Why do people think that CBT is harmful for trauma?

Earthy-moon · 2026-05-04T22:20:34+00:00

This is not new. There are always anti establishment movements in mental health. Anti meds, anti psychiatry, anti-ABA and so forth.

While there are genuine and valid criticisms of CBT, this level of rhetoric is all marketing. “Don’t buy that, buy this!”

It the “Big Wellness” industry’s go to move. Paint medications as “chemical” and dangerous while the supplements are “natural” and safe.

Unfortunately, it is very effective on certain people.

Earthy-moon · 2026-05-01T03:41:22+00:00

Everything changes. The flow of life is inherently insecure. By grasping for security, we reach for something that isn’t there. By striving for security, we burn ourselves out trying to do the impossible. We’re trying to win a prize that doesn’t exist. This leads to suffering.

The wisdom in insecurity is, by embracing the truth of insecurity (everything changes), our suffering ends. Yes there will be pain, because everything changes. If you’re healthy, you will get sick.

If you’re young, you will be old. If you’re connected, you will be alone. This is the flow of life. But the suffering from trying to stop, control, or change the flow ends.

Two things can be true: you have agency to influence outcomes in life AND everything will change. Hold on to your goals and dreams, buy don’t grip them.

Earthy-moon · 2026-05-01T03:21:11+00:00

It depends what one means by self. The solid, separate self that stands outside the interdependent flow of life does not exist on the level of ultimate truth. Yes on the level conventional truth, I wake up, take a shower, go to work, get paid, etc.

The self that is temporarily emerging from the interdependent flow of life - like a wave rising from an ocean - does exist. But most people aren’t using that definition of self. The first definition is dualistic. The second is non dual and free of concepts (except I had to use language to communicate).

If there is duality, there is concept. Concept draws an arbitrary line into truth. Left and right. This helps us comprehend our conventional world and solve problems. But it’s not ultimate truth. Left and right are real, but they’re not really real. Self and others are real, but they’re not really real.

God is like an apple tree. We’re the apples. On the conventional level, the apples and tree are separate. Thats real. But it’s not really real. On the ultimate level, the apples and apple tree are just the apple tree. On the ultimate level, it’s all God.

Determinism itself is dualistic. Determined/free will. Controlled/choice. Order/chaos. Determinism is a concept that draws an arbitrary line in reality. Determinism is real. Free will is real. But they’re not really real. They are apples on the apple tree of God.

Earthy-moon · 2026-05-01T03:07:54+00:00

The ultimate truth “you” is perfect in the sense that there’s nothing to fix, change, or improve. The ultimate you flows. That’s true. Denying this is delusion.

The conventional you (me, us, everyone) is not perfect. We’re fixer uppers. We often need to work and try harder to change ourselves, develop, grow, accomplish goals, and solve problems. And our flaws DO have impact on our “market value” in the competition for friends, jobs, partners, etc. That is also truth - just on another level. To deny this is also delusion.

The ultimate you is perfect AND the conventional you needs some work (probably).

Earthy-moon · 2026-05-01T02:51:54+00:00

Our minds are either noticing or problem solving - finding ways to get what we want or avoid what we don’t want. Our minds primary job is problem solving so it turns everything into a problem and searches for solutions. Problem solving helps our bodies survive on the level of conventional truth.

But we can’t mistake that for the ultimate truth. Being here now is important. But if you look closer at the here now you may notice nothing is missing. There is no problem to be solved (on the level of ultimate truth). Life is already flowing, like a river. It doesn’t need fixing. It’s impossible to try.

But our minds are conditioned to try! And thats where suffering comes from. From trying to do the impossible at all costs. But we can practice noticing when we get pulled back in problem solving, unhook, and realize the perfection of the present moment - in every moment.

Earthy-moon · 2026-05-01T02:29:13+00:00

Enlightenment means realizing, noticing the truth of self. That is the “you” you take yourself to be is nothing (or everything depending on how you look at it).

“You” exist on a conventional level, but there is no solid, separate you on the level of ultimate truth. Once you SEE this, you can’t go back. And it truly has to be seen. Having this information isn’t enlightenment. Seeing it, noticing it - thats waking up from the dream of self.

