PsychCentral
reviews and complaints

I was a member of Psych Central for a good seven months. I was hoping to find a warm and caring environment that the site promises. However, my experience was far from it. I was regularly bullied by moderators and some long-term members who seemed to have the support of the mods. Despite this, I stayed with the site, thinking that if I followed their strange rules and tried harder, I would eventually find the help I needed.

But things got worse, and I felt anxious every time I thought about going to the site. I confided in a family member, and they told me that it sounded like PC was not a helpful website. Those words were a wake-up call for me. I realized that I needed to stop and think about how I felt.

Today, I was bullied and shamed by one of the long-term members and a mod who seemed to take the side of the imbalanced person who was targeting me. I had had enough! I deleted my account and won't return to PC again. The only valuable lesson I learned from participating in the PC community is that I need to set healthier boundaries for myself. I should have followed my gut instinct and left the forum many months ago.

I feel incredibly proud of myself for LEAVING Psych Central! I strongly suggest that anyone considering joining PC should think twice. Unless you're a bully looking for people to abuse, you will not find help on that forum.

PsychCentral is a website that has been a great resource for me over the past four years. It's a community of people who are all dealing with their own mental health struggles, and while it may not be perfect, it's a place where I feel like I can be myself and find support when I need it.

One thing I've learned from my time on the site is that you get what you put into it. Sometimes I've posted and not received the responses I hoped for, but I've never been attacked. And while I may not have met a million friends, I have had different opportunities there. I've been a community liaison and made close connections with others on the site. I tend to go through phases of being really active and only checking in once in a while to respond to personal messages, but overall, I feel like this site helps me feel like there is a safety net between me and nothing when everything else fails.

Of course, the site is not perfect. It's not filled with professionals who are going to tell me what I need to hear all the time. It's filled with flawed human beings who are also suffering with their own stuff. If someone says something that's out of line, I either ignore it, report it, or just tell them that what they've said is out of line. Kind of like the rest of life, you know?

Overall, I'm glad I've found this site. One thing that works consistently for me is reaching out to others and giving them the support they need, rather than waiting for it to come to me. It might sound cliché, but it works. I've made incredible friendships that way, and really, that's how it works: the therapeutic value of one person helping another.

If you're looking for a place to share your troubles and get support, PsychCentral might not be the best option for you. The forum seems to be more focused on competing for who has the most severe mental health issues, with members bragging about their diagnoses and medication. They also seem to enjoy sharing idolizing fantasies about their therapists, whom they refer to as "T-gods."

The members of this forum are convinced that they know everything about therapy, healing, and life. They often preach that being obsessed with and attached to your therapist is the healthiest thing that can happen to you. They also enjoy psychoanalyzing, blaming, and shaming others, especially if they are hurting. Ad hominem attacks are selectively moderated, with some members allowed to bully others.

If your therapy isn't going well, the consensus seems to be that it's your fault. No matter how badly your therapist treats you, the members of this forum will find a way to excuse their behavior. They might even invalidate your perception by attributing it to transference. In their eyes, they know what's best for you, even if you don't agree.

Overall, if you're looking for a supportive community, PsychCentral might not be the best option for you. The members seem more interested in competing and psychoanalyzing others than offering genuine support.

I was a member of PsychCentral for a few years, and during that time, I was going through some tough emotional traumas in real life. My doctor prescribed me some medications that clouded my worldview, and I turned to this site for support. However, I was unaware of how dangerous this site could be for anyone suffering from mental illness.

It wasn't until I started coming off the medications that I realized there were multiple accounts given to the same person. In the writings they posted, I could discern that one individual was also another, with a different gender and age. It was frightening, and I honestly thought I was going completely insane.

Then, a friend on the site sent me a copy of an email she had received from "Doc John," wherein he stated that "certain members are allowed multiple accounts (different usernames, different ages, different genders) for their protection." I was relieved to know that this was a practice on the site, but then all sorts of bogus activity began to appear on the site.

I would report trolls to the moderators, but they seemed impervious to said "abuse of terms." It was a horror for me, and in the end, they banned me. I knew too much. The site is dangerous, and as a licensed professional mental health worker for the state, I believe that PsychCentral needs to be banned from the internet.

Yes, "John Grohol" holds a PsyD, but once I was aware of the practices of his site, I realized he could not be a sane or even a decent human to run a site filled with bogus people, bogus situations, and inane bullying. If you are ill, do not go on that site. See a mental health expert instead. It is not a safe, self-supporting place. In fact, it is the opposite of what it professes to be.

I recently stumbled upon PsychCentral, a website that claims to provide reliable information on mental health. However, my experience with the site left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. I came across a blog post written by a mental health clinician with a PhD, but the content was far from clinically substantiated. Instead, it was delivered in a negative, sarcastic, and unprofessional tone that was offensive to many readers.

