Mind the Science

Description

A takedown of mental health misinformation and pseudoscience to educate and embolden readers who wish to make informed decisions about their mental health.

According to some estimates, there are at least 600 different "brands" of psychotherapy, most of which are not supported by scientific research. There also exists countless unregulated providers of mental health services in the 5.6 trillion USD wellness industry and alternative medicine community who market themselves as "life coaches," "wellness consultants," and--depending on particular countries and jurisdictions--other various non-legally protected titles, such as "therapists," "psychotherapists," "counselors," and "practitioners." In a landscape where mental health concerns are at a fever pitch and anyone can call themselves a "therapist" without a license, the world of mental healthcare is very much caveat emptor: buyer beware.

In Mind the Science, Jonathan N. Stea provides a takedown of mental health misinformation and pseudoscience to educate and embolden readers who wish to make informed decisions about their mental health. Readers are empowered to protect themselves from mental health scams, charlatanry, and poor or misguided health practices that thrive in the multi-trillion-dollar wellness industry. The book begins by acquainting readers with the nature, evolution, and seduction of pseudoscience, coaching them on how to become science and mental health literate. Next, the book teaches readers how to spot misinformation and propaganda, shining a light on various pseudoscientific practices, showing the psychological reasons that leave us vulnerable to believing misinformation, and helping readers to develop a keen eye for the tactics and tropes that are used to push propaganda in the wellness and alternative medicine communities. The book concludes with strategies and solutions, showing the concepts and science behind evidence-based ways to improve mental health and teaches what to look for when seeking real professional help.

Mind the Science is the self-defense shield that we direly need to protect us against the onslaught of bogus mental health treatments and products that have increasingly flooded social media, popular media, and the business of healthcare itself. By the end, readers will be better positioned to identify mental health misinformation, to steer clear of misguided and predatory practices, and to understand what mental health really means.

About the author:

Jonathan N. Stea, PhD, RPsych, is a full-time practicing clinical psychologist and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. Clinically, he specializes in the assessment and treatment of concurrent addiction and mental disorders. He's a two-time winner of the University of Calgary's Award for Excellence in Clinical Supervision and co-editor of the book Investigating Clinical Psychology: Pseudoscience, Fringe Science, and Controversies. Stea has published extensively as a science communicator, with regular contributions to Scientific American and Psychology Today, among other outlets, and has appeared on numerous mainstream media television and radio shows, as well as podcasts. He has cultivated a strong social media presence in his quest to expose and protect against mental health misinformation and pseudoscience. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

Reviews

"Witty, fun, timely, and, most important, science-informed, Dr. Jonathan N. Stea's new book, Mind the Science, is more than just a thorough debunk of the boatload of health BS that circulates in popular culture. It has a much-needed focus on mental health misinformation, which he handles-by drawing on both the best available evidence and his professional clinical experience-with empathy and humor. This book is for everyone, including healthcare professionals, patients, and anyone looking for an antidote to all the pseudoscientific nonsense that pollutes our information ecosystem!" -- Timothy Caulfield, Order of Canada recipient and author of Relax: A Guide to Everyday Health Decisions with More Facts and Less Worry

"A fascinating, comprehensive, and eye-opening read on the barrage of mental health misinformation flooding us these days. Stea not only explains how to spot pseudoscience in a clear, digestible manner, but also offers fascinating anecdotes and historic examples that bring the issues to life. If anyone has ever been curious about what works and what doesn't, Mind the Science breaks it all down in an entertaining, approachable read that will leave you armed against predatory propaganda. This is a smart, empathetic manual that will help you navigate the often confusing and murky field of mental health." -- Rina Raphael, journalist and author of The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care

"Stea has been battling against mental health misinformation and educating people on social media for years. Now he has pulled together his breadth of knowledge, education and experience to reveal how extensively the 'wellness industry' exploits people at their most vulnerable. It's not just supplements or unapproved drugs that pose danger. Stea explains how spurious 'psychotherapy' methods can be just as insidious, and he describes the red flags-tropes and tactics used by charlatans—that people can watch for to avoid being seduced by scams. This book is an essential tool for anyone wanting to inoculate themselves against the snake oil salesmen willing to trade people's mental health to fill their pockets or needing to learn strategies to protect the ones they love." -- Tara Haelle, author of Vaccination Investigation and The Informed Parent

