Posted by fachad on May 5, 2003, at 15:51:04
In reply to Peter Breggin is a legend!...on some points, posted by ace on May 4, 2003, at 22:02:12
Breggin is an extremist, but he really does have some valid points. It's too bad he expresses himself in such a dogmatic way, because it makes him come off like a nutcase.
As far as charging for psychotherapy, it's been going on for ever. There are several dialogues of Plato dealing with the phenomena of people (called Sophists in Ancient Greece) charging money to teach others how to live and how to be virtuous. Plato tells us that Socrates did not think very highly of them.
But really, sometimes there is something to be said for getting some outside, objective perspective and suggestions on seemingly intractable life problems.
> Last night, after having a bath and eating a toasted Xanax sandwich (!), I sat back at had a look at old Pete Breggins' book.
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> This guy is great - exposing all those naughty shrinks who have done naughty things. Shrinks must hate this dude!
> But seriously, it IS indeed good for there to be people like him: he does show many pitfalls in psycotherapy and psychiatry.
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> Some behaviour, of some shrinks he talks of, is unbelievalble, and I actually think the guy is a nice kid.
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> The great thing about the guy is that he makes clear the power of an individual - he enequicocally states that you should nOT let any other human have power over you. He believes in the human potential, and sees psychiatry in many ways as thwarting this potential- which is true, IMO.
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> That being said, most of his views about drugs I take with a grain of sand (except SSRI w/drawal probs). But even there there is some gold amongst all the sand. Not much but.
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> I agree with Jeffrey Masson - THERE IS SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALL WRONG ABOUT PSYCHOTHERAPY BEING A PROFESSION. It is vile to pay money to another to tell you how to live. We should get help, support from friends and family about those normal ups and downs of life. If we have chemical imbalances we should see a doctor who matches our symptamotology to a medication, prescribes and that's it. My GP is exactly like this.
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> But, I thoroughly believe in Psychopharmacolgy.
> Just not psychotherapy or psychiatry where there is psychotherapy going on.
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> All the above is only my opinion. If you disagree tell me I smell, need to wash my hair, and have lovely teeth but need to be cleaned more often!
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> Sorry for the silliness- this Nardil w/drawal is making me even more silly ! Heaven Forbid!!!!
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> Ace.
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poster:fachad
thread:224350
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030505/msgs/224521.html