CTA Podcast

The Data Doesn't Care: Dr. James Nuzzo on Woke Science, Health Equity & Academic Pressure

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the CTA Podcast, Dr. James Nuzzo joins Dr. Michael Olan for a wide-ranging conversation about science, politics, and the state of academia. Dr. Nuzzo—an exercise scientist and men's health researcher—shares how his work in strength, fitness testing, and historical data led him into deeper questions about health, public policy, and the pressures shaping modern research.

They discuss:
• The rise of ideological pressures in scientific institutions
• Why objective data and historical trends matter now more than ever
• The challenges of navigating academic cancellation
• The impact of “health equity” frameworks on scientific integrity
• How men’s health and public health are influenced by political narratives

This is a thoughtful, nuanced exploration of science, culture, and the importance of maintaining clarity and honesty in research.

🔔 Subscribe for more critical conversations
🎙 Guest: Dr. James Nuzzo - https://jameslnuzzo.substack.com/
📸 Instagram: @criticaltherapyantidote

Dr. Nuzzo's Work:

The Nuzzo Letter: https://jameslnuzzo.substack.com/about

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James-Nuzzo

Pieces Discussed Here:

Reality's Last Stand: https://www.realityslaststand.com/p/woke-academics-are-rigging-their

Woke Nomenclature: https://www.pjp.psychreg.org/wp-content/uploads/8-2-james-nuzzo-81-91.pdf

Help Support James: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ChildStrengthResearch

An Era of Identity Fusion | When People Become Their Groups w/ Anthony Rispo

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:00:00 +0100

Independent socio-cognitive scholar and host of @Discourse_Lab Anthony Rispo, joins CTA Co-Director, Michael Olan, to delve into the complexities of sociopolitical research, personal political awakenings, and the psychological underpinnings of identity and cognition. They explore the challenges of navigating social identity, cognitive dissonance, and the implications of microaggressions in contemporary discourse. Through their dialogue, they reflect on the evolution of political thought and the importance of understanding the nuanced interplay between individual experiences and broader societal dynamics.

In this conversation, Michael and Anthony delve into the complexities of authoritarianism, political identity, and the psychological measures used to assess these phenomena. They explore the nuances of left-wing and right-wing authoritarianism (woke right-woke left), the role of identity fusion in political discourse, and the implications of moral conviction in shaping behaviors and attitudes.

Find Anthony's Work Here: https://rb.gy/9fddmi

Takeaways

-The importance of understanding psychological aspects of politics.
-Cognitive dissonance plays a significant role in political identity.
-The left and right both exhibit threat sensitivity, but in different contexts.
-Personal experiences can lead to political awakenings.
-Microaggressions are often based on invalid premises.
-Identity fusion can lead to both growth and rigidity.
-Identity fusion can lead to maladaptive solidarity in political contexts.
-Moral conviction plays a significant role in how individuals act and treat others.
-There is a symmetry in authoritarian tendencies across the political spectrum.
-Social media influences the way political identities are formed and expressed.
-The academic community often struggles to engage with the public effectively.

#wokeism #criticaltherapyantidote #therapy #nuance #mentalhealth #identity #identification #fusion #socialscience #cognitivescience #politicalscience #podcast #psychologistsofinstagram #independents #conservatives #progressives #liberal #libertarians #centrist

Whistleblower in Training | Saying “No” to Indoctrination in Therapy w/ Naomi Epps Best

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:00:00 +0100

"What they are modeling is an abuse of power" In this episode CTA Co-Directors Christine Sefein and Michael Olan sit down with Naomi Epps Best. Naomi shares her harrowing experience as a whistleblower during her time at Santa Clara University, where she was subjected to disturbing content in her human sexuality class and was denied accommodations for her privacy and beliefs. Naomi is known for her opinion piece in the @WSJopinion and for her numerous appearances across platforms bringing light to the situation in therapy education.

This conversation delves into the ideological conflicts present in modern education, the emotional toll of speaking out, and the importance of authenticity in therapy. Naomi reflects on the decline of academic rigor and the personal costs associated with her journey, ultimately emphasizing the need for courage and open discussions in the face of prevailing ideologies.

Find Naomi's Work Here: https://clinicallyincorrect.substack.com/

#criticaltherapyantidote #education #therapy #mentalhealth #nuance #trending #tendingvideo #brainwashing #criticalsocialjustice #socialmediaculture #news #counselors #therapists #therapistsofinstagram #therapistsoftiktok #graduateschool #graduate #humansexuality #sexualityeducation #sexuality #religiousfreedom #religiousbeliefs #freespeech

The Show is Cancelled | The "Woke" Take Over of Theater | w/ Director, Kevin Ray

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:00:00 +0100

The End of Art - CTA Co-Director, Christine Sefein Wolk, sits down with Director, Kevin Ray, to discuss the intersection of critical social justice and the arts, particularly focusing on the role of teaching artists. Kevin Ray is a New York City theater director with over 20 years of experience as an Arts Educator. He produced and directed “Unearthly Visitants,” based on ghost stories by Edith Wharton, “The Machine Stops,” from EM Forster’s short story, and “We,” from Russian dissident Yevgeny Zamyatin’s dystopian science-fiction novel.

Together Christine and Kevin explore how the ideology of critical social justice has influenced the arts, the challenges faced by teaching artists in navigating these changes, and the implications for student engagement and educational transparency. The conversation also touches on the political landscape surrounding education and the impact of identity politics on funding and opportunities in the arts. They explore the challenges posed by social emotional learning in classrooms, the impact of identity politics on hiring practices in the arts, and the importance of artistic expression without political constraints. Kevin shares personal experiences that highlight the tension between traditional educational values and contemporary ideological shifts, emphasizing the need for curiosity and open dialogue in understanding complex social issues.

You can find more on his website or find him on
Instagram @kevinrayworks
Substack https://kevinrayworks.substack.com/
Website https://www.kevinrayworks.com/
Donation https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/kevin-ray-works

#criticalsocialjustice #arts #education #teachingartists #theater #identity #politics #education #transparency #socialjusticeideology #funding #politicalinfluence #student #engagement #socialwork #therapy #socialemotionallearning #lgbtcommunity #artistic #expression #politicization #criticaltherapyantidote #theaterarts #directorspotlight #outspoken #actors #actorslife

From Sci-Fi to AI | A New Age in Mental Health

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:00:00 +0100

Mental health is in the era of AI! In this episode of the CTA Podcast @michael63307 Dewan-Herrick, discusses the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and mental health. Michael is a psychotherapist and host of Attention Bazaar. He shares his journey, starting on @secondlife to understanding AI's impact on human relationships, particularly through the lens of virtual reality and conversational AI. The discussion explores cognitive implications, the balance of brain functions, the addiction to instant gratification, and the emotional disconnect that arises from AI interactions.

Michael emphasizes the importance of human relationships and the role of therapy in navigating the challenges posed by AI in our lives. In this conversation, the speakers explore the intersection of AI, robotics, and emotional interactions, particularly in the context of grief and therapy. They discuss the implications of cloning and the potential therapeutic uses of AI, while also addressing the ethical concerns surrounding these technologies. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of navigating grief, the role of internal dialogues, and the need for ongoing conversations about the impact of AI on human relationships.

