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Of course a lot of the people who "need help" really need to be locked up. They're not suffering from mental disorders; they're just inflicting their ya-yas on other people. Sending them to therapy is likely to make them feel even better abnout what they're doing; therapy is designed for neurotics who feel inappropriate guilt or inhibition, not bungholes who get a charge out of victimizing others.
Well, now we're getting somewhere.
How can we tell the "bungholes" from those that "really" need help? What's the criteria to differentiate one from another? (don't get mad, I am ASKING--I am not MAKING A POINT via a question).
After all the cases and books I've read of disappointed clients and unethical therapists and counselors I've come to my conclusion that psychotherapy and psychology is virtually useless.
Your thoughts....let's be for real.
I completely disagree with you EXCEPT that the problem is there is no quality control among therapists/counselors etc.... a good one can work wonders, but they are few and far between.
Well, now we're getting somewhere.
How can we tell the "bungholes" from those that "really" need help? What's the criteria to differentiate one from another? (don't get mad, I am ASKING--I am not MAKING A POINT via a question).
I've been in mental health work for 15 years. Here's how it's done:
A) Find out if the person has an actual mental disorder. Getting in trouble with the law or acting like an ass, taken alone, are NOT criteria for deciding that.
B) Find out if the criminal behavior is caused or exacerbated by the symptoms of that disorder, if there is one. Carefully rule in or out the possibility that the person simply acts this way because there's something in it for him -- e.g., he beats his wife because when she's intimidated she gives him her whole paycheck and any sex act he wants.
C) Make double-dog sure the person with the mental disorder was actually having an episode with significant symptoms when the crime occurred, and that the symptoms caused the behavior or prevented the person from making a better decision. History is full of psychotics who only commit their crimes when they're stone-cold lucid. Please note that B&E to steal pharmaceuticals which then are used to induce pleasurable manic symptoms so they can have fun beating up a cop is NOT the same as "not guilty due to mental illness."
D) Bear in mind that the best treatment for a lot of people, even the psychotics, is natural consequences. I don't care if you thought they were Martians -- if you killed them you're going to prison. Next time think twice about refusing your meds, Chumly.
E) If in doubt, incarcerate AND treat. Please note you should always be in doubt.
[quote=Cliffie;7833857]I've been in mental health work for 15 years. Here's how it's done:
A) Find out if the person has an actual mental disorder. Getting in trouble with the law or acting like an ass, taken alone, are NOT criteria for deciding that./QUOTE]
I agree with that.
Quote:
B) Find out if the criminal behavior is caused or exacerbated by the symptoms of that disorder, if there is one. Carefully rule in or out the possibility that the person simply acts this way because there's something in it for him -- e.g., he beats his wife because when she's intimidated she gives him her whole paycheck and any sex act he wants
OK....go on...I'm not sure about this...can't we infer there is something in it for him for a lot of stuff?
Quote:
C) Make double-dog sure the person with the mental disorder was actually having an episode with significant symptoms when the crime occurred, and that the symptoms caused the behavior or prevented the person from making a better decision. History is full of psychotics who only commit their crimes when they're stone-cold lucid. Please note that B&E to steal pharmaceuticals which then are used to induce pleasurable manic symptoms so they can have fun beating up a cop is NOT the same as "not guilty due to mental illness."
OK....so you're saying if someone tortures little animals because his amygdala was blown out of his brain in a war, maybe that's ok--but if he does it because he gets paid, then it is not ok???
Quote:
D) Bear in mind that the best treatment for a lot of people, even the psychotics, is natural consequences. I don't care if you thought they were Martians -- if you killed them you're going to prison. Next time think twice about refusing your meds, Chumly.
E)
I can buy that.....
Quote:
If in doubt, incarcerate AND treat. Please note you should always be in doubt.
One thing I read some time ago was that in 1870 the recidivism rate from the Yuma teritorial prison was 67%---that was one of the worst prisons to be in (from the viewpoint of the prisoner). Today the recidivism rate is 67% (I read this somewhere). If that is a true statement, or is realitively close, then perhaps we are wasting a lot of money by treating hoodlums.
I don't agree. Seems and awfully rash and global judgment based on an unclear premise. Maybe you should elaborate on what "After all the cases" means ,and list the titles of the books you've read that lead you to this position.
In my experience, a lot of psychologists are intentionally hurtful, and more are simply incompetant, but the knowledge of how the mind works that has been built up isn't and in the right hands, it is quite effective and helpful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by artsyguy
Is psychotherapy useless?
After all the cases and books I've read of disappointed clients and unethical therapists and counselors I've come to my conclusion that psychotherapy and psychology is virtually useless.
I've been in mental health work for 15 years. Here's how it's done:
A) Find out if the person has an actual mental disorder. Getting in trouble with the law or acting like an ass, taken alone, are NOT criteria for deciding that.
B) Find out if the criminal behavior is caused or exacerbated by the symptoms of that disorder, if there is one. Carefully rule in or out the possibility that the person simply acts this way because there's something in it for him -- e.g., he beats his wife because when she's intimidated she gives him her whole paycheck and any sex act he wants.
C) Make double-dog sure the person with the mental disorder was actually having an episode with significant symptoms when the crime occurred, and that the symptoms caused the behavior or prevented the person from making a better decision. History is full of psychotics who only commit their crimes when they're stone-cold lucid. Please note that B&E to steal pharmaceuticals which then are used to induce pleasurable manic symptoms so they can have fun beating up a cop is NOT the same as "not guilty due to mental illness."
D) Bear in mind that the best treatment for a lot of people, even the psychotics, is natural consequences. I don't care if you thought they were Martians -- if you killed them you're going to prison. Next time think twice about refusing your meds, Chumly.
E) If in doubt, incarcerate AND treat. Please note you should always be in doubt.
What type of MH work?
The first one you mentioned, (A), seems like it would be the most important. "Find out if the person has an actual mental disorder". So, how do you do that?
OK....so you're saying if someone tortures little animals because his amygdala was blown out of his brain in a war, maybe that's ok--but if he does it because he gets paid, then it is not ok???
you read a lot of stuff that wasn't there into cliffie's post. might want to go back and reread it.
you read a lot of stuff that wasn't there into cliffie's post. might want to go back and reread it.
Well, he said:
Carefully rule in or out the possibility that the person simply acts this way because there's something in it for him -- e.g., he beats his wife because when she's intimidated she gives him her whole paycheck and any sex act he wants.
And I had questions about that too. Does this not suggest that wife-beating is unrelated to mental illness if there is something to be gained by the act?
Alright some psychology theories are great, however, you make an excellent point that a lot of psychologists are intentionally hurtful. Why do you think that is and could you expand on that?
Quote:
Originally Posted by nutleynut
I don't agree. Seems and awfully rash and global judgment based on an unclear premise. Maybe you should elaborate on what "After all the cases" means ,and list the titles of the books you've read that lead you to this position. In my experience, a lot of psychologists are intentionally hurtful, and more are simply incompetant, but the knowledge of how the mind works that has been built up isn't and in the right hands, it is quite effective and helpful.
Last edited by artsyguy; 03-12-2009 at 06:46 PM..
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