Psychology Today's "Dear Abby" Unethical in Advice to Reader

Letter to the Editor: T

In regard to her column in the April 2014 issue of Psychology Today, Hara Estroff Marano was out-of-line. The reader asked for help in getting "the spark" back in her relationship with a man she obviously loves. Ms. Marano was not only incompetent and unprofessional in her response, she was unethical. I'm not sure what her qualifications are, but based on previous columns and this, she apparently does not answer to a code of ethics.

Her judgmental "advice", something a licensed clinician who adheres to a code of ethics would never offer, was appalling. Take a six-month break, date other people, better qualities? This poor woman has the values and motivation most people should emulate, loyalty and respect toward the man she loves, and all the "fraud" you apparently allow to dole out advice in your magazine can do is recommend bailing on the relationship? 

Ms. Marano obviously does not know any better, but you as editor of such a popular and influential national publication should know better than to allow this type of garbage to be published. Shame on you.

C.T. Sorrentino, LtCol, USAF (Ret)

MS LPC NCC

aka CombatCounselor

www.CombatCounselor.com

ExtrAversion? Clients of the Future? What About the Negative Military Mental Health Stigma?

Kaja Perina, Editor
Psychology Today Magazine
115 E. 23rd St., 9th Floor
New York, NY 10010

Dear Ms. Perina,

I have read your magazine for years and wish many more people would read it, eliminating many of the myths, fallacies, and stigmas surrounding mental health treatment. Thank YOU.

I would like to point out a couple things in regard to your Sep/Oct 2012 issue. On page 14, you used the term "extraversion". While not completely incorrect, the more widely used and accepted version is "extrOversion". Maybe I am missing something, so please let me know if that was intentional for some reason.  

I would also like to address Dr. Markman's blog post (Ulterior Motives) where he predicts clinician/s will "tailor learning strategies and behavior change techniques TO INDIVIDUALS" in the future. I am afraid Dr. Markman is a little behind the power curve (and times) if he is not already applying those tools in therapy. We have been providing individualized, tailored learning strategies and behavior change techniques for years, so I am not sure what the good doctors point may have been.  

Finally, please publish a piece on the negative stigma attributed to mental health treatment in the military. 19 heroes die every day to suicide because if it. Maybe we can save a few lives by addressing the stigma now rather than later.

Thank YOU for your time and consideration.

Chris Sorrentino, LtCol, USAF (Ret)
a.k.a CombatCounselor