233 | Dr. Katelyn Kalstein: Can Therapy Cause Harm & Worsen Mental Health?

What if the real greatest danger isn’t unhealed trauma, but therapy itself? In this urgent conversation, naturopathic doctor and licensed psychotherapist Dr. Katelyn Kalstein joins Richard and Joseph to dissect what’s going wrong in the modern therapy landscape—from the underqualified grads entering the field, to the systemic failure to account for biology, chronic illness, and even basic supervision. We dig into the dark underbelly of therapy culture, where trauma trends, TikTok self-diagnosis, and spiritual bypassing replace rigor, mentorship, and real outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• Most psychotherapists in the U.S. get less than two years of training before treating patients. That training rarely includes biology, functional medicine, or even robust supervision.
  
  
• Up to 10% of clients get worse in therapy—yet even seasoned therapists fail to predict who will deteriorate. Supervision systems don’t adequately address blind spots.
  
  
• Ketamine therapy works—briefly. 70% may see results, but 50% relapse within weeks unless there’s deep integration and behavioral change.
  
  
• Not everyone wants to heal. Secondary gain (attention, identity, belonging) can unconsciously block people from getting better.
  
  
• Mental health is a cultural construct. In some cultures, anxiety doesn’t exist—what we label as disorders may simply be states we’ve misinterpreted.
  
  
• Real therapy doesn’t impose, it supports the client’s goals, timing, and readiness.

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