As we navigate January 2026, we cannot ignore the clinical reality of therapist ethics and systemic harm as it relates to the ICE “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis or the Heritage Foundation’s “Saving America by Saving the Family” report, which seeks to dismantle diverse family structures.

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the gold standard for psychiatric diagnosis. However, its origins and medical model-centered approach fundamentally conflicts with person-centered healing and the ethical need for privacy. It reduces human complexity to codes, often pathologizing understandable reactions to a messed-up world.

When Your Response is Labeled a “Flaw”

Have you ever left a therapy session feeling slightly… handled? You describe the overwhelming pressure of perfectionism, the exhaustion of people-pleasing, or the justified rage at inequality, only to feel that your anger is being labeled “too much,” your sadness as “depression,” or your constant anxiety as a “personal flaw.” This is the failure of the old therapeutic model.

You are a high-achiever, meaning you are conditioned to seek the most efficient, high-performance solution. This drive makes the promises of quick-fix therapy: claims of a one-session cures trauma or solving an issue in “as little as one session,” incredibly appealing. The core problem is that this trend is a systemic response

Parts Work: the compassionate process of healing the inner child and unburdening your internal system is transformative. However, the brand name IFS (Internal Family Systems) has become associated with an expensive, limited certification model that prioritizes brand affiliation over ethical clinical access. For a therapist seeking Level 1 training, the process of paying nearly $4,000 USD and signing up for an enrollment list can still feel like trying to win a ticket to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. Your healing should not rely on your therapist winning a popularity contest.