Bad Therapy cover art

Bad Therapy

Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up

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Bad Therapy

By: Abigail Shrier
Narrated by: Abigail Shrier
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About this listen

In virtually every way that can be measured, Gen Z's mental health is worse than that of previous generations. Youth suicide rates are climbing, antidepressant prescriptions for children are common, and the proliferation of mental health diagnoses has not stopped the trend. What has gone wrong with our youth?

In Bad Therapy, bestselling investigative journalist Abigail Shrier argues that the problem isn't the kids - it's the mental health experts. Mental health care can be lifesaving when properly applied, but that is not what's happening. Instead, children experiencing the normal pangs of adolescence and their anxious parents are seeking answers from therapists, who are only too happy to explore what might be wrong - and to make money doing so. No industry seems to turn away from the possibility of exponential growth, and our mental health industry is no exception. It asks children, again and again: How do you feel? Are you sure? By treating the well, it is making them sick, feeding normal kids with normal problems into the mental healthcare pipeline. It is minting patients faster than it can cure them.

Drawing on extensive research and interviews with doctors, parents, therapists and young people, Shrier enumerates the dangerous side effects of unnecessary or poorly executed mental health care. With clear eyes and compassion, she examines ways worried parents who think they must indulge their child's every feeling make matters worse, and she offers liberating advice for raising emotionally resilient and independent children.

Packed with relatable stories, devastating insights, and common-sense conclusions, Bad Therapy is a must-listen for anyone concerned about protecting the next generation.

©2024 Abigail Shrier (P)2024 Swift Press Audio
History & Commentary Medicine & Health Care Industry Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences Mental Health Health Health Care

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Most relevant  
I found some of the positions a little extreme when she seemed to suggest that therapists are like a cabal seeking only their own career expansion; there really are children and adults who can benefit from some professional intervention, I think. But, on the whole, I thought this book was spot on and really needed to be written, so thank you for putting an articulate voice to misgivings about helicopter parents and therapeutic parenting that I have had misgivings about, as a teacher, for 30 years.

A convincing polemic.

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Excellent and well researched. Shrier lays out exactly what is happening with schools playing mental health experts and what the real world harms are to kids.

Fascinating foray into the harms of good intentions in schools

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I learnt a lot. Logical and well set out. Evidence based extra extra extra word

Logical and convincing

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If you really want what is best for your kids, please listen carefully and make up your own mind afterwards.

Thank you Mrs. Shrier

Dear parents, please listen

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Subjective perspective harming our societies for very long time now. it's time to get facts right and make world objective once more. Thank you for the effort and standing out for us Miss Abigail.

Excellent book. it's what we need to hear right now.

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highly recommended especially for immigrants that moved to west world. kids need mental toughness to survive in the west wokeness

fantastic book

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really interesting, I suspect the truth is somewhere nearer the middle but it was useful hearing another perspective on the "mental health crisis "

interesting listen

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A necessary warning voice. What are we doing to our kids?
As a child and adolescent therapist based in the uk and working in private practice, I think Abigail has done her best to show that we must question therapy, something that any good therapist should do. There needs to be another book (that maybe I should write!) about how therapy with young people works.

Let’s stop encouraging ruminations, planting seeds of anxiety and remove the toxic amplifier that is social media.

That can’t be done by a parent alone going against the flow, it needs to be supported by the community.

Wake up!!

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Every parent, therapist, and teacher should read this book.

Abigail Shrier takes a nuanced and measured approach here. The argument is that, in our quest to do our best for children, we may be increasing the likelihood of mental health problems. Simultaneously, we may be preventing children from building the resilience they need.

Shrier isn’t arguing that therapy per se is harmful, but rather the issue is how it can be applied in practice (particularly in childhood) by well meaning people. Likewise, the underlying problem discussed isn’t one that’s uniquely a problem with therapy, but is relevant to anyone who is responsible for children. In practice, this means it’s at schools where a lot of problems are caused, followed by life at home.

This is a thought provoking book that’s thoroughly well researched and balanced. A great read

The road to hell is paved with good intentions

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A good and well-researched book. Only issue I had was that sometimes obvious counter-arguments were not addressed and there was some presumption of the reader being already on-side or having some specific knowledge. Still, great overall and a lot of profound points.

Generally great book

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