Very Bad Therapy

Dr. Christine King experienced three concussions when she was a child. The symptoms of her brain injury were misunderstood and later assumed to be the result of childhood sexual abuse, sending Christine on a pathologized path that took decades for her to undo. We hear her story and also speak with Dr. Ben Caldwell about how therapists can attune to client symptoms, make good referrals, and avoid misdiagnoses when they lack relevant knowledge beyond their scope of practice. Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Introduction: 0:00 – 12:27 Part One: 12:27 – 44:34 Part Two: 44:34 – 1:20:53 Part Three:  1:20:53 – 1:27:13 Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story Ben Fineman Counseling - Therapy for Young Professionals  (Benjamin Michael Fineman - Registered Associate MFT #119754 - Supervised by Curt Widhalm, LMFT #47333) Show Notes: Donate to Bideawee Animal Shelter What Didn't Happen: A memoir

Dr. Don Meichenbaum is credited with helping to develop cognitive behavioral therapy in the 1960s and 1970s. He has been named one of the ten most influential psychotherapists of the 20th century. He also believes that the field of psychotherapy is full of bullshit and hype. Dr. Meichenbaum joins us to talk about delivering what actually works in therapy, how to spot hype, and challenging the status quo.   VBT in focus is a series of sporadic episodes in which Carrie and Ben have the privilege of chatting with their favorite thinkers in the field of psychotherapy. Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.    Introduction: 0:00 – 4:53 Part One: 4:53 – 56:09 Part Two: 56:09 – 1:09:20   Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story   Ben Fineman | Counseling and Psychotherapy (Benjamin Michael Fineman - Registered Associate MFT #119754 - Supervised by Curt Widhalm, LMFT #47333)   Show Notes: The Evolu

In today’s episode, Jonathan shares his story as a teenager working with a gender therapist who dismissed his preferences for treatment in favor of uncovering his “reasons” for being trans. We also speak with Beck Gee-Cohen about best practices in working with trans kids and how many modalities of psychotherapy exclude trans narratives.   Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.   Introduction: 0:00 – 3:51 Part One: 3:51 – 40:53 Part Two: 40:53 – 1:19:39 Part Three:  1:19:39 – 1:24:06   Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story   Ben Fineman | Counseling and Psychotherapy (Benjamin Michael Fineman - Registered Associate MFT #119754 - Supervised by Curt Widhalm, LMFT #47333)   Show Notes: Donate to TGEU and Queer Base Visions Teen Website Email Beck-Gee Cohen: bgcohen@visionsteen.com Ageism in Mental Health Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults 6 Black Therapists on the Best Ways to Practice

Henk Spierings has had a wide range of experiences in therapy – most of them unhelpful, if not outright harmful. He joins us to discuss his new book, Becoming Compliant, and share the lessons he’s learned from decades of bad therapy. Plus, Ben and Carrie get on their soapbox to explain why it’s necessary to talk with clients about how therapy works and the risks of treatment failure.   Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.   Introduction: 0:00 – 12:53 Part One: 12:53 – 44:21 Part Two: 44:21 – 1:15:58   Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story Ben Fineman | Counseling and Psychotherapy (Benjamin Michael Fineman - Registered Associate MFT #119754 - Supervised by Curt Widhalm, LMFT #47333)   Show Notes Donate to Lifeline Dr. Diane Gehart Mentoring Program Becoming Compliant: A Journey of Severe Trauma, Mental Illness, and Failed Therapy Trainee Therapist Characteristics in the Prediction of

What’s the difference between very bad therapy and very unethical therapy? Today’s guest Lisa shares her experience with a logotherapist that was many things – insulting, disturbing, oddly prophetic – but did any of it constitute an ethical violation? Dr. Christopher Taylor joins us to answer these questions and more about the surprisingly interesting world of ethics in psychotherapy.   Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.   Introduction: 0:00 – 7:30 Part One: 7:30 – 38:26 Part Two: 38:26 – 1:17:36 Part Three: 1:17:36 – 1:23:58   Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story Ben Fineman | Counseling and Psychotherapy (Benjamin Michael Fineman - Registered Associate MFT #119754 - Supervised by Curt Widhalm, LMFT #47333)   Show Notes: Donate to borderline-europe Taylor Counseling Group My Digital Practice: The Therapist's Guide to Digital Marketing The client’s perspective on (experiences of) ps