Find more from Michael at - https://www.youtube.com/@UCnqlOMtDtAVhej951eF5vxg

-AI is increasingly influencing mental health and human relationships.
-Virtual reality experiences can provide insights into human psychology.
-Conversational AI changes the way we interact with technology.
-Offloading cognitive tasks to AI may weaken our mental faculties.
-Instant gratification from AI can lead to addiction-like behaviors.
-AI may contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety.
-Emotional connections with AI lack genuine care and reciprocation.
-Therapy plays a vital role in repairing human relationships.
-The future of AI in our lives raises questions about emotional development.
-Ethical considerations are essential in AI therapy.
-AI's rapid advancement requires proactive discussions.

#nuance #criticaltherapyantidote #mentalhealth #therapy #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #education #internetculture #artificialintelligence #ai #secondlife #robotics #therapistsupport #socialmediaculture #aitherapy #aitherapist #telehealth #teletherapy #trending #ainations #podcast

When A Professor and Student Agree Pt. 2 | The "Woke" Takeover of Therapy Training

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:00:00 +0100

This conversation is Part 2 in a greater dialogue between Leslie Elliot Boyce host of the @theradicalcenter and CTA's own, Christine Sefein Wolk - In this conversation, Christine and Leslie discuss their shared experiences in the world of education, particularly in counseling programs that have been influenced by critical social justice ideologies. They reflect on the challenges they faced as both student and professor, including the pressure from students and the tension within academic environments.

Both speakers share how they coped with their circumstances and the evolution of their teaching philosophies, ultimately finding new paths in their careers, and organizations that provided them safe harbor to think freely. The conversation highlights the importance of open dialogue and the need for mindful approaches in mental health education.

#criticalsocialjustice #criticaltherapyantidote #ideology #counseling #therapy #counselling #nuance #mentalhealthandwellbeing #retrospectives #stories #friendshipstory #professor #studentlife #students #students #whistleblower #whistleblowermovement

When A Professor and A Student Agree Pt. 1 - The "Woke" Take Over of Therapy Training

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 21:00:00 +0100

This conversation is a Part 1 in a greater dialogue between Leslie Elliot Boyce host of the @theradicalcenter podcast and CTA's own, Christine Sefein Wolk - Hosted here by Dr. Michael Olan. Leslie and Christine recount their experiences in their careers, and the take over of "Wokeism" (Critical Social Justice) in counseling, and psychology more broadly. This episode is part of a two-part series, a retrospective, taking a look at where Critical Social Justice Ideology made its way into mental health and the impact it has had on those in the field. Enjoy!

#criticalsocialjustice #criticaltherapyantidote #ideology #counseling #therapy #counselling #nuance #mentalhealthandwellbeing #retrospectives #stories #friendshipstory #professor #studentlife #students #student #whistleblower #whistleblowermovement #whistleblowerprotection #whistleblowers #WokenessInEducation #educationdebate #criticalthinkinginschool #TeachingWithBalance #empowereducators #empowereducation

A Chord of Pain | with Male Suicide Researcher, Dr. Susie Bennett

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 21:00:00 +0100

On this episode of the CTA Podcast Dr. Susie Bennett, PhD sits down with Dr. Michael Olan, PsyD to discuss her research and insights on male suicide, exploring the cultural narratives that shape men's experiences and the emotional struggles they face. Susie is a researcher at the University of Glasgow. She highlights the importance of understanding men's pain, the barriers to emotional expression, and the need for compassion in addressing male mental health issues. Susie emphasizes that Susie emphasizes that, "Men have rich emotional wisdom to share," and that we need to be listening.

The discussion also touches on the impact of fatherhood and the empathy gap in society's perception of men's struggles. In this conversation, Michael and Susie delve into the complexities of men's mental health, exploring themes such as the impact of parental absence, the challenges of fatherhood, and the implications of terms such as "toxic masculinity." They discuss the urgent need for better support systems for men, the importance of positive role models, and the necessity of funding for research in this area. The dialogue emphasizes the individual nature of pain and the importance of community support, while also addressing the global perspective on male suicide rates and the cultural narratives surrounding mental health issues.

Take Aways:
-Susie's research focuses on male suicide and its cultural implications.
-Funding for men's mental health research is critically needed.
-The narrative around men often overlooks their emotional struggles.
-Men's emotional needs often revolve around connection and belonging.
-The language of mental health can be alienating for many men.
-Therapy can help men articulate their emotional experiences when held in a compassionately pure frame.
-Fathers face unique mental health challenges that are often overlooked.
-The term "toxic masculinity" and concepts related to privileg can harm both men and women, creating negative stereotypes.
-Community support is vital for men dealing with mental health challenges.
-The digital age presents both opportunities and challenges for men's mental health.

Our Socials:
linktr.ee/CTA_Media
https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
https://www.instagram.com/criticaltherapyantidote/
https://x.com/TherapyAntidote
https://open.spotify.com/show/2jbDzeiAbPXWJdBpzDnZ7n?si=9825911dee1e4167

Find Dr. Bennett on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/male_suicide_research/?hl=en

#therapy #podcast #mentalhealth #internetculture #socialmediaculture #nuance #education #podcastclips #mensmentalhealthawareness #pain #criticalsocialjustice #mensadvocate #mensadvocacy #suicidesurvivor #suicideawarenessmonth #viralinformation #viralvideo #helpmen #supportmen #news

CTA Meets | TheTinMen

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Critical Therapy Antidote (CTA) Podcast, Dr. Michael Olan sits down with George, founder of the "TheTinMen" (‪@TheTinMenBlog‬ ) George discusses his journey into men's advocacy, the complexities surrounding issues of male violence, mental health, and the societal perceptions of masculinity.

He critiques the feminist movement's historical context and its impact on men, explores the red pill movement and incel culture, and emphasizes the urgent need to address male suicide and the misconceptions surrounding it. George argues for a more nuanced understanding of men and boys, specifically the importance of recognizing the unique challenges faced by men and boys in society.

Take Aways:
-George founded The Tin Men to advocate for men and boys.
-He initially identified as a feminist but shifted his perspective.
-Men and boys face significant challenges in education and mental health.
-The historical context of feminism has often overlooked male issues.
-Support for male victims of violence is severely lacking.
-Domestic violence against men is often ignored in discussions.
-Statistics show a need for more awareness of male suicide.
-Incel culture is often misunderstood and requires mental health support.
-The gender pay gap is more complex than commonly portrayed.

#mentalhealth #mensmentalhealthmatters #feminism #internetculture #genderequality #egalitarian #compassion #thetinmen #psychology #mensmentalhealthmonth #menandemotions #therapy #mensmentalhealthawareness #helpmen #podcast #podcastclips #podcasting #education #compassion #men #nuance #manospheredaily #educationalvideos #menmatter #breakthesilence #endmalesuicide #talkaboutit #strongertogether #hopeformen #supportmen

Post-Feminism: Men Need Us to Listen | with Georgie Jarmolkiewicz

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the CTA Podcast, Michael and Christine talk with Disruptive Marketer, Georgie Jarmolkiewicz, who shares her personal transformation as a "radical feminist" to a disruptive marketer working in men's advocacy. The conversation highlights the complexities of gender narratives and the importance of addressing men's issues. The discussion delves into popular cultural rhetoric that often overshadow men's issues, barriers to men's advocacy, and the challenges faced by men in speaking out about their experiences. They discuss the transition from feminist perspectives to men's advocacy, the importance of statistics in discussions about gender issues, and the shared humanity in trauma. Georgie delves into the complexities of men's mental health, the scrutiny of feminism, and the societal incentives that drive content creation.