As someone who is passionate about mental health advocacy and has experience in the field, I attempted to leave a comment on the post to provide accurate information. However, despite multiple attempts, my comment never appeared on the site. I suspect that the author or moderators of PsychCentral intentionally blocked my comment, which is unacceptable.

What's even more concerning is that the blog post in question could potentially harm readers who are family members of those with mood or personality disorders. The author's judgmental and hyper-critical tone lacks empathy and is not supported by clinical evidence. It's disappointing to see someone with a PhD in the field of mental health behave so immaturely and irresponsibly.

PsychCentral claims to have a mission to provide reliable information on mental health, but the behavior of the blog post's author and the site's moderators is not reflective of that mission. As a mental health advocate and counseling student, I cannot in good conscience refer my readers or colleagues to PsychCentral. It's a shame that a site that could have been a valuable resource for those seeking information on mental health has fallen short.

Wow, I was shocked to see how many people have had similar negative experiences with the moderators at PsychCentral. It's supposed to be a place where people can come for support with their emotional and mental illnesses, but it seems like the moderators are anything but supportive.

I remember one time when I mentioned that I couldn't afford therapy for my depression, and an older woman attacked me for being entitled and wanting her to pay for my therapy with her taxes. I never even mentioned wanting that, but she still insulted me. When I told her that her words were hurtful, I was threatened with account suspension because my response wasn't "supportive" enough. It's ridiculous that the moderators would punish someone who was clearly being insulted by another user.

And it's not just the moderators who are a problem. Some of the forum users are just as bad. There are some wealthy, older users who spend thousands of dollars on therapy and then obsess over every little thing their therapist says or does. I've seen posts where they ask things like, "What do you think my therapist will think if I wear shorts to my next appointment?" or "OMG, my therapist drives a Subaru! What does that mean?" It's just ridiculous.

And then there are the users who literally stalk their therapists by emailing them constantly throughout the day and asking them to hold them and rock them while they cry. They claim it's "therapeutic," but it's just creepy and inappropriate.

Overall, I would not recommend PsychCentral to anyone. The moderators are bullies, and some of the users are just plain weird. Stay away from this site if you want to avoid unnecessary drama and negativity.

PsychCentral is a website that offers a variety of resources for those interested in mental health and psychology. However, the Psychotherapy forum on the site has received criticism for its aggressive and intolerant atmosphere. Dissent is not welcomed by the main clique, and those who question the industry's orthodoxies are often shouted down or censored by biased moderators.

Critical thinking is not encouraged on the forum, and groupthink is rampant. The doctrine of psychotherapeutic "transference" is accepted without question, and devotion to psychiatry's magic pills is fierce. Members who suggest alternative approaches or question the efficacy of therapy are often met with ad hominem attacks and childish tantrums.

The moderators on the forum are accused of censorship, selectively enforcing vague and draconian rules to keep the forums "safe." However, this approach only reinforces the powerlessness and deferral to authority that is the hallmark of therapy itself. Members are coddled and controlled, taught to be timid and compliant, and scolded or bullied if they show any sign of doubt.

For those who have experienced harm or abuse in therapy, the forum is not a safe space to discuss their experiences openly. The industry does not want to hear from its casualties, and the forum reflects this aversion to scrutiny and aggressive squashing of dissent.

Overall, while PsychCentral offers valuable resources for those interested in mental health and psychology, the Psychotherapy forum is not a welcoming or supportive environment for those who question the industry's orthodoxies or have experienced harm in therapy.

I recently stumbled upon PsychCentral, a website that claims to offer support and resources for those struggling with mental illness. However, after spending nearly four years as an active member on the site, I can confidently say that it is not a safe or helpful space for those seeking support.

From the very beginning, I noticed that there were a few long-time members who were not welcoming to new members like myself. They claimed to be easily triggered and used the "ignore" option excessively. Despite this, I managed to establish connections with some kind members. Unfortunately, many of them did not stick around long, and some even left the forum altogether. Tragically, a couple of members even took their own lives during my time on the site.

As time went on, I began to notice that the moderators on the site were becoming increasingly hostile towards me. I am a supportive person who believes in self-growth and helping others, but on PsychCentral, the only type of posting permitted is robotic support. If a member offends a mod, they are often harassed and threatened with punishment. There is no one on the site who moderates the mods, so any mod can take any action they want towards any member.

By my second year on the site, the bullying by the mods became unbearable. I felt specifically targeted by four mods who frequently posted crude and inappropriate content. I also noticed that some members had fake profiles and stories, and were using the site to scam concerned and lonely members out of money. When I brought this to the attention of the mods and the forum CEO, nothing was done.

