Dr. Peter Breggin's Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy, Education & Living

!“The original international voice for 

genuine reform in psychiatry and mental health  since 1971”

Mariah Madigan, Jelaine Thomas, Cassandra Sunderdas, Mandeep Sajan

Empathy

• Empathy is the ability to see beyond outward behaviour in

the experience of understanding another person’s situation

from their perspective.

!

• Empathy recognizes, welcomes and treasures the

individuality, personhood, identity, spirit or soul of the other

human being in all its shared and unique aspects.

!Through understanding the client’s thoughts and feelings, the practitioner: !• Offers a caring, understanding, and empowering attitude toward

emotional struggles, aspirations, and personal growth. !

• Promotes the client’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

!• Respects the autonomy, responsibility, and freedom of the client. !

• Encourages growth in self-appreciation and ability to respect, love and empathize with others.

!

What Is “Empathic Therapy”?

“I am best known from my critiques of biological, mechanistic psychiatry with its cookie-cutter diagnoses and brain-disabling drugs and shock treatment. Establishment and institutional psychiatry can be like a dark shadow that crowds out the light. Even as we grow in awareness of the harm perpetrated by biological psychiatry, we need more focus on the light -- on the life-giving principles that have moved me and so many others to take up the cause of reform in psychiatry and psychotherapy.” !“We are establishing a growing membership of concerned mental health and education professionals as well as families, advocates, and individuals who have been exposed and wounded by psychiatry and are seeking better approaches”. ! -Dr. Peter R. Breggin, Founder.

Dr. Breggin’s Center for the Study of Empathetic Therapy, Education & Living

Purpose/Role

Mandates/Founding Guidelines

• Basis in relationships, trust, honesty, and caring.

• Treasure those who seek help.

• Mutual respect, understanding, and confidentiality between client and practitioner.

• Safe space for self-exploration towards building a self-determined life.

• Identify self-defeating patterns and offer new perspectives.

“Bring Out the Best In Yourself!”

Function of the Organization

• Raise ethical and scientific standards in psychology and psychiatry.

!

• Examine false theories and dangerous practices of biological psychiatry, encouraging their replacement with more humane, caring approaches.

!

• Develop activities for both the general public and concerned professionals to become involved, converse, and gain information on creating more empathetic focused approaches/resources for mental health issues.

Differences from the Psychiatric System

• Engage in authoritarianism, coercion, or manipulation.

• Treat individuals against their will.

• Reduce individuals to the label of their diagnosis.

• Falsely attribute suffering to specific qualities of genetics, biochemistry, or psychological helplessness.

Empathetic Therapy DOES NOT

• Believe a drug free mind is best for personal growth.

• Reassure individuals to recognize and embrace the depth, richness, and complexity of their lives.

• Consider that psychiatry is NOT a medical practice.

• Protect all individuals, especially children, from psychiatric diagnoses and drugs.

• Apply its guidelines to ALL therapeutic relationships, regardless of the circumstance.

• Believe that individuals who are mentally, emotionally, and physically fragile are especially vulnerable to injury from psychiatric drugs and authoritarian therapies, and are in need of the best one can offer as an empathic therapist.

Empathetic Therapy DOES

“Empathy lies at the heart of the best therapeutic and educational approaches.”

!A broad spectrum of therapeutic and educational approaches

can draw upon and express empathy; but conventional psychiatric diagnosis, medication, electroshock, and

involuntary treatments suppress the individuality and the empathic potential of both the provider and the recipient.  

!

Historical Significance & Contributions to the “Mad Movement”

• A social change initiative that accelerated in the early 1970’s, led by psychiatric survivors and mental health consumers against biological approaches to psychiatry and the widespread use of prescription drugs for mental health.

!• Dr. Breggin himself has a long standing history of challenging and

creating change in the psychiatric system. Recently, with his newest organization, he and his associates are aiming to create an “empathetic therapy movement” in efforts to combat biological psychiatry treatments that remain in existence.

What is the Mad Movement?

Dr. Breggin’s Contributions/Accomplishments

• Radcliffe Mental Hospital Volunteer Program -Founder and co-director from 1954-1958 while in college. Therapeutic volunteering interventions led to many patients being released.

!• Stopped the worldwide resurgence of lobotomy and psychosurgery

-Ran a successful international campaign in the 1970’s that resulted in psychosurgery no longer being carried out in state or federal institutions in the U.S., and ECT research confirming that the “treatment” causes long-term brain dysfunction and widespread mental deficits.

!• NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) -Spent two years working on educating, building, and staffing mental health centres.

!• Founded the Center for the Study of Psychiatry

-His first reform organization consisting of mental health professionals, lawyers, consumers, and members of the U.S. Congress.

!• Dr. Breggin’s Center for the Study of Empathetic Therapy, Education, & Living

-Founded in 2010 to continue his reform work.

“Education, Advocation, Participation”

• Stopping the Federal Violence Initiative -Managed campaigns that led to the cancellation of federal programs that preform dangerous experiments on children

-Exposing the focus of drug company funds

!• Disclosing the Role of Psychiatry In Nazi Germany

-Discovered that German biological psychiatry developed the theory of practise of

mass “scientific” murder through exterminating mental patients as a step

towards exterminating the Jews.

!

• Alerting the Dangers of SSRI Antidepressants

-First psychiatrist to confront the profession and the public about the risks of

violence and suicide from SSRI’s, starting with Prozac.

-Began documenting findings and publishing research to the FDA.

Dr. Breggin’s Contributions/Accomplishments

• The Brain-Disabling Principle of Psychiatric Treatment

-Developed the theory that all physical treatments in psychiatry—drugs, electroshock, psychosurgery—disable the brain, none improve brain function.

!• Defining/Examining the Psychopharmaceutical Complex

-Through writing Toxic Psychiatry in 1991, he coined the term “psychopharmaceutical complex.”

! -Aim to demonstrate how the pharmaceutical industry dominates all psychiatric research, the American Psychiatric Association, the Food and Drug Administration, NIMH, medical education, insurance providers, and basically the whole system of psychiatry and psychiatric drugs.

!• Informing and Working with the Military

-Addressed the Annual International Military & Civilian Combat Stress Conference (largest in the world) to encourage focus on psychosocial and educational alternatives to drugs for military stress.

!• Runs a Private Practice in Ithica New York

-Treats adults, children, and families. Specializes in assisting with the withdrawal from psychiatric drugs and educating on replacement methods.

Dr. Breggin’s Contributions/Accomplishments

• Author of dozens of scientific articles and more than twenty

books including:

-“Electroshock: Its Brain-Disabling Effects” -1979 (The first and only medical book

devoted to a critical analysis advocating against electroshock therapy).

!-“Psychiatric Drugs: Hazards to the Brain”-1983 (The first and only medical book wholly

outlining the dangers of psychiatric drugs to the mind).

!-Bestseller “Talking Back to Prozac”- 1994

!-“Medication Madness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Cases of Violence, Suicide and

Crime” -2008

!-“Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and Their

Families” -2013

Dr. Breggin’s Contributions/Accomplishments

Examples of Precedent-Setting Legal Outcomes

!• Below is a small sample of positive legal results involving Dr. Breggin’s

testimonies acting as the psychiatric expert:

• $1.5 million awarded in child tardive dyskinesia case (Feb 2014)

• $700,000 settlement in tardive dyskinesia (TD) case in Mass. (May 2014)

• Jury Awards $1.5 million for suicide involving antidepressants (Nov 2012)

• Judge concludes Prozac caused teen to murder (Sept 2011)

• Medical expert in first ever electroshock (ECT) malpractice trial victory (2005)

• Medical expert in first ever psychosurgery malpractice trial win ($7.5 million

against the Cleveland Clinic) (2002)

Dr. Breggin’s Contributions/Accomplishments

Website Analysis

• Clear structure of sub-headings for ease of navigation

!

• Layout allowing for quick reference and location of desired information !

• Coherent, academic writing styles portraying an impression of accurate, trustworthy, up to date information

Organization/Structure

• Free monthly newsletter and social media connections access. !• Free PDFs of peer reviewed scientific articles organized by subject and date of

publication. !

• Comprehensive list and details of Dr. Breggin’s involvement and precedent-setting contributions in legal cases, as well as other accomplishments.

!• Dozens of archived radio and TV appearances, as well as personal video’s. !• Access to Dr. Breggin’s many books, and others he recommends. !• Outline of therapy options and residential treatment centres broken down by

country/area.

Resources

• Information on past, present, and future conferences/events pertaining to the empathetic therapy/mad movement.

!• Weekly live internet radio show with Dr. Breggin and expert guests from around the

world. !• Dr. Breggin’s Huffington Post blog !• ToxicPsychiatry.com, a daily updated news and library project created to provide

critical information concerning the damaging effects of biological psychiatric treatments. !