A Schism in Feminism: Surviving the Hounders | with Jenny Lindsay

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 20:00:00 +0100

In this commanding conversation, Jenny Lindsay, author of Hounded: Women, Harms and the Gender Wars, recalls her experience of being HOUNDED at the hands of an ideologically captured art scene. Jenny recounts the intrusion of the "Culture Wars" into mainstream poetry, art and writing, and the impact of saying "no" while staying true to her core beliefs. Jenny is a sensational talent a wealth of knowledge, and a powerful voice in the world of critical thought and honest discourse.

Now on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9yVxnjR

Take Aways:

Gender ideology has had an impact on the arts and writing.

Taking particular positions and holding particular beliefs can be subject to harsh and unjust treatment in the arts.

This treatment can lead to extreme isolation, and difficulties in managing one's own mental health.

Finding support and community in the midst of a "hounding" is a crucial route to getting through it.

Humor can be a powerful tool in addressing serious topics that often have a social cost.

Original Thumbnail Image by Alex Aitchison

#transition #mentalhealth #psychology #podcastshow #interviews #therapy #poet #poetry #writing #terf #feminism #jkrowling #harrypotter

Escaping the Closet Behind the Closet | with Trans Widow, Ute Heggen

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 20:00:00 +0100

In this powerful conversation, Ute Heggen, author of In The Curated Woods: True Tales from a Grass Widow, shares her story as a trans widow — opening up about her marriage, family struggles, and the emotional impact of today's gender debates. She dives into how identity, mental health, and cultural shifts affected her life, her children, and her healing journey. Ute offers a personal look at the complexities behind gender transition, therapy, and family dynamics — with honesty, resilience, and hope for the future.

Now on Amazon: https://a.co/d/3dsTNEa

Take Aways:

Trauma and family dynamics play a crucial role in gender identity experiences.

Therapists can influence gender transition in ways that may not always be beneficial.

Cultural shifts have led to a lack of understanding in gender discussions.

The politicization of gender identity complicates honest discussions.

#transition #mentalhealth #psychology #podcastshow #interviews #therapy #widow

Forcing Therapists to be "Woke" Activists | with Ryan Rogers

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Michael and Jaco speak with special guest, Ryan Rogers, author of The Woke Mind. They explore the ideological landscape of psychological education and counseling, and the increasing politicization of the field. Ryan describes his personal experiences in graduate school, highlighting the schism between traditional therapeutic practices and the demands of political activism. The speakers reflect on the implications of critical social justice ideologies on counseling practices, the performative nature of modern education, and the challenges faced by students who question the prevailing narratives. This conversation delves into the complexities of activism-based therapy, and the intersection of political identity and mental health. The speakers explore the the implications of anti-racism training, and how therapy can lead to radicalization. They discuss the moral judgments surrounding political views, and personal journeys of political radicalization. The conversation culminates in an examination of how social justice ideologies can negatively impact mental health leading to varying presentation of mental illness.

The Woke Mind is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/49LoITq

Our Website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

Take Aways:
Counseling practices are increasingly politicized, sidelining traditional methods.

There is a moral competition among students to display virtue.

Critical social justice ideologies can undermine effective therapy.

The emotional experiences of individuals are often viewed through a racial lens.

The distinction between racism and anti-racism is becoming blurred. The difference between biological and social determinism can create conflict in therapy.

Anti-racism can perpetuate victimhood rather than promote healing.
Therapy can unintentionally radicalize clients towards activism.

Multiculturalism often focuses on superficial identity rather than deeper understanding.

Political identity can influence the therapeutic relationship and care provided.

There is a pervasive moral judgment against conservative political views in therapy.

#psychology #counseling #politicalactivism #socialjustice #mentalhealth #education #diversityequityinclusion #podcast #activism

The Bad Therapy Series | S3 E6 - When Being A Parent Is No Longer Apparent

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 20:00:00 +0000

In this final installment of The Bad Therapy Series Christine, Jaco, and Michael conclude their examination of Abigail Shrier's latest book, Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up. What does real independence look like for our kids? At what point are we over involved in the natural maturation of children? How might parents establish a balanced approach towards parenting? What is the role of a parent surrounded by "experts?" What is the purpose of childhood?

In this final episode of the series we discuss the intrusion of a more lenient and accommodating mental health culture both in parenting and in the therapy room. We discuss the paradox of "our best laid plans" in helping children and adolescents as they mature and develop. We delve into the implications for over involvement in children's lives such as limiting their capacity to develop adaptive skills, and to contend with the ever-increasing demands of life. We also explore the role and significance of effectively transmitting family values to children as they grow up.

Remember to like and subscribe!

CTA Website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote

#mentalhealth #badtherapy #criticaltherapy #education #health #education

The Bad Therapy Series | S3 E5 - A Coddling Culture and A Challenge Free Therapy

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:00:00 +0000

In this episode Christine, Jaco, and Michael continue their examination of Abigail Shrier's latest book, Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up. Are we forgetting to adequately challenge our kids perceptions? Has a coddling culture run rampant at home and in the therapy office? Has the pendulum of "effective parenting" swung too far? We explore these questions through the lens of celebrated journalist Abigail Shrier.

In this episode of the series we discuss the intrusion of a more lenient and accommodating mental health culture both in parenting and in the therapy room. We discuss the tendency to reduce complex issues experienced by children to single factor explanations to the detriment of a holistic view. We explore where we may be falling short in understanding children and their needs, in a therapised culture.

Remember to like and subscribe!

CTA Website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote

#mentalhealth #badtherapy #health #wellness #wokeism #therapy #education

The Bad Therapy Series | S3 E4 - The "Surveylance" of Childhood Education

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:00:00 +0000

In this episode Christine, Jaco, and Michael continue their examination of Abigail Shrier's latest book, Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up. Why are we collecting mental health information from children in school? Can simply asking about features of a child’s life increase distress? Are we highlighting sensitivity over flexible social skills? Are children adequately learning accountability for their actions? We explore these questions through the lens of celebrated journalist Abigail Shrier.

In this episode of the series we discuss the possibility of mental health “intelligence apparatuses” in our schools presented as anonymous mental health surveys. We examine the motivations behind asking children highly personal information in school settings, and their potential implications for agenda setting, individual harm, and school programming. We explore the weaponization of empathy and performative outrage among children within our therapised culture.

Remember to like and subscribe!

CTA Website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote
#mentalhealth #badtherapy #health #wellness #wokeism #therapy #education

The Bad Therapy Series | S3 E3 - When the Student Body Keeps the Score

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this episode Christine, Jaco, and Michael continue their examination of Abigail Shrier's latest book, Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up. Here we delve into Chapters 5 & 6.

