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Crazy Therapies : What Are They? Do They Work?

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An unfortunate but inevitable feature of the psychotherapy and holistic therapy fields is that theories and techniques tend to be supported by hype, anecdotal evidence, and personality cults. We are still a long way off cutting through the smoke and mirrors to arrive at objective and evidence-based conclusions.

It is true that Crazy Therapies can seem a little biased and negative in places but that is an equally inevitable conlusion that comes from "over-selling" therapies of dubious validity, or even taking moderately effective techniques and portraying them as quick fixes or miracle cures.

The proponents (salesmen?) of the therapies criticised in this book will probably post reviews attacking the authors. At the end of the day people need to decide for themselves what to believe but their decision should be an informed one, taking account of both the pros and cons of each approach. The criticisms, which prevail in the scientific literature, have been massively under-represented in the popular literature so this book goes a small way to filling an important gap and helping to restore some balance to things.

Donald Robertson, author of,
The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Stoic Philosophy as Rational and Cognitive Psychotherapy
The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid the Father of Hypnotherapy
The Practice of Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy

Crazy Therapies surveys the disreputable world of therapy charlatans and wackos who base their methods on untenable theories and promote ideas that range from absurd to dangerous. The work is useful for anyone to read, though it is primarily directed at current or prospective patients. While an immediately appealing aspect of the book is its anecdotal recounting of the ridiculous (alien abduction, past-lives regression, the inner child), its competence and commendability lie in the practical guidelines it provides to those seeking therapy, in order to avoid harm and fraud at the hands of incompetent practitioners. An embarrassing but necessary review of the current state of psychotherapy. Sure to enrage.

Not just about alien abductions and satanic cults, this book helped me see that the "normal" therapy group I was in was a cult. The therapist I was involved with claimed that those of us in her "community" were healthier than average people and that the recovery she provided could not be found anywhere else in the world!

Singer also describes the dubious nature of some of the common practices in psychotherapy, like rebirthing, that are ineffective and also potentially dangerous.

Most importantly, Singer states that there needs to be an FDA type body to monitor all these people. The therapist that "treated" me belonged to the ACA which has been extremely professional in handling my complaints, but Singer's point is an excellent one.

I'm sorry to see this book is still in print. It's not an accurate and unbiased evaluation of psychotherapies; it's purpose is to discredit any therapy outside the authors' narrow definition of what's "ok."

I certainly agree that psychotherapy can be destructive and that many practitioners go "way off base" in their work. I experienced one of the "crazy therapies" discussed in this book, with highly destructive effects (and some good effects also), and I volunteered information to a government agency investigating practitioners of that therapy. In fact, I spent eight or nine hours with the agency investigator and the information I provided was what "made the case" and resulted in disciplinary action against the practitioners. Nonetheless, when I read this book's discussion of that therapy, I was shocked and disgusted by the inaccuracy of the information and the inadequacy and severe bias of the evaluation.

It's important to realize that there is no "gold standard psychotherapy" against which every other psychotherapy can be measured. Many different therapies, including the ones in this book (and including the one I experienced) have valuable aspects. This book's bitter bias and inaccurate information makes it worthless for anyone trying to sort out what's worthwhile in therapy and what's not, what's helpful and what's dangerous, which therapist is "a good risk" and which therapist is "a bad risk."

This is an excellent book for those who are simply interested in the topics presented, who are involved in any of these "therapies" or thinking of seeking them out. There were a number of therapies I have never heard of - maybe because I don't have television or read New Age garbage - or (possibly) because some of the therapies are no longer used (the book was published in 1996). I was truly stunned at how cruel, dangerous, and wacko some of these treatment modalities are. For example, Neural Organizational Technique (NOT) used on dyslexic and learning-disabled children is supposed to "correct blocked 'neural pathways' by means of painful and stressful 'adjustments' of the bones of the skull." In other words the practitioner "attempts to move the skull bones." The chiropractor who developed this ridiculous treatment must have been absent on the day they taught skull anatomy. If not he would have known that the skull bones are fused and do not move. As the mother of a six-year old boy with delayed speech recalls, "They were applying such tremendous pressure to [my son's] skull and the roof of his mouth that they would break into a sweat and their bodies would just shake with the force of their exertion." Unbelievably, this technique is still practiced today (I just did a Google search and the first two websites listed were about the wonders of this therapy).

I know that "recovered memories" of alien abduction therapies are still around because Harvard professor John Mack is still around. Past-life regression is still around, as well as rebirthing - although this procedure has resulted the deaths of some children (Milwaukee, Colorado). Criminal charges have been brought against a few of these incompetents. In addition, children and their families have been torn apart as the result of the discredited therapy of facilitated communication (see http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/06-05-25.html to start).

