Thomas Szasz & The Clinical Implications of Toxic Theology

In this episode, learn some of the key theories from the controversial Thomas Szasz. Szasz has been blamed for an anti-psychiatry movement that coincided with the counterculture of the 1960s. However, some of Szasz's insights about the etiology of psychological distress are meaningful even in today's era of greater awareness to mental health issues.

Listen as Geoff discusses Szasz's commentary on the connection between Christian theology and clinical mental health. Szasz identifies rhetoric from the New Testament that promotes a lack of assertiveness; a quality that can contribute to negative mental health outcomes.

In this episode learn about:

Szasz's most controversial theories regarding mental illness (3:08)

How Szasz connects Judeo-Christian ethic to psychological suffering (7:13)

Szasz criticism of the Sermon on the Mount (12:55)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Powers, R. (2017) No One Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America. New York. Hachette Books.

Szasz, T (1961) The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct. New York. Harper & Row

#psychology #counselingpsychology #psychologyofreligion #socialpsychology #clinicalpsychology #geoffreywallis #religion #spirituality #psychotherapy #clinicalmentalhealth #therapist #humanist #existentialism #philosophy #religioustrauma #religioustraumasyndrome #thomasszasz

[christopherhamilton]

Fascinating! In a brief intro Scientology, I did not fully grasp how LRH had misrepresented Szaz so I have always held off learning more about Szaz. This whole toxic theology thing is quite amazing: thank you!