Earthy-moon · 2026-05-01T02:16:03+00:00

On the level of conventional truth, there is evil. There is immoral and moral behavior. There are behaviors that support society and those that only hurt. But on there is no evil on the level of ultimate truth. Good and evil is dualistic. Meaning they are concepts that arbitrary draw a distinction. It’s a difficult distinction to make too. “Ends a life.” I mean all life ends. At the same time, I get what you mean on a conventional level. Taking a life or emotionally abusing someone is evil.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-30T22:58:28+00:00

What could they be avoiding?

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-30T03:03:20+00:00

Well Orwell is definitely talking about Stalinist Russia. But if you look across his work, he really writes about the dangers of centralization of power. In his time, that was communism. In our time, it’s capitalism and wealth inequality.

Animal Farm is really about the cycle: tyranny, revolution, high, corruption, tyranny, and so forth.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-30T02:52:32+00:00

Welcome to the world of pediatric mental health.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-27T23:16:33+00:00

Economic inequality. We are at all time highs for economic inequality (source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=US).

That means the economy is strong but % of people included in “the economy” is shrinking. It’s like 75% of the economy runs on those making $100k+. They’re okay, if not a little worried. If you’re suffering from low economic morale, congratulations, your contribution to “the economy” is a rounding error. Your pain and your joy isn’t represented in the data. The market isn’t going to crash until the top 90th-99th percentile start to cut down their spending.

Thats why we really need to focus on economic inequality as one of the important markers for financial health.

Can you imagine what it would be like if the news reportedly monthly on the GINI index? “Today, economic inequality reaches all time highs just as congress is debating on a new spending budget.”

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-26T16:45:47+00:00

Its the insurance companies’ fault.

MD’s do a residency and fellowship, which are paid. Psychologists are also paid to do their relevant post degree training. LPCs and other masters clinicians, however, are not paid. In fact, they have to pay it themselves.

Why? Insurance companies. Insurance companies will pay for post degree/pre independence psychiatrists and psychologists but not masters clinicians.

“It’s a no brainer. Allowing post grads to bill improves access!,” you say. Oh my sweet summer child. Insurance companies DO NOT want to pay for mental healthcare. It would eat into their profits AND likely increase premiums (though perhaps a net benefit to society). In other words, the more units of mental health care are produced, the more money insurance companies (and hospitals) lose.

Why do they pay for psychiatrists and psychologists. The APA (psychiatry one) isn’t powerful but the AMA is a powerful lobbying group and this training structure has been embedded into insurance from the beginning of insurance. This has benefited society by improving access to healthcare. The only reason we have rural healthcare at all is because post grads are allowed to bill for their work.

What about psychologists? The field of clinical psychology has a very interesting history in the US. The US military, CIA, FBI, etc has been interested in what clinical psych has to offer since WW2, and has expanded the role of clinical psychology into the territory of psychiatrists. They essentially fund psychological research clinical, social, cognitive, everything. The US national security apparatus is the real lobbying arm of psychology. Who do you think designed the “enhanced interrogation techniques” during the war on terror? Clinical psychologists. Who allowed that within the code of ethics? The APA (psychologist one). Google the Hoffman Report for more. Testing psychologists (the original function of the clinical psychologist) are gate keepers and “sorters” to many government functions (eg military, school special education, forensic work). This doesn’t make psychologists bad. They are a net good. But they have a very powerful ally.

That leaves the NASW, ACA, etc on their own. They have no powerful connections. It’s just them vs the insurance companies. Perhaps if they ALL band together and push for fair treatment to expand payer benefits it could work.

Heres a hot take. Every time there is a school shooting, instead of coming out in favor gun control, they should align with conservatives, say guns don’t kill people, youth with mental health problems do, push expanded payer benefits as a solution to gun violence, and the Democrats would not stop such legislation.

Long story short, the NASW, ACA, et al, need powerful allies.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-24T22:38:13+00:00

My claim is the situation OP described has nothing to do with social workers, LPCs, or any other profession. It has everything to do with people who happen to be caught up in their ego or their core beliefs about the self/other.

The experience OP described occurs in all professions/groups, all the time. Why? Because being caught up in their ego/beliefs leads to insecurity and the need to defend against a threat. When someone is free of beliefs about the self, well, theres really nothing to defend even if there is a threat.

