https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Smail_(psychologist)
Selected works
- The Treatment of Mental Illness - Science, Faith and the Therapeutic Personality. University of London Press, 1969.
- Psychotherapy: A Personal Approach. [1978] Dent, 1982 (revised). ISBN 978-0-460-02194-4
- Illusion and Reality - The Meaning of Anxiety. [1984] Constable, 1997 (revised). ISBN 978-0-460-02278-1
- Taking Care - An Alternative to Therapy. [1987] Constable, 1998. ISBN 978-0-09-477420-9
- The Origins of Unhappiness - A New Understanding of Personal Distress. [1993] Constable, 1999 (revised). ISBN 978-0-09-479340-8
- How to Survive Without Psychotherapy. [1996] Constable, 1998 (revised). ISBN 978-0-09-478480-2
- The Nature of Unhappiness. Robinson, 2001. ISBN 1-84119-350-X
- Why Therapy Doesn't Work. Robinson, 2001. ISBN 978-1-84119-350-2
- Power, Interest and Psychology - Elements of a Social Materialist Understanding of Distress. PCCS Books, 2005. ISBN 978-1-898059-71-4
David Smail was a disillusioned psychotherapist, are there other examples? （ChatGPT, 2024-11-10)
Yes, David Smail is not alone in his disillusionment with aspects of psychotherapy. Several other therapists and thinkers have expressed dissatisfaction with the field, often critiquing its limitations, underlying assumptions, or the influence of social and economic factors on mental health. Here are a few notable examples:
1. R. D. Laing: Laing, a prominent figure in the anti-psychiatry movement, became increasingly disillusioned with traditional psychiatric practices, particularly with the use of psychiatric diagnoses and institutional treatments. Laing argued that mental illness was often a response to difficult social and familial contexts, not a purely medical issue. His works, like The Divided Self and Politics of Experience, emphasize understanding the person’s lived experience over categorizing or pathologizing it.
2. Thomas Szasz: Szasz was a psychiatrist who criticized the concept of mental illness itself, seeing it as a metaphor rather than a medical fact. In The Myth of Mental Illness, he argued that the field of psychiatry often pathologizes normal variations in human behavior and experience. Szasz believed that mental health care should focus on personal responsibility and autonomy rather than on controlling behavior with diagnoses and medication.
3. Irvin D. Yalom: Although Yalom is highly respected in the field, he has expressed disillusionment with certain aspects of psychotherapy, particularly the limitations of standardized approaches. In The Gift of Therapy, he advocates for a more humanistic and existential approach, focusing on the therapeutic relationship over rigid techniques or protocols. Yalom’s existential perspective often emphasizes the limitations of therapy in resolving existential crises, such as the fear of death or the search for meaning, pointing to a need for deeper philosophical engagement.
4. Alice Miller: Initially a practicing psychoanalyst, Miller became critical of traditional psychoanalysis, particularly its treatment of childhood trauma. She argued that the field often ignored or minimized the real suffering of children and saw traditional therapy as complicit in maintaining harmful family dynamics. In works like The Drama of the Gifted Child, she advocated for a more compassionate approach that validates the experiences of childhood trauma and its impact on adult life.
5. James Hillman: Hillman, a prominent figure in depth psychology, was critical of mainstream therapy’s focus on “curing” or “fixing” individuals. He believed that the soul’s complexities should be explored rather than reduced to categories of mental illness. In books like Re-Visioning Psychology, he argued that psychology should move beyond its therapeutic applications and become a broader, cultural inquiry into the nature of human existence. Hillman’s perspective questioned the therapeutic aim of “normalizing” individuals, advocating for a richer, symbolic exploration of the psyche.
6. Thomas Moore: Another figure influenced by depth psychology, Moore has critiqued psychotherapy’s focus on pathology. In Care of the Soul, he calls for an approach to mental health that embraces mystery, imagination, and the soul’s depth, rather than aiming for symptom eradication. Moore argues that many psychological issues are rooted in spiritual or existential challenges that therapy often overlooks.
7. Eugene Gendlin: Known for developing Focusing, Gendlin was critical of psychotherapeutic approaches that emphasized diagnosis over the experiential process. His work encourages clients to explore their “felt sense”—a bodily awareness of inner experience—to gain insight, rather than relying solely on intellectual analysis or diagnostic frameworks. Gendlin’s approach challenged the effectiveness of conventional therapy in connecting people with their authentic inner experiences.
8. David Healy: A psychiatrist and author, Healy has been outspoken about the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on psychiatry and psychotherapy. In works like Pharmageddon, he argues that the rise of psychotropic medications has led to a medicalized view of mental health that prioritizes profit over patient well-being. Healy is particularly critical of the overprescription of medication and its impact on the therapeutic relationship.
These thinkers, like Smail, questioned various aspects of psychotherapy and psychiatry, from their diagnostic frameworks and reliance on medication to their focus on individual pathology over broader social, cultural, and existential factors. While each had unique perspectives, they share a disillusionment with mainstream mental health practices, advocating instead for approaches that consider deeper, often neglected dimensions of human experience.