Kenneth E. Hartman is a prison reform activist who served 38 years in the California prison system. He discusses his advocacy work, what mental health care looks like in prison, and his personal experiences of therapy – both good and bad. He also shares his thoughts on how therapists can play a role in the necessary social change at the heart of effective prison reform. Plus, Carrie discusses if it is ever justified to warn clients about using insurance.   Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.   Introduction: 0:00 – 6:06 Part One: 6:06 – 1:04:22 Part Two: 1:04:22 – 1:26:25   Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story Ben Fineman | Counseling and Psychotherapy (Benjamin Michael Fineman - Registered Associate MFT #119754 - Supervised by Curt Widhalm, LMFT #47333)   Show Notes: Contact Kenneth E. Hartman: kennethehartman@hotmail.com Donate to the Transformative in-Prison Workgroup  Mother Calif

Rachel Bennett shares her experience navigating the historically misguided gatekeeping requirements for gender reassignment surgery. She discusses how therapists can better advocate for trans-affirmative care, and we speak with Dr. David Nylund to explore a paradigm that challenges the oppressive notion that transitioning is a psychiatric issue. Plus, how can feedback-informed treatment be used as a tool of social justice?   Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.   Introduction: 0:00 – 4:49 Part One: 4:49 – 44:31 Part Two: 44:31 – 1:32:16 Part Three: 1:32:16 – 140:30   Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story Ben Fineman | Counseling and Psychotherapy (Benjamin Michael Fineman - Registered Associate MFT #119754 - Supervised by Curt Widhalm, LMFT #47333)   Show Notes: Donate to Gender Health Center VERY Bad Therapy: An Interview with Ben Fineman & Carrie Wiita How to Spot Hype in the Fie

An interview with Chrissy Gillmore about the primacy of client strengths, resilience, and culture in healing trauma, and how a pathology-focused approach can result in bad therapy.  Plus, Carrie and Ben explore the controversy behind the APA Clinical Practice Guidelines for PTSD and discuss whether being trauma-informed is an ethical requirement, clever marketing, or both.   Thank you for listening.  To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.   Introduction: 0:00 - 17:09 Part One: 17:09 - 1:01:26 Part Two: 1:01:26 - 1:25:13   Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story Ben Fineman | Counseling and Psychotherapy (Benjamin Michael Fineman - Registered Associate MFT #119754 - Supervised by Curt Widhalm, LMFT #47333)   Show Notes: Donate to KidsCan Chrissy Gillmore's Website Better Results: Using Deliberate Practice to Improve Therapeutic Effectiveness Kaupapa Māori Model of Practice: Tihei-wā - Mauri Ora Clinical Practice

Very Bad Therapy is switching to biweekly episodes, but we’re not quite ready to miss a week of podcasting yet.  We discuss the new format, check in on our quarantine adventures, talk about some episodes in the queue, and Carrie gushes about the upcoming Therapy Reimagined conference.   Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.

There is an ongoing replication crisis in science; many of the studies that frame our scientific knowledge, especially in psychology, likely have incorrect conclusions.  This has huge ramifications for clinical psychology.  How can clinicians be effective if the research that supports accepted practices is largely a mirage?  Join us as we explore the false positives of psychotherapy and gaze into the existential void.   Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.   Show Notes: Psychology’s Replication Crisis Has Made The Field Better False-Positive Psychology: Undisclosed Flexibility in Data Collection and Analysis Allows Presenting Anything as Significant Raising Awareness for the Replication Crisis in Clinical Psychology by Focusing on Inconsistencies in Psychotherapy Research: How Much Can We Rely on Published Findings from Efficacy Trials? Replication crisis (Wikipedia) The “marshmallow test” said patience

Bronwen Clark is the author of Don’t Be Weird: A Memoir of Food and Feelings. She joins us to share experiences of bad therapy from her healing journey that include being kicked out of eating disorder treatment for being too depressed – only to almost be kicked out of mood disorder treatment for being too eating disordered. This is a compelling story of trauma and resilience.   Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.   Show Notes: Donate to National Eating Disorders Association Don’t Be Weird: A Memoir of Food and Feelings Associations Between Cultural Identity and Attitudes Toward Routine Progress Monitoring in a Sample of Ethnically Diverse Community Therapists Racial Microaggressions Against African American Clients in Cross-Racial Counseling Relationships Therapy for Black Girls Podcast – Session 46: Mental Health Needs of Activists Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story

Paul Gilmartin is a former stand-up comedian and host of the widely popular Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast. We speak with him about his journey with clinical depression, insights on mental health and psychotherapy from ten years of hearing others’ personal stories, and his own experiences of very bad therapy. Plus, Paul shares his thoughts on self-obsession and the quest for fame.   VBT in Focus is a series of sporadic episodes in which Carrie and Ben have the privilege of chatting with their favorite thinkers in the field of psychotherapy. Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal.   Show Notes: The Mental Illness Happy Hour My First Day In Therapy Survey Do Psychotherapists Improve With Time and Experience? A Longitudinal Analysis of Outcomes in a Clinical Setting Why Finding a Black Therapist Made All the Difference White Therapists, Here’s What Your Black Colleagues Want Yo

