Dr Kent’s Blog

The current DSM is the DSM IV-TR in which “TR” stands for “Text Revision.”  The most significant change between the DSM IV and the DSM IV-TR is that a new criterion was inserted almost universally into every category of major mental illness:

Denial of having a mental disorder or a mental illness became a bonafide criterion for diagnosing the client with mental illness.

That may not seem so odd but it is subtle.  Now, if a person claimed they were healthy, that “denial” counted as a mark in the check list finding that person mentally ill!

Thus, the entire field of mental health became self-serving and self-centered.  Rather than rely upon the client complaining & requesting our help, we were and are going to find them mentally ill and in need of our services, no matter what.  Whether they need our services or want them, matters not.  All that matters is what we as “experts” say. 

Such a move (to the “TR”) further strains credibility and reveals that what passes for mental health treatment today is nothing more than projecting negative diagnoses and labels upon less sophisticated, helpless and vulnerable persons who are unable to defend themselves from the overwhelming onslaught of the “experts,” from the numbers and shear size of the community of mental health treatment providers. 

It is a stacked deck against which no one prevails.  While those in cushy positions making larger salaries may think they are helping their fellow man, all they are really doing is helping themselves by riding on the backs of those upon whom they cast their labels, if you will, upon the backs of those upon whom they ‘cast their spells.’

Gee, maybe psychology really has become a field dominated by women.  Dare I say witchcraft?  Because

most of the professionals I see today, old and young alike, male and female alike, don’t know what they are doing!

This is why I call the practice that prevails today “Negative Projective Psychology” and why I have come up with the term “Positive Projective Psychology” to contrast the errors made across the field which cause so many in our country to suffer. 

A tell tale sign of negative practice is a practitioner who claims that ‘therapy is “hard” and it is “stressful” for the practitioner.’  Hog wash!  If it is difficult for those practitioners, it is because they have been ill trained, poorly equipped and don’t understand the limitations of natural boundaries & empowering and truly helping their clients!

Lastly, “liberal” psychologists should not be treating “conservative” clients!  This is because of the value system impasse.

Conservatives understand the true meaning and quest for independence and independent functioning, whereas, liberals caretakers invoke dependency and make their patient’s dependent upon them.  They want them coming back so they can make that payment on their air planes, vacations or extra houses. 

Liberals do not want their clients’ getter better and leaving them.  In part, it may be an “abandonment issue” for the practitioner!  But it is mostly about keeping the money flowing. 

Such is the fate of an industry controlled by insurance companies and subject to mismanagement of motivation on the part of the professionals!  According to one malpractice attorney with whom I consulted, the insurance companies have tainted it all!  The insurance companies have ruined it all!

There is no safe place.