Episode 162 UberTherapy & Its Discontents

In Episode 162 of the phenomenal podcast Ordinary Unhappiness, Abby Kluchin and Patrick Blanchfield are joined by Elizabeth Cotton, author of UberTherapy: The New Business of Mental Health, and Linda Michaels of the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), for a conversation about how platform capitalism and datafication are reshaping psychotherapy, and how clinicians and patients can organize for safer, deeper care. From Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to venture capitalists to practice-management companies, and more, Elizabeth and Linda unpack how an unholy alliance of players have together worked to standardize, automate, and monetize the work of therapy. As they explain, these developments – which are mirrored by trends in other industries – not only exploit gaps in existing mental health infrastructure in the US and UK, but pose unique risks to privacy, safety, and basic well-being. Against these tendencies, Elizabeth and Linda reflect on research from the Psychotherapy Action Network, which has found that people increasingly demand depth therapies and long-term relationships with human clinicians over symptom reduction and on-demand chatbot interaction. The result is a far-reaching conversation about technology, solidarity, and more.

Listen to Episode 162 here.

If you’re a therapist working in the UK you can join PsiAN and the growing network of therapists resisting and navigating UberTherapy here.

 
Ordinary Unhappiness is a podcast about psychoanalysis, politics, pop culture, and the ways we suffer now. New episodes on Saturdays. Subscribe and follow here.
X: @UnhappinessPod
Instagram: @OrdinaryUnhappiness
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness

If you’re an UberTherapist do this:

• Listen to our podcast series Stories of UberTherapy here

• Join our network of UberTherapists here

• Read UberTherapy: The New Business of Mental Health here

Follow the story of MuchBetter.Help here