One Nation Under Therapy

Americans have traditionally placed great value on self-reliance and fortitude. Recent decades, however, have seen the rise of a therapeutic ethic that views Americans as emotionally underdeveloped, requiring the ministrations of mental health professionals to cope with life's vicissitudes. Today, having a book for every ailment, a counselor for every crisis, a lawsuit for every grievance, and a TV show for every problem degrades one's native ability to cope with life's challenges.Drawing on established science and common sense, the authors reveal how ';therapism' and the burgeoning trauma industry have come to pervade our lives. Topical, provocative, and wryly amusing, One Nation under Therapy demonstrates that ';talking about' problems is no substitute for confronting them.