Remember when Tom Cruise was interviewed by Oprah and by Matt Lauer on the Today show? Both interviews were during 2005 when "War of the Worlds" was being promoted. I really like Tom Cruise movies, so I was interested in hearing about his life. Then, during 2007, I attended an APA conference where the Scientologists were protesting. Brooke Shields spoke that year. So, I had to investigate Scientology in general and find out why they are against mental health treatment, particularly against psychiatric medication.
I discovered that the Scientologists are in the mental health business themselves! However, they don't call it therapy, they call it "auditing".
Auditing is a form of therapy developed by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. It is the first step on the road to becoming a scientologist. Auditing is conducted by a trained auditor, who asks the client a series of questions about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The auditor uses an electropsychometer, or E-meter, to measure the client's emotional state.
The goal of auditing is to help the client identify and release engrams, which is Hubbard's term for painful memories or experiences that are stored in the subconscious mind. According to Hubbard, engrams can cause mental and emotional problems, and releasing them can lead to improved well-being.
The auditing process is typically divided into three levels:
Clearing: The goal of this level is to help the client achieve a state of clarity, or "clear." This is said to be a state of being free from engrams and other negative mental influences.
Operating Thetan (OT) Levels: The OT levels are said to help the client achieve greater spiritual awareness and abilities.
Solo auditing: This is a form of auditing that can be done by the client independently.
Auditing can be a long and expensive process. The cost of auditing varies depending on the level of auditing and the experience of the auditor.
This is one reason that people are attracted to Scientology. Many people who have suffered with substance dependence have turned to scientology for help and have been successfully helped. Having so many famous, successful people identify as scientologists likely brings a steady flow of potential members and curiosity seekers. Auditing is a "controversial" practice because of negative publicity toward Scientology. Some people believe that it can be helpful, while others believe that it is a form of mind control. Scientology is accused of being a cult.
Of course, the mainstream psychiatric community is not going to stand silent while being attacked. I discovered that Scientologists are against psychiatry for a number of reasons.
They believe that mental illness is not a medical condition, but rather a spiritual problem.
They believe that psychiatry is a form of mind control that is used to suppress people's true selves.
They believe that psychiatric medications are harmful and can have serious side effects.
They believe that the history of psychiatry is one of abuse and neglect.
In 1950, L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, published a book called "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health" in which he argued that psychiatry was a pseudoscience and that mental illness could be cured through auditing. When I was a teen, I read through parts of it while my Father was reading it. I just thought it was a basic self-help book.
In 1969, the Church of Scientology founded the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), an organization that campaigns against psychiatry. The CCHR has published numerous reports and articles that allege that psychiatry is a harmful and abusive practice.
The Church of Scientology's opposition to psychiatry has been criticized by many mental health professionals. They argue that Scientology's views on mental illness are based on ignorance and prejudice, and that they can be harmful to people who are struggling with mental health problems.
As a mental health provider, I encourage people to be as well informed as possible. Some of the history of the psychiatric community is quite ugly. If you're curious about the anti-psychiatry movement, I would recommend that you start your investigation by reading any books by Thomas Szasz, M.D. I would also recommend watching Psychiatry: An Industry of Death. Then, consider watching the documentary Pretty Baby about Brooke Shield's life.
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