Scott’s December ‘25 No Mercy / No Malice post, “The Cult of Therapy,” argued that therapy has been oversold as a cultural cure-all. In this Deep Dive, he tests that argument with Dr. Jonathan Shedler, a clinical psychologist and researcher best known for his work on the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy.
Dr. Shedler agrees with much of the critique, and goes further: most people who believe they’re in therapy, he argues, aren’t getting the kind of treatment that produces lasting change. They discuss when therapy is warranted, why economic suffering often isn’t a psychotherapy problem, what the gender imbalance among providers means for men, and why AI can’t substitute for a human therapist.
00:00 Has Therapy Become a Lifestyle Purchase?
11:31 Is the Mental Health Crisis Really Economic?
22:01 Most People Aren't Getting Good Therapy
26:07 Why We're Wired for Human Attachment