Are we letting therapy culture run our schools? Are schools letting misbehavior go on in the name of emotional wellbeing? Does therapy culture in schools function as "big brother?" Have schools watered down the significance of painful events? Are schools dredging up emotional hurt while failing to teach skills that foster resilience?

In this episode of the series we examine cultural trends of over encroaching supervision in school settings, and practices that highlight emotional pain over resilience amongst children. Through adopting norms such as restorative justice circles, many schools appear to have incorporated secretive group therapy meetings into their daily curriculum, while simultaneously viewing kids as hurt and in need of constant repair. We navigate the possibilities among rigid and widely adopted trauma narratives that may have been commodified and adopted without thorough investigation. We continue our examination of increased emphasis on mental health interventions in our schools and cultural intrusions that may affect our kids. #mentalhealth #badtherapy #health #wellness #wokeism #therapy

Remember to like and subscribe!

CTA Website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote

The Bad Therapy Series | S3 E2

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000

On this episode Christine, Jaco, and Michael continue their examination of Abigail Shrier's latest book, Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up.

Can an increased focus on our emotions be a bad thing? Can affirming the personal narratives of children actually be detrimental to their well-being? Many mental health professionals have expressed concerns that they can be. Although there appears to be an increased acceptance related to mental health, generally, children appear to be experiencing more dysfunction than ever. Why is that so? We explore this phenomenon and the question through the lens of celebrated journalist, Abigail Shrier.

In this episode of the series we discuss how new cultural norms and practices involving a concentration on one's feelings can, paradoxically, increase negative emotions among children. Through the inclusion of Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) schools have begun integrating therapy-like practices into the daily lives of children and adolescents. These practices hold the potential for prolonged or increased psychological suffering including negative introspection, helplessness, rumination, and an over-identification with one's mental health diagnoses. We continue our examination of the proliferation of "distress obsession" within our increasingly therapised culture.

Remember to like and subscribe!

CTA Website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote

The Bad Therapy Series | S3 E1

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000

In this new season Christine, Jaco, and Michael introduce a new series of discussions based on Abigail Shrier's new book, Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up. Many mental health professionals, parents, and concerned citizens have noticed the therapy culture our children are living in. Despite increased access to therapeutic services, and therapeutic language, we have seen a proliferation as opposed to reduction in mental distress among children and adolescents. Why is that so? We explore this phenomenon and the question through the lens of celebrated journalist Abigail Shrier.

In this first episode of the series we discuss how psychotherapy, like all other interventions, has the potential for iatrogenesis, or unintended harm. We also explore the proliferation of "distress obsession" within our therapized culture.

Remember to like and subscribe!

CTA Website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote

Psychological abuse in Woke counselling training | with Suzannah Alexander

Sun, 26 May 2024 15:00:00 +0100

Suzannah Alexander is a volunteer at the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR). In this episode Suzannah recounts her experiences as a student at the University of Tennessee's Clinical Mental Health Counsellor programme. She relates how she was treated for her Buddhist worldview and for being white. We discuss the psychological effects such deliberate misrecognition (gaslighting) had on her, and what the literature teaches us on this. We go into detail discussion the phenomenon of projection, projective identification and the envious processes underneath such dynamics. We conclude our discussion by appreciating the need for parallel structures and institutions that are committed to the healing ethos of psychology and psychotherapy.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Suzannah's YouTube channel: @DiogenesInExile

CTA Website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jbDzeiAbPXWJdBpzDnZ7n?si=0126814601344bef
RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2119167.rss

From malpractice to detransitioning | Camille Kiefel

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 19:00:00 +0100

Camille Kiefel is a 33-year old detransitioner from Oregon. She grew up as a sensitive child when she was warned against dangerous men, and when her childhood friend fell victim to assault at the hands of her own brother. From a very young age, she learnt that the world and the men in it are dangerous for women. Camille relates how difficult adolescence and young adulthood was. She battled generalised anxiety disorder, undiagnosed sensory-integration issues, major depression, ADHD and complex PTSD. To her, becoming a man would rid her of her vulnerabilities, and her activism would bring about positive change in this world. She saw, instead, how her mental health continued to deteriorate up to the point when she resorted to gender medicine. She started consulting with a gender therapist in her mid-20s. None of the conventional therapy modalities seemed to work. When she was 29 years old, she expressed her wish to have a double mastectomy, and after only a few consultations, the surgery was performed. A year and a half later, she regretted it. Researching alternative approaches to treat her mental health, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, changing her diet, and body-integration type modalities, she saw a marked improvement in her physical and mental health. Camille has since formed her own organisation aimed at helping detransitioners recover from malpractice, due to the blind adherence to ideology, as opposed to responsible, systematic, best practice.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Discussion on treatment modalities should not be taken as medical advice.

Camille's website: https://www.camillekiefel.com/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote
RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2119167.rss

Parents who Survived the Gender Cult | Part 5 | Suzannah

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 19:00:00 +0100

"You have to get out of it sometimes. This is the fight of your life, yes. But it also cannot be everything" - Suzannah

Suzannah tells the story of how two of her children, her eldest daugther and youngest son, got lured into the gender cult. In 2012, at just 12 years old, her very feminine daughter got sucked into gender ideology online. She relates how the usual struggles of adolescence took on a different character when she started showing intense hostility toward her parents. This struggle persisted over several years until her daughter medically transitioned and estranged herself from her family in her early 20s.
Suzannah also relates how her son got involved in the gender cult, also online and through peers at his high school. But she relates how circumstances around the pandemic enabled her to pull him out of the harmful influence he was exposed to at school. She is glad that he desisted completely.

Due to the sensitivity of the subject and the vulnerability of the people involved, we changed some of the names and pictures.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Parents with Inconvenient Truth about Trans: https://www.pittparents.com/
Genspect's website: https://genspect.org/
Parents hold on to your kids book: https://drgabormate.com/book/hold-on-to-your-kids/
Blessing of a Skinned Knee: https://www.amazon.com/Blessing-Skinned-Knee-Teachings-Self-Reliant/dp/1416593063
Article mentioning active waiting: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-19-gender-dysphoria-compassionate-evidence-based-care-is-key/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote
RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2119167.rss

Parents who Survived the Gender Cult | Part 4 | Dee

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +0100

"Learn as much as you can an listen to your gut. Don't be dissuaded by family members who challenge you." - Dee

Dee adopted both her daughters at only a few days old. Her eldest daughter had severe emotional and developmental challenges due to very early abandonment trauma. She relates how, early on in her teenage years, her daughter was socially awkward and befriended a "quirky girl" who turned out to be an "immature usurper." This led to her daughter developing an identity crisis and overnight changed from a bikini wearing girl interested in boys, to a depressed hoody-wearing teenager who said she was transgender. Dee relates how she and her husband became actively involved in their daughter's school, the peers she associated with, and her psychotherapy. They educated themselves, joined vibrant and active parents groups, and made it their mission to reclaim their daughter. While her daughter still has some mental health challenges, Dee emphasises the importance of boundaries and structure, of enduring and surviving the onslaughts of teenage rebellion, of holding schools and treatment staff to account, and of being yoked together with her husband in providing their daughter with the right kind of support.

