In Reply to: Re: What did Dr. Laura really say? posted by student on October 05, 2006 at 15:49:06:
I'd seen the article that was posted here quite some time ago in an email from a friend. When it comes to this sort of controversey, I try to hold off judgment until I've had time to check things out--just as you've suggested.
I'm no expert on Dr. Laura, but I know this isn't the first time she's said something that became the source of controversy. That's because she likes to address moral issues in a definitive and directive way. Many psychotherapists have a problem with this, i.e., telling people what's right or wrong in a broad social context such as a talk show. Well, controversy boosts ratings, doesn't it?
The art of psychotherapy is not to tell people what to do or what is the best thing for them, but to help people figure out what they believe is the right and best thing for themselves and then act on what they believe. This doesn't mean the psychotherapist won't be blunt at times and say, "I don't think such-and-such is the right thing to do or the best way to look at the situation." It's just that this is done in a private context where all the details of the person's situation are known. Directive advice is best when it's very specific to the individual and his or her situation in life.
Dr. Phil's show puts me off for the same reasons.