Not to minimize all the damage done to patients/clients presented in 'Crazy Therapies,' while reading this book I couldn't help but wonder about the gullibility of so many people in need of help. I am sure that people enter these therapies out of desperation, but also because of all the hype that goes along with these cure-alls. Why anyone would consider a recommendation from a celebrity as some kind of testimonial to the effectiveness of any of these modalities is beyond me. But we are living in a society where magical thinking has replaced common sense and the evidence presented in peer-reviewed journals of random, double-blind studies is ignored or rejected (a favorite excuse among Alternative Medicine practitioners is that their treatments or claims cannot be tested - not good). The results of a 2001 Gallup Poll showed the following beliefs in the general population: 54% of people believed in psychic/spiritual healing, 42% believed that houses can be haunted, 41% believed in satanic possession, 36% in telepathy, 25% in reincarnation, and 15% in channeling (Skeptical Inquirer; 30, 1; 37-40).

I have to comment on the review given by "a reader" in Canada. She states that she supports some of these therapies, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - also known as Thought Field Therapy (in one of her other reviews it appears that she buys into Satanic Ritual Abuse - Hmmm). Despite "a readers'" claim to contrary, EMDR has been discredited (for example, see Lilienfeld, et al; Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology). She also complains that the book is biased. Well, if she means that pretty much all these treatments are discredited in the book, I guess she's right. However, Singer and Lalich use direct quotes from many of the developers and advocates of these treatments to hang themselves. Using their own words, practitioners theorize how their treatments work - and some of them admit that they don't have any idea how they work! The lists of symptoms or diseases that these people claim their treatments cure is really scarey: cancer, MS, 'AIDS.' Pity the poor person who falls for this stuff.

Finally, the authors give some important advice when one is choosing a therapist or is already seeing a practitioner of these therapies. I'll only mention two because these are the ones that I have come upon in other books on controversial therapies: run away from anyone who tells you that in order to get better you have to get worse, or if the therapist tells you to stop communicating with familly and friends. In addition, check their credentials - and find out what all of them mean. Just because someone is certified in a particular therapy doesn't mean that this therapy is safe and effective (for example, UW-Oshkosh offers a post-graduate certificate in Alternative Therapies for R.N.s).

This is an important book. I'm glad it exists. As the other reviewers mentioned, it exposes that certain types of therapies can be inefectual or even extremely damaging. The calls for caution are well deserved. Sometimes therapy can do much more harm than good. The scenarios presented in this book were disturbing for me to read, and I would not want anyone else to fall victim to similar situations.

HOWEVER, this book is also extremely biased. The fact is that many of these therapies work, and some of them can be a lot more effective than traditional methods (although I strongly believe that all these methods should be used in conjunction WITH traditional psychotherapy).

Many of these therapies are only dangerous when in the hands of a therapist who is either ignorant, irresponsible, ill-informed, or just plain sadistic. A traditional psychotherapist who was equally incompetent or malicious may be just as dangerous to a client.

However, I suspect that certain types of therapies may attract corrupt therapists, thus increasing the likelihood that one will encounter a corrupt therapist when seeking help. For example, any type of therapy involving hypnosis, including past life therapy. When people are hypnotized, the hypnotherapist has a significant amount of control over them, and may be able to brainwash them. Therefore, this type of therapy may attract therapists who have a desire to have power over others, and to use this power irresponsibly.

And yet, in the hands of the right therapist, hypnosis can be an valuable tool both for obtaining insight and for facilitating the healing process.

Similar statements could be made about any of the other types of therapies mentioned in this book, including traditional psychotherapy.

Moreover, there are various interpretations of, and sects within all types of therapies, whether Freudian talk-therapy, or bio-energetics. There is much debate between psychologists, even between those in the same genre of therapy. I noticed that the "experts" on the various forms of therapy sighted in the book gave interpretations that seemed to be very different from interpretations I've read in mainstream literature on the subjects. It seems as though they are fringe groups within their field who have a false or skewed interpretation of the therapy that they practice. Other practitioners in their field would no doubt be equally disturbed by the scenarios described in this book, and would be enraged at these fringe groups giving their respectable therapeutic philosophies such a bad name.

Overall, the authors failed to provide balanced evidence. There is plenty of literature out there in support of these therapies. I have read some of it, including: many case studies with positive results; sane and scientific explanations as to WHY these therapies are helpful; empirical studies supporting their benefit. Why did the authors fail to provide such evidence? Especially when the sub-title of this book suggests that there will be a balanced investigation as to whether or not these therapies work. (They should rename the book: Crazy Therapies: They Don't Work!)

I was disapointed in this book. I believe that the warnings of danger and message of caution in this book are crucial for consideration for those considering these therapies. HOWEVER, I am saddened by the bias message, which (for those who don't know any better) will likely turn people completely off from trying these types of therapies, many of which WORK! (my personal recomendation goes to EMDR or any type of Thought Field Therapy. Check out the book "Instant Emotional Healing.")