Due to the sensitivity of the subject and the vulnerability of the people involved, we changed some of the names and pictures.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Parents with Inconvenient Truth about Trans: https://www.pittparents.com/
Genspect's website: https://genspect.org/
Parents hold on to your kids book: https://drgabormate.com/book/hold-on-to-your-kids/
Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender: https://www.di-ag.org/
The Dying Rooms documentary: https://vimeo.com/202953120

The Critical Therapy Antidote website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote
RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2119167.rss

Parents who Survived the Gender Cult | Part 3 | Diana Forest

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +0100

"Social transition is not a neutral act; once you know what that means, then you know what to do." - Diana

Diana's daughter fell victim to the gender cult. She relates how her beautiful, intelligent 12-year old daughter found it difficult to adjust socially, and was involved in a bullying incident that was poorly handled by her school. She relates how the school system failed her daughter in meeting her basic educational needs. She also describes her daughter's masked autism, her proclivity to withdraw into online games, and how she got groomed online and by a trans-identified friend. But she also relates how she reclaimed her role as mother with quiet, but decisive firmness. Diana reacted intuitively to the demands of her struggling child, educated herself, strengthened family bonds and made use of available networks to help herself her daughter, and her family survive the gender cult.

Due to the sensitivity of the subject and the vulnerability of the people involved, we changed some of the names and pictures.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Parents with Inconvenient Truth about Trans: https://www.pittparents.com/
Genspect's website: https://genspect.org/
When Kids Say They're Trans book: https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/
Our Duty's website: https://ourduty.group/
Parents of ROGD kids website: https://www.parentsofrogdkids.com/
Hillary Cass Report: https://cass.independent-review.uk/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote

Parents who Survived the Gender Cult | Part 2 | Charlotte

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000

"That's what keeps the sadness and the grief and the depression at bay: by doing something" - Charlotte

Charlotte is a mother whose son fell victim to gender ideology at college. She relates how her adopted son, who had neurodevelopmental challenges and was emotionally immature, became engrossed in online anime and later fell victim to peer grooming. She tells how a college course and a gender clinic facilitated his gender confusion and subsequent hormone treatment. Charlotte relates how she tried to hold her family together while everything seemed to have fallen apart. But also that she recovered from a state of depression and non-survival, and is surviving now.

Due to the sensitivity of the subject and the vulnerability of the people involved, we changed some of the names and pictures.

Remember to like and subscribe!

4thWaveNow's website:https://4thwavenow.com/
Parents with Inconvenient Truth about Trans: https://www.pittparents.com/
FAIR's website: https://www.fairforall.org/
Genspect's website: https://genspect.org/
When Kids Say They're Trans book: https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/
Our Duty's website: https://ourduty.group/
Parents of ROGD kids website: https://www.parentsofrogdkids.com/
Protect Our Kids Now website: https://protectourkidsnow.org/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote
RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2119167.rss

Parents who Survived the Gender Cult | Part 1 | Lydia

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 15:00:00 +0000

"Our children need a hero and it's us" - Lydia

Lydia is a mother from California whose daughter fell victim to gender ideology during her very sensitive and impressionable adolescent years. She tells her story about her daughter's social struggles, and how her school, a peer at school and online gender activism induced and exacerbated her gender dysphoria. But Lydia also relates how she relaimed her inalienable role as parent to her daughter, by involving herself with the school's policies and teaching content, by networking with parents, and by accessing crucial resources to safeguard her child amidst what she calls the Genderborg.

Due to the sensitivity of the subject and the vulnerability of the minors involved, we changed some of the names and pictures.

Remember to like and subscribe!

FAIR's website: https://www.fairforall.org/
Genspect's website: https://genspect.org/
When Kids Say They're Trans book: https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/
Our Duty's website: https://ourduty.group/
Parents of ROGD kids website: https://www.parentsofrogdkids.com/
Protect Our Kids Now website: https://protectourkidsnow.org/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jbDzeiAbPXWJdBpzDnZ7n?si=0126814601344bef
RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2119167.rss

Psychoanalysis gone rogue: The Holmes Report | with Dr. Lucas Klein - Conclusion

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Dr. Lucas Klein is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and former forensic psychologist. He is an author in psychiatric research, psychological testing and public health, and the owner and host of his podcast, Real Clear Podcast.

In this fourth and final instalment in a multi-episode series, Christine, Jaco and Lucas critically analyse the third and fourth chapters of the controversial, expensive and problematic Holmes Report on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis. We highlight the severe methodological limitations of this research and point out the poor analysis applied to its reported statistics. We conclude that repeated systematic errors in this report makes it untenable for further serious analysis.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Download report from The Holmes Commission on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis here: https://apsa.org/about-apsa/holmes-commission/

Dr. Lucas Klein's website: https://www.drkleinpsychology.com/

Lucas' excellent article: https://www.city-journal.org/article/psychoanalysiss-racial-hysteria

Real Clear Podcast: https://www.realclearpodcast.com/tag/podcast/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

Twitter: @TherapyAntidote

Cynical Therapies Book: Birgit Ewald - Therapeutic Presence vs CSJ.

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Birgit Ewald is a UK-based counsellor, clinical supervisor, and lecturer in counselling. She has a longstanding interest in psycho-spiritual development, the interface between psychology and spirituality and the nature of relationships. She is currently researching the therapist's experience of therapeutic presence, in particular the transpersonal/spiritual dimension of presence.

Birgit is the author of the chapter, Therapeutic Presence and th Inadequacy of Critical Social Justice, which we discuss and elaborate on in this episode. We explore the basic requirements necessary for a therapeutic relationship from humanistic/transpersonal perspectives. We also discuss the I-Thou vs the I-it relationship of Martin Buber, and how it plays out in therapy. This forms the basis for contrasting and critiquing Critical Social Justice as inadequate for the establishment of a healing therapeutic relationship.

Remember to like and subscribe!
___________________________________________________________________________

Web: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
X: @TherapyAntidote
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jbDzeiAbPXWJdBpzDnZ7n?si=0126814601344bef
RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2119167.rss

A Mythical Analysis of Deconstruction | with Bret Alderman

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000

In this fascinating interview, we discuss Bret Alderman’s latest book, Eternal Youth and the Myth of Deconstruction – A mythical reading of Jacques Derrida and Judith Butler. We discuss what is meant by deconstruction, and paradoxically notice that deconstruction itself is a psychological enactment of deeper mythical narratives. The mythical narrative identified is captured in the stories of Icarus and Peter Pan with their respective archetypal characters, particularly that of the Eternal Youth. We discuss Derrida and Butler’s respective defiance of the paternal and maternal, and identify a healthy alternative in the myth of Kairos. This is a courageous and groundbreaking thesis which psychologists in general, and Jungian analysts specifically will find intriguing.

