Bad Therapy

《糟糕的治疗》：谨慎对待儿童心理健康

The key takeaways from "Bad Therapy" are that we need to be more cautious and discerning in our approach to children's mental health.

Shrier 在《糟糕的治疗：为什么孩子们没有成长》中认为，我们应该对儿童心理健康采取更加谨慎和辨别的态度。我们应该警惕过度诊断、极端化的治疗性养育，以及善意但误导性的干预措施可能造成的医源性伤害。我们应该专注于培养韧性、培养独立性，并让孩子们体验生活中正常的起起落落。

过度治疗的风险

First, let's look at the phenomenon of iatrogenesis. This is a fancy medical term that basically means treatment that unintentionally causes harm.

“想想看。我们不会在没有仔细考虑潜在的负面影响的情况下给孩子服用强效药物，对吧？” Shrier 认为，当我们谈到心理健康干预措施，尤其是儿童时，我们很大程度上忽略了“医源性”这个概念，即治疗无意中造成了伤害。

Shrier 指出，一些研究表明，某些形式的治疗，特别是那些专注于强烈的情绪探索和反刍的治疗，实际上会增加脆弱个体的焦虑和抑郁。

例如，不断要求孩子分析他们的负面情绪，剖析每一次 perceived slight 或失望，可能会无意中强化这些感觉，使它们看起来比实际更大、更重要。《糟糕的治疗：为什么孩子们没有成长》这本书中提到了这个例子去佐证这个观点。

所以，这里的可操作的见解是什么？在为您的孩子进行心理健康干预时要谨慎和辨别。不要仅仅因为这是时髦的事情或因为学校辅导员建议就这样做。提出问题，进行研究，并考虑潜在的负面影响。《糟糕的治疗：为什么孩子们没有成长》这本书建议寻找采用循证方法并注意医源性可能性的治疗师。

“治疗性养育”的潜在危害

But Shrier argues that, taken to an extreme, this approach can actually hinder a child's development.

“Shrier 认为，在极端情况下，这种方法（治疗性养育）实际上会阻碍孩子的发展。通过不断验证每一种感觉，通过保护孩子免受所有不适和逆境的影响，我们可能无意中阻止了他们发展韧性、应对技能和调节自己情绪的能力。”

Shrier 认为，不断关注情绪，无休止地处理感受，会产生一种脆弱感和自我专注感。孩子们可能开始将自己视为自身情绪的受害者，无法应对生活中正常的起起落落。他们可能变得过度依赖外部验证，并且难以发展应对挑战所需的内部资源。《糟糕的治疗：为什么孩子们没有成长》这本书中，作者花了大量的篇幅去论证。

这里的可操作的见解是找到平衡。同理心和理解很重要，但界限、期望和允许儿童体验其行为的自然结果也很重要。让他们跌倒，让他们感到沮丧，让他们学会应对失望。《糟糕的治疗：为什么孩子们没有成长》这本书中给出了很多建议。

这并不意味着冷漠或不关心。这意味着认识到不适是生活的一部分，克服挑战对于成长至关重要。

学校作为“治疗中心”

Shrier argues that schools have increasingly become "therapy centers," blurring the lines between education and mental health intervention.

“Shrier 认为，学校越来越多地成为‘治疗中心’，模糊了教育和心理健康干预之间的界限。” 她指出了社会情感学习 (SEL) 项目的激增、心理健康筛查以及学校中治疗师和辅导员的日益增多。

虽然这些举措背后的意图通常是崇高的——支持学生的福祉——但 Shrier 对其有效性和潜在危害提出了担忧。《糟糕的治疗：为什么孩子们没有成长》这本书中，作者也质疑了很多类似的项目。她认为，许多 SEL 项目基于可疑的心理学理论，缺乏严格的科学证据。她还担心在未经父母同意的情况下收集儿童敏感的心理健康数据会涉及隐私问题。

此外，她认为，学校对心理健康的持续关注会营造一种过度关注的文化，在这种文化中，正常的童年焦虑和挣扎会被病态化。孩子们可能开始将每一种悲伤或紧张的感觉解释为精神障碍的迹象，导致他们寻求他们实际上可能不需要的诊断和干预。

这里的可操作的见解是了解您孩子学校里发生的事情。询问有关 SEL 项目、心理健康筛查以及辅导员角色的问题。如果您认为学校越界或推行某种特定意识形态，请不要害怕反驳。《糟糕的治疗：为什么孩子们没有成长》这本书提醒大家，您是您孩子的主要倡导者，您有权了解并参与影响他们福祉的决策。

• Iatrogenesis: "Bad Therapy" highlights how mental health treatments, especially in children, can unintentionally cause harm.
• Over-Diagnosis: The book "Bad Therapy" cautions against the trend of over-diagnosing and labeling normal childhood behaviors as mental disorders.
• Therapeutic Parenting Risks: "Bad Therapy" argues that extreme "gentle parenting," while well-intentioned, can hinder resilience and coping skills.
• School's Role: "Bad Therapy" critiques the increasing role of schools in providing mental health interventions, often without sufficient evidence or parental consent.
• Resilience Building: The book "Bad Therapy" emphasizes fostering independence, allowing children to experience natural consequences, and building coping mechanisms.
• Balanced Approach: "Bad Therapy" advocates for a balanced approach: validating feelings while encouraging problem-solving and growth.
• SEL Programs: "Bad Therapy" questions the effectiveness and potential harm of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs in schools.
• Data Privacy: "Bad Therapy" raises concerns about the collection of sensitive mental health data on children in schools.
• Normal vs. Disorder: "Bad Therapy" stresses the importance of distinguishing between typical childhood struggles and genuine mental illness.
• Parental Advocacy: "Bad Therapy" encourages parents to be informed and involved in decisions regarding their child's mental health and education. Be an advocate.
• "Bad Therapy": The book, "Bad Therapy", challenges parents to rethink the current mental health approach.