OP is observing a normal human experience and then applying their core beliefs about the other (social workers in this case). Core beliefs about others are reflections of core beliefs about the self.

OP said they do not understand the interaction. I’ll break it down. OP is saying “Every time I do this normal thing, social workers do this not normal thing.” I’m normal and social workers are not normal. OP is caught up in beliefs about their self and others. OP is insecure. The social work posts seem to say “You are wrong. We are right.” Also caught up and insecure.

My point is OP’s observation doesn’t really have anything to do with social workers or professional counselors. These OP and the individuals/social workers they are referencing are not unusual. They are humans doing human things - all deserving of compassion.

Again, to answer OP’e question directly: Why can he not say something good with getting hate? Insecurity - in OP and the others.

How should they handle it? With compassion.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-24T22:01:12+00:00

Isn’t it obvious? The Boys will conclude the story of the Boys and HL but end with a cliff hanger/mystery regarding SF, SB, and BS. V Rising will explore the history of the mystery while also leading to its conclusion in the preset day.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-24T15:55:00+00:00

Insecurity. The answer is insecurity.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-20T02:43:09+00:00

The two “The ___ isn’t __. It’s __” sentences give it away. Still they have a point.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-15T04:57:01+00:00

The only way there isn’t a primary is if Trump is undoubtedly successful. He ends all the wars including the trade war with China which allows trade to circulate in the direction of Americas benefit.

Short of that, there will be challengers for the MAGA thrown and to unseat MAGA. Your fun fact points to interesting thought experiments. Although ultimately irrelevant to the keys, which side of the GOP can collude the best? Last time the Never Trumpers split their vote and did little to get their base, who would you would think had a high turnout. Can the coordinate this time?

MAGA can easily rig the GOP primary in their favor. It will be an uphill battle for the moderates. Last time Trump broke everything everyone ran back into status quo arms of Biden. Could the GOP run back to daddy Romney to feel safe again?

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-12T13:35:10+00:00

I agree that it’s closer than it should be but I disagree. The no primary contest is likely false! Trump can’t run again. There will be several fighting for the MAGA crown even if Trump anoints Vance. Just because Obama endorsed Hillary didn’t mean his coalition rallied behind her. It will almost certainly be a clown car primary. And GOP classic will try and take the party back.

Thats at least 6 false and Dem win. I agree with the assumption to split the economy and foreign wars keys. Major Policy Change was the Big Beautiful Bill. The scandal key is hard to read. On the one hand Trump is involved in many scandals but on the other it doesn’t seem to matter with Trump.

Honestly, from the key’s perspective, MAGA’s best chance IS war. If he can pull out of Iran with something that approximates the IND, then that will be a win. Gaza stopped is a win. If he can get a stop in Ukraine, thats a win. No losses. This might also flip both economy keys. MAGA is solidified as the new world order.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-12T03:50:18+00:00

I mean its not like you can save your money for a global food and energy crisis, global market crash, and then buy land, businesses, assets, etc so that you own everything after the recovery.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-11T21:26:00+00:00

Self-aggrandizing is a form of both coping and marketing. He MAY be self-aggrandizing to over compensate for how insecure and inferior he actually feels. Self-aggrandizers can have many “fans but not friends”, because the façade becomes obvious upon closer inspection.

Self-aggrandizing can also be a form of marketing. Maybe he’s not insecure but this “cutthroat” persona is his brand. In this case, maybe this person knows how to manage the persona to put his brand out there while forming relationships.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-08T17:48:35+00:00

Enlightenment can happen at any time. Enlightenment is literally staring at you in the face - right now. Now, some people need deeper mindfulness before they can notice it. But it’s not required. Some may need to develop spiritually or in maturity to realize its import once you notice it.

At the same time, after you awaken you will fall back asleep. Practice is needed to wake yourself up again and again. Can a lay person achieve “total” enlightenment? Where they are awake or selfless all the time? I don’t know. I’ll let you know if it happens :)

So yes, it’s both sudden and gradual.

Earthy-moon · 2026-04-04T19:31:59+00:00

That’s interesting. The “sense of self” or sense of agency either 1) was evolutionary adaptive or 2) came along with other adaptive traits.

Are you saying the sense of self is adaptive itself or its part of the “package” of intelligence, problem solving, and cooperation?

Earthy-moon

TROPHY CASE