Bret Alderman holds a PhD from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where he studied Depth Psychology. He is a life coach and writer based in Oakland, California. He is the author of Symptom, Symbol and the Other of Language: A Jungian interpretation of the Linguistic Turn (2016) published by Routledge.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Bret's website: https://www.aldermancoaching.com/
X: @DrBretAlderman
Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eternal-Youth-Myth-Deconstruction-Psychoanalysis/dp/1032455322
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Web: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/
YouTube: @ctapodcast
X: @TherapyAntidote

On the state of Woke counselling training | with Lauren Holt

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Laurent Holt is an accountant and adjunct educator. In 2020 she enrolled in a clinical mental health counselling programme at a university in the south east of the United States. What she experienced during her training was something she did not sign up for. In this episode we discuss Lauren's experiences, which are very similar to other students who have spoken out about Woke counselling training at US universities. We explore her experience of the dumbing-down of her counselling programme, the shallowness of multicultural studies, microaggressions, the partisan treatment of people based on their race, the fostering of hypersensitivity and a new hypermorality, her being the target of Woke abuse and scapegoating by an outrage mob.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Lauren's Substack: https://laurenholt.substack.com/

Lauren's article for the CTA: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/2023/09/30/can-we-even-call-this-counseling-training-anymore/

Twitter: @TherapyAntidote

Psychoanalysis gone rogue: The Holmes Report | with Dr. Lucas Klein - Part 3

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Dr. Lucas Klein is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and former forensic psychologist. He is an author in psychiatric research, psychological testing and public health, and the owner and host of his podcast, Real Clear Podcast.

In this third instalment in a multi-episode series, Christine, Jaco and Lucas critically analyse the second chapter of the controversial, expensive and problematic Holmes Report on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis. We highlight the severe limitations of this research and point out the destructive instincts underlying this enterprise.

Remember to like and subscribe!

Download report from The Holmes Commission on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis here: https://apsa.org/about-apsa/holmes-commission/

Dr. Lucas Klein's website: https://www.drkleinpsychology.com/

Real Clear Podcast: https://www.realclearpodcast.com/tag/podcast/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website: https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

Amy Gallagher on the Politicisation of Psychotherapy

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Amy Gallagher is a psychotherapist and outspoken critic of the Woke ideological capture of the NHS in Britain. She participated in a panel discussion at the Battle of Ideas Festival in London, where she highlighted the historical precursors to the current brand of Critical Social Justice within psychotherapy.

Battle of Ideas Festival:
https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/politicisation-of-therapy/

Follow us:
Web: criticaltherapyantidote.org/
Twitter: @TherapyAntidote
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ctapodcast

Narcissistic large-group regression within Psychoanalysis | Prof. Jon Mills

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Prof. Jon Mills is a Canadian philosopher, psychoanalyst, and clinical psychologist. He has been an outspoken critic against the troubling turn psychological and psychoanalytic organisations have made when they adopted the radically illiberal identitarian positions of Critical Social Justice.
Jaco and Jon discuss various problematic developments within prominent psychoanalytic organisations over the last few years, particularly the American Psychoanalytic Association and Division 39 of the American Psychological Association. These developments include the Donald Moss article, On Having Whiteness, Lara Sheehi's antisemitism, the Holmes Report and the lack of adequate leadership to prevent such extremism from festering. This discussion is psychoanalytically dense, so prepare for some psychobabble.

https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/MILLS31405/jon-mills
https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

Dr. Carole Sherwood on the Politicisation of Therapy

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Carole Sherwood (DClinPsy) is a retired UK-based clinical psychologist, co-director at Critical Therapy Antidote and co-author of the book, Cynical Therapies. Carole was part of the panel discussion at the Battle of Ideas Festival in London discussing the rapid radicalisation and politicisation of psychotherapy. She discusses what this anti-therapeutic style of therapy involves and compares this to psychotherapy with a truly healing ethos.

https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/politicisation-of-therapy/

Political Correctness from a former student of Marcuse's | with Dr. Howard S. Schwartz

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Dr. Howard S. Schwartz is an emeritus professor of organizational behaviour at Oakland University. A former student of Herbert Marcuse, Howard started formulating what he observed in organisations and Western society since the 1990s in psychoanalytic terms. He is the author of several academic papers and books, including Narcissistic Process and Corporate Decay (1990), Society Against Itself: Political Correctness and Organizational Self-Destruction (2000), The Revolt of the Primitive: An Inquiry into the Roots of Political Correctness (2003) and Political Correctness and the Destruction of Social Order: Chronicling the Rise of the Pristine Self (2016).

In this episode, we discuss how Howard came to his formulation of politically correct, or Woke society, compare it to Herbert Marcuse's own imagined utopia, multiculturalism, the anti-bullying movement and the way out of this current societal quagmire.

Dr. Howard Schwartz books:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Howard-S-Schwartz/e/B001KHRKBO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1699212798&sr=1-1

The Critical Therapy Antidote website:
https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

Psychoanalysis gone rogue: The Holmes Report | with Dr. Lucas Klein - Part 2

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 22:00:00 +0100

Dr. Lucas Klein is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and former forensic psychologist. He is an author in psychiatric research, psychological testing and public health, and the owner and host of his podcast, Real Clear Podcast.

In this second instalment in a multi-episode series, Christine, Jaco and Lucas continue to critically analyse and discuss the controversial, expensive and problematic Holmes Report on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis. We highlight the severe limitations of this research and point out the destructive instincts underlying this enterprise.

Download report from The Holmes Commission on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis here:
https://apsa.org/about-apsa/holmes-commission/

Dr. Lucas Klein's website:
https://www.drkleinpsychology.com/

Real Clear Podcast:
https://www.realclearpodcast.com/tag/podcast/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website:
https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

Psychoanalysis gone rogue: The Holmes Report | with Dr. Lucas Klein - Part 1

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0100

Dr. Lucas Klein is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and former forensic psychologist. He is an author in psychiatric research, psychological testing and public health, and the owner and host of his podcast, Real Clear Podcast.

This is the first in a multi-episode series where Christine, Jaco and Lucas will critically analyse and discuss the controversial, expensive and problematic Holmes Report on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis. This may be a watershed moment in psychoanalysis, where instinctive drives of both the enviously destructive and the pathologically guilty have led to psychoanalysis going rogue...

Download report from The Holmes Commission on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis here:
https://apsa.org/about-apsa/holmes-commission/

Dr. Lucas Klein's website:
https://www.drkleinpsychology.com/

Real Clear Podcast:
https://www.realclearpodcast.com/tag/podcast/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website:
https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

The Woke as a narcissistically regressed large-group | with Dr. Lucas Klein

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0100

Dr. Lucas Klein is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and former forensic psychologist. He is an author in psychiatric research, psychological testing and public health, and the host of the Real Clear Podcast.

In this episode we take a deep dive from a psychoanalytic perspective on narcissistic large-group regression, the precursors to such regression in the West, the psychotic aspects of such large-group regression, and psychoanalysis/psychology's own complicity in participating in such societal disease.

Dr. Lucas Klein's website:
https://www.drkleinpsychology.com/

Real Clear Podcast:
https://www.realclearpodcast.com/tag/podcast/

The Critical Therapy Antidote website:
https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

A grassroots approach to de-indoctrinating children | with Carob Marcelle

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 21:00:00 +0100

Carob Marcelle is a mother and local advocate representing multiple parent groups. She is a former foster child who repudiates the victim narrative and promotes values for flourishing communities and individuals. These values include meritocracy and resilience. She is the host of the podcast, Be Not Afraid ( @CarobMarcelle ), where she explores social issues with both reason and compassion.

