Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up

“Instead, with unprecedented help from mental health experts, we have raised the loneliest, most anxious, depressed, pessimistic, helpless, and fearful generation on record.”

Speaking of the children of Generation X, or Generation Z, Shrier attributes this description to them. She blames mental health awareness techniques, incorporation of social-emotional learning in schools, and gentle parenting styles for this outcome. In so doing, she offers a blistering Critique of the Normalization of Mental Health Awareness and asserts The Role of Parents in Childrearing.

“Parents often assume that therapy with a well-meaning professional can only help a child or adolescent’s emotional development. Big mistake. Like any intervention with the potential to help, therapy can harm.”

Shrier emphasizes the many potential negative side effects of therapy, such as an unhealthy focus on one’s feelings and a poor self-esteem. In presenting a Critique of Modern Psychotherapeutic Methods, she highlights their potential to cause young people to perceive themselves as defective. She argues that too many psychologically healthy people go to therapy and are harmed from it.

“Participating in group therapy to discuss a problem you didn’t already have? That may be sufficient to introduce it.”

Emphasizing a potentially negative effect from therapy sessions, Shrier maintains that group discussions can normalize unwanted behaviors and cause young people to experiment with those behaviors. She cites the example of the DARE program, which increased substance abuse.