"Dr. Stea courageously does a deep dive looking at the component of the wellness industry committed to mental health. He uses his years of training as a renowned clinical psychologist to expose the harmful or illicit practices of the mental wellness empire, and hopefully preventing it from continuing to expand and globalize." -- Dr. Peter Hotez, author of The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science and one of TIME's 100 most influential people in health in 2024

"A practical, plain-spoken, empathetic guide to mental healthcare, and to how pseudoscience and misinformation can keep people from getting the treatment and help they deserve. By identifying common ways that grifters prey on those seeking to improve their mental health, Stea will, hopefully, keep a few more people out of their snares." -- Anna Merlan, author of Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power

"In this well-written and entertaining book Dr. Jonathan N. Stea exposes the plethora of intensely promoted treatment options for people suffering from emotional and behavioral disorders that have no scientific basis whatsoever and may actually be harmful. More importantly the reader will learn to distinguish between these pseudo-scientific interventions and more evidence-based psychological and medical treatments. It would be important for anyone considering treatment for behavioral or emotional difficulties to first consult this guidebook." -- Dr. David Barlow, former president of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association and author of over 90 books

"Stea provides a powerful critique of the wide range of pseudoscientific treatments being touted for mental health problems while at the same time offering important lessons about science and psychopathology. I strongly recommend this book as essential reading for all, and especially for anyone facing mental health difficulties." -- Dr. James Alcock, Professor of Psychology at York University and author of Belief: What it Means to Believe and Why Our Convictions Are So Compelling

"Mind the Science is a must-needed salve for our society's obsession with 'wellness.' Not only does Stea educate us about mental health and science, he deftly uses his vast knowledge and experience as a psychologist to explain why pseudoscience exists, why we fall for it, and how we can avoid it." -- Abby Langer, RD, author of Good Food, Bad Diet: The Habits You Need to Ditch Diet Culture, Lose Weight, and Fix Your Relationship With Food Forever

"As a public science communicator and clinical psychologist myself, I can say without equivocation that Dr. Stea's Mind the Science should be required reading for anyone with a brain. The modern landscape of pseudo-psychology and unlicensed, unethical social media therapizing is a landmine for even the savviest healthcare consumer. This book will arm you with the skills you need to sniff out the bullshit and protect yourself from harmful mental health practices. There are so many effective, evidence-based approaches available. This book will improve your ability to separate fact from fiction and empower you to find help that actually, well, helps." -- Dr. Cara Santa Maria, Los Angeles Area Emmy and Knight Foundation award winning journalist and co-author of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake

"Mind the Science is a breath of fresh air in the genre of books on mental health aimed at a general audience in that, unlike a depressing number of them that actually embrace dubious and pseudoscientific concepts about psychiatry and mental health, seeks to provide the reader with the tools to recognize and avoid the copious nonsense (e.g., past life regression therapy) that is out there, often peddled by influencers, celebrities, and even rough professionals. Overall, this is a primer on mental health bunk and how to avoid it in favor of science-based information and treatments." -- Dr. David Gorski, Managing Editor of Science-Based Medicine

Table of contents

Dedication
Author's Note
Introduction: The Road to Hell is Paved with Pseudoscience
PART 1: You've Been Deceived
Chapter 1: The Evolution and Seduction of Pseudoscience
Chapter 2: Becoming Literate in Science and Mental Health
Chapter 3: Crash Course in Psychopathology
Chapter 4: The Wellness Industry: Alternative Medicine as the Perfect Con Game
PART 2: The Signs to Look For
Chapter 5: Canaries in the Coal Mine: Warning Signs, Tropes, and Tactics
Chapter 6: Falling for Fake Science News
Chapter 7: Exposing Bunk: Inaccurate Assessments and Bogus Treatments
PART 3: Good Science
Chapter 8: What Mental Health Really Means
Chapter 9: Reclaim Your Mind
Mind the Takeaways
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
About the Author