• Parents who are concerned about the current trends in children's mental health and the potential for over-diagnosis and harmful interventions.
• Parents feeling pressured by "gentle parenting" or "therapeutic parenting" approaches and seeking a more balanced perspective.
• Educators and school administrators interested in understanding the impact of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and mental health initiatives in schools.
• Anyone questioning the increasing medicalization of childhood and the blurring lines between normal struggles and mental illness.
• Individuals seeking practical strategies for building resilience in children and fostering their independence.
• Readers interested in a critical examination of the mental health industry's influence on parenting and education, as presented in "Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up".
• Those who suspect their child's therapy or current mental health approach might be making things worse (iatrogenic effects).
• People looking for alternatives to therapy-centric approaches to raising children, as discussed in "Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up".
• Individuals who want to learn to differentiate between normal childhood difficulties and situations requiring professional intervention, a key theme in "Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up".

How does 'Gentle Parenting' contribute to unintended consequences, according to Abigail Shrier's 'Bad Therapy'?

• Gentle Parenting: Gentle parenting is an approach that prioritizes empathy, respect, and understanding in the parent-child relationship, often avoiding traditional forms of discipline.
• Unintended Consequences: It can lead to children who struggle with boundaries, self-regulation, and resilience.
• Permissive Environment: This approach can inadvertently create a permissive environment where children's emotional needs are prioritized above all else.

What are the potential pitfalls of 'Therapeutic Parenting' as described in Abigail Shrier's 'Bad Therapy'?

• Therapeutic Parenting: Therapeutic parenting emphasizes the therapeutic role of parents, encouraging them to constantly analyze and address their children's emotional states.
• Over-Managing Emotions: This can lead to parents over-managing their children's emotions and hindering their development of coping mechanisms.
• Emotional Fragility: The constant focus on emotions can create a sense of fragility and anxiety in children.

How does the book 'Bad Therapy' by Abigail Shrier critique the modern emphasis on 'Emotional Safety'?

• Emotional Safety: 'Emotional safety' is a concept that prioritizes creating an environment where children feel completely safe from any emotional discomfort.
• Overemphasis on Avoidance: This can lead to an overemphasis on avoiding any situation that might cause a child distress, even if it's necessary for growth.
• Hindered Resilience: Shielding children from all discomfort can hinder their ability to develop resilience and cope with challenges.

What is the connection between 'I-Gen' and the concerns raised in Abigail Shrier's 'Bad Therapy'?

• I-Gen: I-Gen, or Generation Z, is characterized by increased rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
• Contributing Factors: Shrier argues that some parenting and therapeutic approaches may be contributing to these issues.
• Cultural Trends: The book explores the potential link between modern cultural trends and the mental health of this generation.

How does 'Bad Therapy' by Abigail Shrier address the concept of 'Trauma-Informed' care?

• Trauma-Informed Care: 'Trauma-informed' care is an approach that emphasizes understanding and addressing the impact of trauma on individuals.
• Misapplication/Overuse: Shrier argues that this approach, while well-intentioned, can sometimes be misapplied or overused.
• Pathologizing Normal Experiences: The book suggests that an overemphasis on trauma can lead to pathologizing normal childhood experiences.

What is the concept of the 'worried well' and how is it relevant to Abigail Shrier's 'Bad Therapy'?

• Worried Well: The 'worried well' are individuals who are generally healthy but experience significant anxiety and concern about their mental health.
• Inadvertent Contribution: Shrier suggests that some therapeutic approaches may inadvertently contribute to this phenomenon.
• Increased Anxiety: The book explores how the focus on mental health can sometimes create more anxiety than it alleviates.

How does 'Bad Therapy' by Abigail Shrier challenge the reliance on 'Expert advice' in parenting?

• Expert Advice: 'Expert advice' refers to the guidance provided by therapists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals.
• Questioning Efficacy: Shrier questions the efficacy and potential harm of some forms of expert advice in the realm of child rearing.
• Critical Evaluation: The book encourages parents to critically evaluate expert advice and trust their own instincts.

What are the potential drawbacks of the 'Self-Esteem' movement, as discussed in Abigail Shrier's 'Bad Therapy'?

• Self-Esteem Movement: 'Self-esteem' movement is a trend that emphasizes boosting children's self-esteem, often through praise and positive reinforcement.
• Unintended Negative Consequences: Shrier argues that this movement can have unintended negative consequences, such as creating a sense of entitlement.
• Genuine Accomplishment: The book suggests that focusing on genuine accomplishment and resilience is more beneficial than artificial self-esteem boosting.