• Memberships to the organization allowing individuals from all over the world to participate in the empathetic therapy movement.

!• Links to websites/organizations recommended by Dr. Breggin. !

• Contact information for Dr. Breggin himself and for his personal website http://www.breggin.com

Resources

“Many consider Dr. Breggin's professional site to be one of the most informative in

the field of psychology, psychiatry, mental health, and psychopharmacology”

! -William Glasser, MD, psychiatrist, internationally known therapist and theorist, and author of Reality Therapy

• Harvard College

• Case Western Reserve Medical School

• Psychiatric Residency

• Harvard Medical School teaching fellowship.

• Johns Hopkins University Department of Counselling

teaching fellowship

• Appointment at the National Institute of Mental Health

(NIMH).

• Dozens of endorsements from individuals, institutions,

and other organizations for his work.

Dr. Breggin’s Credentials

• 86 member advisory council consisting of MD’s, PhD’s, RN’s, lawyers, and other healthcare professionals from varying fields, as well as psychiatric survivors.

!

• Detailed biographical information is available for each member.

!

• Sub-specialties include: Psychology, Social Work, Psychiatry, Medical Ethics and Law, Neurology, Chronic Pain, Drug Safety, Education, Radiology, Human services, Addictions

Advisory Council Credentials/Information

Testimonials“Much of today’s psychiatric science is based on wish, myth, and politics. Breggin addresses this self-serving pseudoscience head on.” -Loren Mosher, Former Chief of the Centre for Studies of Schizophrenia, the National Institute of Mental Health !“Dr. Breggin passionately captures the heart of psychotherapeutic healing. A prolific and provocative writer, his thoughts are powerful, imaginative, inspirational, and wise.” -Clemmont Vontress, PhD, George Washington University Professor and ACA Counsellor of the Year

“Many patients rave about the doctor. “He’s a wonderful person,” says one satisfied customer. “He cares so much about his clients. He gave me the will to get better.”” -Time magazine profile of Dr. Peter Breggin

!“Peter Breggin is the leading voice in this country exposing psychiatry’s betrayal of the fundamental essence of what it means to be human.” -Eileen Walkenstein, MD, psychiatrist and author of Beyond the Couch and Your -Inner Therapist

Future!

• Dr. Breggin’s scientific and educational work has provided the foundation for modern criticism of psychiatric drugs and biological treatments, and leads the way in promoting more caring and effective therapies. !

• Founded 5 years ago in 2010, the non-profit organization is in its infancy. However, Dr. Breggin’s work began and was monumentally successful long before his most recent project in The Centre for the Study of Empathetic Therapy, Education & Living. !

• Going forward, we can expect the same trends in contributions to reform work in psychiatry to continue, and accomplishments to be added to the lists shared with you today. !

• Dr. Breggin is a passionate, relentless pioneer in his field, dedicated to continuing his empathetic work with the goal of disclosing and spreading the truth about biological psychiatry, and dedication in informing people how to be fully involved in the emerging field of Empathetic Therapy.

For your information!!

-This brief presentation was not nearly sufficient to convey the full extent and significance of Dr. Breggin’s organization, and of himself personally, in contributing to the Mad movement.

!-Accomplishments and contributions listed here only touch the surface of the magnitude of his involvements.

!-Below are some key links for anyone who wishes to learn more about this wonderful emerging organization and the impressive history of the man that founded it all! !!• Dr. Breggin’s complete resume: http://www.breggin.com/resume.pdf !

• Video and TV archives: http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=101&Itemid=95 !

• Books :http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=15&Itemid=42 !

• Scientific papers: http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=37 !!• Listen to Dr. Breggin’s radio talk show on:

www.prn.fm Every Wednesday at 4 PM East Coast time, U.S Call In Live:1-888-874-4888 Listen to archived shows at http://prn.fm/category/archives/dr-peter-breggin-hour/

Be part of the future of Empathic Therapy!

References•Dr. Peter Breggin’s Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy, Education & Living

http://www.empathictherapy.org !•Peter R. Breggin M.D. ECT Resources Center

http://www.ectresources.org !•What your doctor may not know: Psychiatric Drug Facts with Dr. Peter Breggin

http://www.breggin.com !•The “mad movement”: Win Human Rights in the Mental Health System

http://www.mindfreedom.org !•Mad Pride Toronto

http://madpridetoronto.blogspot.ca !•Toxic Psychiatry News and Resources

http://www.toxicpsychiatry.com/about/ !!