In today’s episode, our guest J shares two experiences that highlight the difficulties therapists can have in intercultural therapeutic relationships. We also speak with Dr. Pamela Hays about the ADDRESSING model and other strategies therapists can use to mitigate the impact of their cultural biases in session with clients.   Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal.   Show Notes: Donate to Med’EqualiTeam Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Therapy Dr. Pamela Hays’ Website An Invitation to White Therapists Therapy for Black Girls – Session 40: Do I Need a New Therapist? The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story

Ben and Carrie discuss their commitment to making this podcast an antiracist space.   Show Notes: Webinar – Ask the Experts: Treating Mental Health in the Black Community I’m a Black Therapist…& Yes, it matters. Stamped from the Beginning – The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America Why I Left My White Therapist How Therapists Drive Away Minority Clients Black People Go To Therapy, Too: Session 2 – Kellen Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story

Candace Newmaker was a 10-year-girl who tragically died in the process of rebirthing therapy, a variation of a pseudoscientific treatment of childhood trauma known as attachment therapy. This episode comes with a big trigger warning. If you were in a room where a child was being suffocated, would you do anything to stop her death?   Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal.   Show Notes: Anti-racism resources Anti-Racist Reading List from Ibram X. Kendi 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice 5 Racist Anti-Racism Responses “Good” White Women Give To Viral Posts ‘Rebirthing’ Therapist Denies Guilt The Tragic Tale Of Candace Newmaker, The Girl Who Died In A “Rebirthing” Treatment The therapy that killed Candace Newmaker (Wikipedia) Attachment therapy (Wikipedia) Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story

This week’s guest Adam shares his experience of seeing a therapist for five years without any noticeable benefit. When should clients – or therapists – start to wonder if it’s time to end the therapeutic relationship? As it turns out, there’s a lot of research suggesting that therapists need to do much more than simply wait for their approach to start working…including accepting the likelihood of treatment failure. Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal. Show Notes: Bergin and Garfield’s Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change Anticipating and Planning for the Duration of Counseling Dose-effect vs. Good Enough Level: A comparison of treatment length and maintenance of treatment gains at follow up using the Outcome Questionnaire-45 Early Improvement as a Resilience Signal Predicting Later Remission to Antidepressant Treatment in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: Sy

Deliberate practice is an emerging (and sometimes abstract) concept of psychotherapist development. Tony Rousmaniere and Alex Vaz are working to transform these ideas into concrete practices. This episode is an exploration of the theory, adaptability, and future of deliberate practice.  Plus, Alex leads Carrie in a live demonstration of a deliberate practice exercise with Ben playing the role of a challenging client. VBT in Focus is a series of sporadic episodes in which Carrie and Ben have the privilege of chatting with their favorite thinkers in the field of psychotherapy. Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal. Show Notes: Deliberate Practice Institute What is Deliberate Practice The Essentials of Deliberate Practice (APA Press) Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story

Conversations about death, dying, and bereavement can be difficult, but they are often an important part of the therapeutic process. Dr. Michael Morad-McCoy joins us to share his experiences with “not very helpful” clinicians who were unable or unwilling to explore dark areas, and we discuss how therapists can best support their clients in a time of ubiquitous grief and loss. Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal. Show Notes: Donate to Doctors Without Borders and Planned Parenthood Dr. Michael Morad-McCoy's Website Talk to Transformer (Neural Network Text Completer) The Gift of Therapy (Irvin Yalom) Death, Dying, and Bereavement Resources Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story

The American Psychological Association commissioned a task force in 1993 to determine how to scientifically evaluate psychotherapy treatments. A controversy immediately ensued. Carrie digs into the literature on the history and effectiveness of empirically supported treatments to figure out what this suggests about best clinical practices. Note: this is not an ad for CBT. Pardon the slight background noise in Carrie’s audio; this is resolved after eight minutes. Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal. Show Notes: AAMFT Endorses Evidence Based Practice Consensus Statement  Defining Empirically Supported Therapies History of American Psychological Association Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures Psychological Treatments Responses to the Task Forces Reports Empirically Supported Treatments in Psychotherapy: Towards an Evidence-Based or Evidence-Bia

In this week’s episode, Samuel discusses his experiences with conversion therapy in Provo, Utah. This is a beautiful story of resilience, compassion, and thriving. Thanks to our listeners, experts, and most of all the inspiring guests who have shared their stories with us for 50 episodes. It is a privilege for us to be a part of this growing community. Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal. Show Notes Donate to The Trevor Project Donate to Encircle From Voldemort to Vader, Science Says We Prefer Fictional Villains Who Remind Us of Ourselves Jeff Robinson's Conversion Therapy Website Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story