In this episode we explore the ideological seduction fostering entitlement, victimhood, fragility and narcissism within the State of Utah. We discuss the disempowering effects of SEL (Social-emotional learning), how parents are organising networks to challenge this ideological seduction of children and the path toward building more resilient children.

Saving American education from ideological indoctrination | with Dr. Bonnie Snyder

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 20:00:00 +0100

Dr. Bonnie Snyder (D.Ed) is a former teacher, counsellor and professor. She is a Certified College Planning Specialist and director of High School Outreach at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) - a nonpartisan, nonprofit organisation whose mission is to defend constitutional freedoms on campus. Bonnie is the author of the book, Undoctrinate: How politicized classrooms harm kids and ruin our schoos - and what we an do about it.

In this episode we explore the ideological dangers children are being exposed to in mainstream American education, the cultic characteristics of these ideologies and their agents, and proposed approaches to safeguarding your children and reclaiming American education.

Irreversible Harm of Gender-Affirming Care | with Stephanie Winn

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 18:00:00 +0100

Stephanie Winn is a Licenced Marriage and Family Therapist in Portland, Oregon. She is the owner and host of You Must Be Some Kind Of Therapist Podcast, writer, advocate for victims of gender medicine, and associate producer of the film, No Way Back - The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care.

In this episode, we discuss the documentary, No Way Back - The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care with Stephanie. We explore in greater depth the tortuous landscape of gender-affirming "care," its dereliction of therapeutic duty, and the principles undergirding therapy that builds resilience.

Stephanie's consulting practice:
www.realtalktherapypdx.com

You Must Be Some Kind Of Therapist Podcast:
https://www.sometherapist.com/

No Way Back Website:
https://nowaybackfilm.com/

Ideological cruelty in counselling (mis)education | with Leslie Elliott

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 18:00:00 +0100

Leslie Elliott is a life coach in Washington State, founder of the Radical Centre and Antioch University whistleblower. Leslie earned a BA in Psychology in 2008. After enrolling in the Clinical Mental Health Counselling Master's programme at Antioch University in 2019, she met with ideological overreach by her programme lecturers, and had to discontinue her studies due to ideological imposition upon her conscience. We discuss Leslie's ordeal and how these events unfolded.

The Radical Center consulting practice:
https://theradicalcenterconsulting.com/

Radical Center YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-SutMtrlbhw39RyamcapA

On the religious character of Gender Ideology | with Colette Colfer

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 18:00:00 +0100

Colette Colfer is an academic who lectures in ethics and world religions. She is a writer, past-life journalist and national radio-award winner. She is a member of Heterdox Academy and has a particular interest in Jungian psychology.

Gender ideology as a religion is a bold claim. Does this claim have any basis from a sociological perspective? Colette and I discuss this claim.

On the Complex Nature of Transgenderism | with Zander Keig

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 17:00:00 +0100

Zander Keig is a licensed clinical social worker and first-generation Latino transsexual man. He is a Board Member of the Institute for Liberal Values and a co-founder of the LGBTQ Caregiver Center. He serves on the National Alliance of Caregiving Mental Health Advisory Committee and the Rise Registry LGBTQ Dementia and Alzheimer's Research Advisory Board.

In this episode, we deeply dive into Zander’s complex history growing up, his medical transition at age 39 years, and his life since. We discuss his experience with the evolution of gender ideology’s terminologies, his discomfort with being diagnosed with gender dysphoria and gender identity disorder, and the challenge some young people face with Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria. This interview highlights the complexities and multi-faceted nature of gender dysphoria rather than the simple picture depicted by trans activists.

Cynical Therapies Book: Drs. Val Thomas and Carole Sherwood - Concluding reflections

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 20:00:00 +0100

To conclude our series of book interviews, we reflect on the author interviews we had, we discuss whether the content of Cynical Therapies is still relevant, we consider areas of improvement, and assess what further needs to be done for the psychotherapy field to return to its healing ethos. This is a panel discussion with book editor Dr. Val Thomas and chapter author Dr. Carole Sherwood.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Philip Pellegrino - CBT and Critical Social Justice are incompatible

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 19:00:00 +0100

Our guest today is Dr. Philip J. Pellegrino, PsyD. He is a Licensed Psychologist in private practice in the United States, who specialises in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Dr. Pellegrino is board certified in Behavioural and Cognitive Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and is a co-author of a book chapter on CBT for insomnia in The Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy in Primary Care by DiTomasso, Golden and Morris (Springer, 2010).

In this episode, we discuss the 4 primary areas of psychological suffering, according to CBT, and compare these areas with the tenets of Critical Social Justice. These core areas are experiential avoicance, attentional bias, functional contextualism, and emotional schemas. Dr. Pellegrino demonstrates convincingly that CSJ is anti-therapeutic from a CBT perspective.

Cynical Therapies Book: Christine Sefein - On the Miseducation of Psychotherapists

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 19:00:00 +0100

Christine Sefein, MA, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specialises in grief and trauma work. She has worked as Clinical Director at a grief support center, Clinical Supervisor at California Lutheran University, and full-time lecturer at Antioch University. She is a member of Critical Therapy Antidote, and cohost of the CTA Podcast.

It was a pleasure to interview my cohost, and explore her experiences growing up in an immigrant family, studying psychology, and returning to her college years later to teach in the Clinical Psychology programme. What she found after returning to college was an evironment vastly different from the robust, structured and dignified place she left years earlier. We discuss her experiences and the value of keeping one's integrity by staying true to time tested values.

Cynical Therapies Book: Tim Courtois - CSJ Indoctrination in Sexuality Education

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 19:00:00 +0100

Tim Courtois, MA, is US-based Licensed Professional Counselor. He is qualified in narrative-focused trauma therapy and sexual health, and he specialises in issues relating to sexuality, including sexual abuse, trauma and sexual identity.

In this episode, we discuss how trendy ideology goes unchallenged in sexual health training. We talk about the introduction of ideological no-go zones in the psychology of sexuality, and the implications of these for clients and clinicians alike. We conclude with a necessary reminder that radicalisation is a human phenomenon, not belonging purely to the radical Woke.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Kirsty Miller - Woke Psychotherapy: From Helping to Hating

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 19:00:00 +0100

Kirsty Miller is a lecturer in Scotland, who has a PhD in social and clinical psychology. Her interest is in the psychology of groupthink and the ideological conformity within academia. She is a member of Heterodox Academy, and The Society for Open Inquiry in the Behavioural Sciences.

In this episode, we discuss Kirsty's chapter, From Helping to Hating - Critical Social Justice from a Social Psychological Perspective. We discuss how closely Critical Social Justice follows the five-step social identity model of the development of collective hate. The dangers of CSJ are highlighted as, inherent in this ideology, are notions of deep investments in group identity, perceiving the outgroup as a threat, resorting to violence, justification for such violence, and celebration of such conquest as something virtuous.

Cynical Therapies Book: Nick Opyrchal - On the Politicisation of Psychotherapy

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 19:00:00 +0100

Nick Opyrchal, MA (Transpersonal Psychology) is a psychotherapist in private practice in the UK, and a doctoral student researcing the meeting of transpersonal psychotherapy and identity politics. He is a former professional Thai boxer and martial arts instructor.

