The exploitation of uneven power and emotional vulnerability is, of course, not limited to the field of psychotherapy. Today’s guest Megan shares her experience of very bad pastoral counseling, and we speak with the Reverend Meredith Harber to explore the nuances of Megan’s story and what proper pastoral care looks like with a contemporary understanding of power dynamics, boundaries, and gender norms. Thank you for listening. Support the show by becoming a monthly subscriber on Patreon to receive access to bonus episodes or by making a one-time contribution via PayPal. Show Notes:  Donate to Solid Ground  Better Results: Using Deliberate Practice to Improve Therapeutic Effectiveness Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Tell Us Your Story 

35. What is Pastoral Counseling? (with The Reverend Meredith Harber)

Very Bad Therapy is a closer look at what goes wrong in the counseling room - and how it could go better - as told by the clients who survived.

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

147. Termination Session

 Carrie and Ben create their own model of therapy. Goal setting! Psychoeducation! Exploitation and worrisome sales tactics! What does it say about psychotherapy when our progressively cynical efforts to develop a modality end up mirroring some of the norms in our field? This episode is evidence-based and supported by neuroscience.      Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.     Introduction: 0:00 – 5:13  Part One: 5:13 – 1:08:54  Part Two: 1:08:54 – 1:11:44     Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story     Show Notes:   Mental health clinical exams’ evident adherence to industry standards for testing   How to Spot Hype in the Field of Psychotherapy  The efficacy of non-directive supportive therapy for adult depression: a meta-analysis  Insight Exchange: Guide to Selecting a Counsellor  The Radical Therapist #094 – Response-Based Practice w/ Dr. Allan Wade Organized Abandonment and Systemic Harm: A Conversation with Therapist & Educator Kimberly Chiswell 

146. Patreon Selects: Carrie-Ben Therapy (aka CBT 2.0)

 All therapy books have an oddly similar message: *This* form of therapy is the one that truly matters, and *this* science/philosophy/whatever is the key to understanding how human psychology actually works. These narratives can’t all be true, so are they all simply bullshit instead? We read through Scott Alexander’s legendary blog post, Book Review: All Therapy Books, and discuss whether therapy gurus really believe the answers they are selling.      Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community.     Introduction: 0:00 – 10:36  Part One: 10:36 – 1:29:35  Part Two: 1:29:35 – 1:31:55     Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story     Show Notes:   ‘The Body Keeps the Score’ offers uncertain science in the name of self-help. It’s not alone.   Book Review: All Therapy Books   Astral Codex Ten   Slate Star Codex    An Investigation of Self-Assessment Bias in Mental Health Providers  

145. Patreon Selects: Book Review - All Therapy Books

The vast majority of therapists enter their profession to help other people. Some become therapists to help themselves. Today’s episode features Millie, a client who found a therapist who seemed to good to be true – until the truth set in, months after Millie had left everything behind.     Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Ben Caldwell Labs – training, advocacy, books, and additional resources for counselors and therapists.     Introduction: 0:00 – 3:43  Part One: 3:43 – 1:09:12  Part Two: 1:09:12 – 1:28:20     Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story     Show Notes:  Donate to Operation Underground Railroad 

144. The Shrink Next State

 Life can be hard at times. Do you want to feel more visible and important in your relationships? Are you curious about why every Psychology Today profile looks the same? We get silly with the incredible Therapist Generator and learn all about treating sunroof addition with truckload therapy and registered turtleneck therapy. The therapist profiles are fake, but our desire to meet you where you are on your journey is very real.      Thank you for listening. To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Very Bad Therapy Patreon community. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sentio Counseling Center – high-quality, low-fee online therapy in California with immediate availability for new clients.     Introduction: 0:00 – 26:05  Part One: 26:05 – 1:14:55  Part Two: 1:14:55 – 1:17:35     Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story     Show Notes:  Therapist Generator Kaylen Dwyer: Twitter This Person Does Not Exist Go open: A plea for transparency in psychotherapy Talking more about talking cures: cognitive behavioural therapy and informed counsent Informed Consent in Psychotherapy: Implications of Evidence-Based Practice Evidence-Based Practice and Psychological Treatments: The Imperatives of Informed Consent  Informed consent for psychotherapy: still not routine 

35. What is Pastoral Counseling? (with The Reverend Meredith Harber)

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