tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272525777827091486.post4646023830810159795..comments2024-02-27T23:48:58.936-08:00Comments on legalienate: Robin Williams, Mental Health, and Social Insanityfrank scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06210560169236136762noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272525777827091486.post-53016899049326960542014-08-19T20:00:18.233-07:002014-08-19T20:00:18.233-07:00Wonderful article. You have lots of insight, Mr. S...Wonderful article. You have lots of insight, Mr. Smith. Terrific.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272525777827091486.post-11581338407213603432014-08-19T11:26:43.092-07:002014-08-19T11:26:43.092-07:00"Two few therapists actually help people impr..."Two few therapists actually help people improve their day-to-day lives." . . . <br /><br />Because therapy is supposed to be non-directional. The therapist is not supposed to judge what is right or wrong about the client's life (but of course they do this all the time about the poor), but rather, cultivate "insight" so the client can be inspired to make the changes that he/she thinks are appropriate. But this "value free" approach is mostly illusory. However hard therapists try to keep other value judgments out of the consulting room, they virtually all cling to the dogma that society is irrelevant.Michael Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17631483577908372312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272525777827091486.post-17652469656158052772014-08-19T11:20:08.447-07:002014-08-19T11:20:08.447-07:00"I keep telling friends who advise me to &quo..."I keep telling friends who advise me to "take a pill" for feelings of sadness/despair that it is THE WORLD that is messed up," . . . <br /><br />Yes, it certainly is. We should be optimistic about the ability of politically sophisticated collective action to improve circumstances, and we should never accept the therapeutic dogma that "you can't change society, only yourself." Is that why we celebrate Dr. King's birthday? Because there is no way to make effective social change? On the contrary. We celebrate Dr. King's life because he used his sadness, grief, depression to CHANGE the world for the better. That is far better "therapy" than sitting around talking with a politically clueless psychologist or counselorMichael Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17631483577908372312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272525777827091486.post-30683044620599392942014-08-19T08:20:36.364-07:002014-08-19T08:20:36.364-07:00I, too, liked this essay. I am not moderately depr...I, too, liked this essay. I am not moderately depressed despite being severely disabled, but I have spent my life trying to see the world for what it is, not for what I want it to be. I would say I am in a permanent state of grieving for this beautiful planet.<br /><br />One thing I would add about therapy. Two few therapists actually help people improve their day-to-day lives. My partner's first therapist tried to get him to practice mindfulness, which he did sporadically. His other therapists just encouraged him to talk about himself, something he has spent far too much of his life doing. Now he is aging and very frustrated with being unable to observe his environment, remember simple things, etc -- not new traits, but ones that do not improve as one ages if one doesn't pursue awareness. Not only do people need housing, food, etc, often they need help with basic functioning (when they did not learn it as children).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272525777827091486.post-68584070768077122272014-08-18T15:01:21.537-07:002014-08-18T15:01:21.537-07:00Dear Michael: Thank you for this essay. I first re...Dear Michael: Thank you for this essay. I first read it at Counterpunch, and it led me to your site. Amen to all that you said. I keep telling friends who advise me to "take a pill" for feelings of sadness/despair that it is THE WORLD that is messed up, not me, and that no amount of positive thinking, money, or fame would cure it. You nailed it with all that you said. We live in dark times ~ not the first human beings to do so ~ but the yoke of oppressors (i.e. everything from Wall Street to your local Chamber of Commerce as well government since we no longer have representation is heavy and dangerous. Your words were an inspiration. Like a clear bell in the murkiest of moments, and I shared it on Facebook and everywhere else I could get the word out. "There is an honest (and articulate) man to listen to," I said -- thank you, Michael.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com