I don't mean to imply therapy is always toxic, but I think many of the basic aspects are toxic. To benefit the client has to overcome a huge pile of crap that is stacked against them. But it's portrayed in the opposite way.

People can protect themselves by recognizing that the system is organized for therapist benefit, instead of buying into this ridiculous myth that profession is uncommonly altruistic and self-aware and just really really wants to help. Most of them seem blind as bats and self-involved, some are manipulative narcs, and all are trying to profit from misery.

We have to match the delusional, wishful, exaggerated thinking of therapists with critical thinking. When that tool Lambert states categorically that only 5-10% of adults clients who "enter treatment" get worse, people should be skeptical not accepting of his garbage PR stats.