Nick authored the chapter entitled, Psychotherapy, Ideology and the New Aristocracy of the Cynical Therapies book. We discuss the fusion between politics and therapy, and the extent to which psychotherapy has been aggressively infiltrated by anti-therapeutic ideology. This has lead to an authoritarian mindset that constrains the subjectivity of its practitioners and limits their ability to help their clients.

Cynical Therapies Book: Piers Newman - CSJ encroachment on Family Therapy

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 18:00:00 +0100

Piers Newman, MSc (Family Therapy) is a Systemic Family Psychotherapist in England. He is an intermediate level family therapy teacher and supervisor. As is evident from this discussion, Piers has a special interest in working with crisis families and families with parents with traumatic childhoods.

In our discussion, Piers takes us through the development of family therapy to where it recently adopted CSJ as an ideologically-informed practice. We discuss these worrying trends in greater detail and consider a real-life case where time-tested family therapy reaped positive results. This was possible precisely because the family involved were related to as fellow humans, and not mere tokens of identity groups within a dystopian system of oppressors and victims.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Nina Silander - Psychological associations as ideological echo chambers

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 18:00:00 +0100

Dr. Nina Silander, PsyD, is a US-based clinical psychologist. Her concern with the ideological bias in psychology has motivated her to look into the effects of this bias on psychological research, professional roles and clinical practice.

In this episode Christine and Jaco interview Nina on her chapter in the book, Cynical Therapies - Perspectives on the Antitherapeutic Nature of Critical Social Justice. They discuss the politicisation of the therapy professions, the lack of viewpoint diversity in the American Psychological Association (APA), and the risks this pose to the profession as a whole and the wellbeing of people.

Cynical Therapies Book: Stella O'Malley and Sasha Ayad - Children as Victims of Gender Ideology

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 17:00:00 +0100

Stella O'Malley is a psychotherapist, bestselling author and public speaker based in Ireland. Her recent book, What your teen is trying to tell you, was published in 2023. In 2018, she was the writer and presenter of the Channel 4 documentary, Trans Kids: It's Time to Talk. She is the founder and director of Genspect and the co-host of Gender: A Wider Lens Podcast.

Sasha Ayad is a US-based LIcensed Professional Counsellor who has worked with adolescents for over 13 years. Her current focus is on adolescent-onset gender dysphoria. She is the co-host of Gender: A Wider Lens Podcast.

In this episode, Christine and Jaco discuss the highly politicised, but clinically sensitive topic of gender dysphoria with Stella O'Malley and Sasha Ayad. Stella and Sasha are the authors of two chapters in in the book, Cynical Therapies - Perspectives on the Antitherapeutic Nature of Critical Social Justice. An overview is given on the history of gender medicine, and how gender dysphoria was treated from classical psychotherapeutic approaches. We discuss the problems with the affirmative model, its problematic assumptions, and the responsible exploratory approach to psychotherapy.

https://genspect.org
https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm
https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Bret Alderman - CSJ as Religious Intoxication

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 17:00:00 +0100

Bret Alderman holds a PhD from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where he studied Depth Psychology. He is a life coach and writer based in Oakland, California. He is the author of Symptom, Symbol and the Other of Language: A Jungian interpretation of the Linguistic Turn (2016) published by Routledge.

In this episode, Bret uses Jungian Psychology to explain the religious character of CSJ, particularly the intoxicating nature of ideologies and zealotry exhibited by its believers. He delves into the notion of archetypal possession as a persuasive explanation of how CSJ managed to gain such a hold over Western Culture.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Val Thomas - CSJ as Violation of the Therapeutic Relationship

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 16:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Val reflects on the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for healing in psychotherapy, and how the insertion of CSJ into psychotherapy jeopardises this sacred space. This is due to the inherent non-therapeutic nature of CSJ as a radical political ideology, rather than a healing, reconciling theory. She furthermore explores ways of integrating the collective dimesion into the therapeutic relationship without resorting to the entitlement ideology of CSJ.

Cynical Therapies Book: Ben Harris - Psychotherapeutic Critique of Critical Social Justice

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 15:00:00 +0100

Ben Harris is a psychotherapist in private practice in London. He practices from an integrative perspective, gleaning from psychoanalytic, Jungian and existentialist insights.

In this episode, Christine and Jaco discuss Ben's chapter in the Cynical Therapies book. Ben makes a thorough case from analytical psychology and existential philosophy, on how Critical Social Justice promotes, rather than alleviates, psychopathology. We discuss how severely regressive psychological defences manifest and are celebrated in Critical Social Justice.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dennis Relojo-Howell - CSJ and suicides among men

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 22:00:00 +0100

Dennis Relojo-Howell is a Philipine-born founder of the digital media company, Psychreg, that focuses on psychology, health and wellness. In this episode, Dennis, Christine and Jaco discuss his chapter in the book, Cynical Therapies - Perspectives on the Antitherapeutic Nature of Critical Social Justice. Dennis elaborates on the research of male mental health, in particular, the higher suicide rate in males, and how CSJ's pessimistic stance towards men are unhelpful in improving male mental health. He also elaborates on the role of resilience and social support in the improvement of male mental health.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Val Thomas - How did we get here?

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 21:00:00 +0100

Val Thomas, DPsych, is the co-founder of Critical Therapy Antidote (CTA), is a UK-based psychotherapist, writer and formerly a counsellor educator. And she is the editor of Cynical Therapies - Perspectives on the Antitherapeutic Nature of Critical Social Justice.

In this episode, Val discusses her chapter which provides an account of how the therapy field arrived at this critical point where it has opened itself up to a takeover by a political ideology. She also discusses the need for a return to the healing ethos of psychotherapy, which requires the principled stance of integrity by ethical mental healthcare providers.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Dina McMillan - Critical Race Therapy in the Therapist's Chair - Part 2

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 21:00:00 +0100

Dr. Dina McMillan, PhD, is an American social psychologist and academic currently based in Brisbane, Australia. She specialises in domestic abuse prevention and effective bias reduction. In 2020 Dina developed a unique programme called Healing the Rift, designed to reduce racism and other types of bias without using blame-and-shame methods that may increase divisions and exacerbate intolerance.

In this episode, we discuss the chapter Dina authored in the book, Cynical Therapies - Perspectives on the Antitherapeutic Nature of Critical Social Justice. Critical Race Theory is being personified as a client at a counsellor's clinic. Dina describes the characteristics of Critical Race Theory, and the kind of character it requires to be sustained. We also discuss better, common humanity alternatives to CRT.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Carole Sherwood - Critical Race Therapy in the Therapist's Chair - Part 1

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 18:00:00 +0100

Dr. Carole Sherwood (DClinPsy) is a retired UK-based clinical psychologist. We discuss her chapter on Critical Race Theory by personifying them as a client who has arrived at the counsellor's clinic. Carole considers how she, as a white therapist, would work with CRT presenting themselves in a therapeutic space.

Cynical Therapies Book: Dr. Val Thomas - Introduction

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 17:00:00 +0100

CTA founder and psychotherapist, Dr. Val Thomas, gives a brief introduction to the organisation, Critical Therapy Antidote, and the book Cynical Therapies - Perspectives on the Antitherapeutic nature of Critical Social Justice.