Is "Therapy Culture" Toxic? (Dr. Gerry Crete) | Ep. 541

In this episode, Matt sits down with therapist Dr. Gerry Crete to unpack what therapy actually is, how it differs from spiritual direction, why so many people today are seeing therapists regularly, and if therapy is actually healthy or potentially toxic. 🏥 Dr. Gerry Crete's counseling practice Transfiguration Counseling: https://www.transfiguration.co 👉 Souls and Hearts - Catholic IFS resources: https://www.soulsandhearts.com 🎶 Dr. Gerry's IFS inspired Be Thou My Vision hymn by Pateras Agape: https://youtu.be/GTE6lRrfKqY?si=JoWXpfe-6HUcy5uT 📖 Order Dr. Gerry's book Litanies of the Heart here: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/litanies-of-the-heart/ 🍺 Want to Support Pints With Aquinas? 🍺 Get episodes a week early and join exclusive live streams with me! Become an annual supporter at 👉 https://mattfradd.locals.com/support 💵 Show Sponsors: 👉 College of St. Joseph the Worker: https://www.collegeofstjoseph.com/mattfradd 👉 Catholic Chemistry — Intentional Catholic dating: https://www.catholicchemistry.com/?utm_source=matt&utm_medium=website 👉 Truthly – The Catholic faith at your fingertips: https://www.truthly.ai/ 👉 Hallow – The #1 Catholic prayer app: https://hallow.com/mattfradd  💻 Follow Me on Social Media: 📌 Facebook: https://facebook.com/mattfradd 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/mattfradd 𝕏 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Pints_W_Aquinas 🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pintswithaquinas 👕 PWA Merch – Wear the Faith! Grab your favorite PWA gear here: https://shop.pintswithaquinas.com 00:00 Intro 01:40 Is therapy overused? 08:30 Different approaches to therapy 13:30 Modern therapy 18:30 Finding meaning in suffering 24:12 The role of the therapist 31:32 How therapy has changed over the years 35:40 Men going to therapy 40:12 Signs it may be time for therapy 48:59 Writing a book on past work 53:41 Childhood trauma 1:01:23 Reflecting on trauma 1:11:00 Choosing to avoid your problems 1:19:00 Prayer and spiritual life 1:27:03 The importance of gentleness 1:37:31 How therapists should respond to mental illness 1:41:34 Hesitation to revisit past trauma 1:44:23 Struggles with prayer 1:54:23 Integrating prayer with therapy 2:00:34 Gerry’s therapy practice 2:02:10 Living with OCD 2:10:23 Advice for priests 2:15:23 Handling trauma in the moment 2:28:03 Parenthood 2:41:02 Helping children who need support 2:42:13 Fatherhood and social anxiety 2:47:44 Life’s struggles 2:50:00 Struggling to understand God’s love 2:57:23 Understanding autism 3:01:23 Reading other people’s moods 3:06:12 Wrap-up