a more scholarly approach.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s hard to argue with her core thesis \u2013 that our hyper-focus on kids\u2019 mental health may be doing more harm than good. At a time when rates of anxiety, depression and suicide among young people continue to climb despite unprecedented levels of intervention, Shrier\u2019s provocative ideas are worth considering.<\/p>\n

For parents feeling overwhelmed by conflicting expert advice, \u201cBad Therapy\u201d by Abigail Shrier offers a refreshing permission slip to trust their instincts. Shrier\u2019s message that it\u2019s okay \u2013 even beneficial \u2013 to let kids struggle sometimes is a needed antidote to the pressure many feel to smooth away every bump in the road for their children.<\/p>\n

Who Should Read This Book<\/h3>\n

\u201cBad Therapy\u201d by Abigail Shrier is a must-read for:<\/p>\n

Parents wondering if they\u2019re being too permissive or overprotective
\nEducators frustrated by the creep of therapeutic culture into schools
\nMental health professionals questioning the efficacy of current approaches
\nAnyone concerned about rising rates of mental illness among young people<\/p>\n

Even readers who ultimately disagree with Shrier\u2019s conclusions will find plenty of food for thought. She raises important questions about the unintended consequences of our efforts to support kids\u2019 emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\n

The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n

\u201cBad Therapy\u201d is a bracing wake-up call about the dangers of turning childhood itself into a condition to be treated. Abigail Shrier makes a persuasive case that in our rush to help kids, we may be depriving them of the very experiences they need to become capable, resilient adults.<\/p>\n

While some may find her tone glib or her critiques overly broad, it\u2019s hard to argue with her core message \u2013 that kids need love, boundaries, and the freedom to learn from their own mistakes. In an era of helicopter parenting and participation trophies, Shrier\u2019s call for a return to common sense is both provocative and oddly refreshing.<\/p>\n

Agree with her conclusions or not, \u201cBad Therapy\u201d is sure to spark important conversations about how we can best support the mental health of the next generation. And that alone makes it a worthwhile read for anyone who cares about the wellbeing of kids and teens today.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all seen the alarming headlines about skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among today\u2019s youth. As a society, we\u2019ve responded by pouring more resources than ever into mental health services for kids and teens. So why aren\u2019t things getting better? In her provocative new book \u201cBad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren\u2019t Growing Up,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1052"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1052"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1052\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}