I think that we are society's scapegoats. I like your original post - it highlights some things I have suspected but was not sure. Each decade there are psychological fads. I remember when I was a child in the 80s, the fad was Ritalin (give em a Ritalin to shut them up, even if the problem isnt ADHD). I'm not sure what the fad was in the 90s because I was relatively functional and did not go to therapy. But now in the 2000s the new fad is Mindfulness. Except in this decade the idea is not to "shut them up" like in the 80s, it is more like you described - to feel and express emotions. But not TOO much otherwise you are labelled BPD. But not TOO little otherwise you are labelled a narcissist/sociopath. ANd if the current fad does not work for you - you are labelled as a difficult client and no therapists will have you.

I just ignore the fads and stick to stuff that had been proven to work. Well I do TRY the fads at least once (you never know, it could work) and if they dont work, I do not try them again. And if the therapist I have does not like it (like my last one), I get rid of them and find one who will stick to the evidence-based practise.