The mods continued to bully and harass me by removing my posts, threatening suspension, or even banning me from the site. I was regularly placed on "moderation," meaning none of my posts could appear without a mod approving them. Finally, after three years on the site, I was given a temporary suspension without a valid reason. When I returned, I was placed on indefinite moderation, and my posts were deleted without valid reasons. One mod even told me that my "bipolar disorder" was causing me "to break forum guidelines," despite being stable at the time.

Eventually, I was permanently banned from the site at my own request. Unfortunately, the way I had been treated by the PsychCentral admin so obviously replicated my own childhood abuse that I became panicky and depressed. I had not been hospitalized for 28 years, but three weeks after being banned from the site, I became suicidal and had to be hospitalized.

In addition to the insufficient mod situation, the CEO of PsychCentral misleads members by claiming to be a psychologist. The truth is that he has never been a practicing psychologist and is actually an entrepreneur. He founded the site after graduating college and holds his position as CEO. This is unethical and wrong.

If you have a mental illness, I strongly suggest that you stay away from PsychCentral. Seeking support elsewhere is a much better option. Getting hooked on the forum is too easy, and you will eventually emerge from the site with serious problems. The best action I took was demanding to be banned from the site. However, I emerged with serious psychological damage as a result of how badly I had been bullied by mods, and how the CEO refused to take any action against that mistreatment.

After almost four years, I have lost that source of horrible stress. Someone in power needs to intervene and remove the site. Don't be duped into donating to the forum to receive "special privileges." I made that mistake, and it was foolish.

PsychCentral is a website that my boyfriend is always on. He thinks that I am a narcissist, so I decided to get two life coaches, a counselor, and three different psychologists. One of the psychologists I had been seeing for years prior. All of them told me that I do not qualify for any of those things, and they have heard the buzz about it all over the internet. However, my boyfriend still wants to do his own treatment on me. He suggested giving me shrooms or isolating me for six years. He even accused our kids of being narcissists, even though they are only two and five years old.

I find PsychCentral to be a helpful resource for information about mental health. They have articles about various mental health conditions, treatments, and therapies. I have found some of the articles to be informative and helpful in understanding my own mental health. However, I do think that some of the information on the website can be overwhelming and confusing. It is important to consult with a mental health professional before making any decisions about treatment.

Overall, I think that PsychCentral is a good resource for people who are interested in learning more about mental health. However, it is important to remember that everyone's experiences with mental health are different, and it is important to consult with a mental health professional before making any decisions about treatment.

I used to write for PsychCentral about a year ago, but I stopped. The "Associate Editors" seem to have a few favorites who they feature regularly with posts that are not very good. The posts that are interesting and informative barely get any promotion. The "World of Psychology" blog on the site also promotes the editors' favorites. I know several psychologists who have abandoned their blogs after seeing this pattern. There are many people who are not licensed writing on the site, and there are also several con artists. You can find much better writing on the websites of various journals.

I have been an active member of PsychCentral for three years now and have made a few friends along the way. However, my experience on the site has not been entirely positive. During my time as a member, I unfortunately witnessed two people take their own lives, which was a devastating experience.

The last month of my membership was a living nightmare. I was bullied so badly that I too felt like taking my own life. It was a truly traumatic experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I believe that if something isn't done about the bullying on the site, there will be more suicides.

I have proof of the bullying, including chat logs and private messages. Despite this, PsychCentral has been bothering me with threats about my account being in jeopardy. I have repeatedly asked the site to delete my account and pictures of my family, but they have not done so.

Overall, my experience with PsychCentral has been mixed. While I appreciate the support I received from some members, the bullying and lack of action from the site's administrators has left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope that my review will help others make an informed decision about whether or not to join the site.

PsychCentral is a website that I have been a member of for quite some time. However, as time went on, I found myself feeling more and more stuck. The psychotherapy forum used to be a safe place where people could come for support and kindness. Unfortunately, it seems that this is no longer the case. There are now many members who are anti-therapy, and they have taken over the forum. This means that unless you are there to bash therapy, you will not find the support and kindness that you need.

The administrators and moderators of the website have lost sight of what is important. Instead of focusing on support, they have allowed an environment of trolling and anonymous bullying to take over. This has been going on for about a year now, and it has made the website a very unpleasant place to be.

One of the biggest problems is that members who have improved their mental and emotional health are not supported. Instead, they are often bullied and run off by other members or moderators who allow the bullying to continue. This is a real shame because the website used to be a great place for people to come and get the support they needed.

Overall, I would say that PsychCentral is no longer the great website that it used to be. If you are looking for a safe place to get support and kindness, then this is not the website for you. However, if you are looking for a place to bash therapy and bully others, then you will fit right in.

I've been a part of PsychCentral for quite some time now, and I must say that it's not all sunshine and rainbows. While the site claims to be a place for member support, I've seen firsthand how certain members are favored over others. It's disheartening to see how those who don't conform to the site's strict culture are often ostracized and even bashed by others.

One of the biggest issues I've noticed on the site is the constant push for psychiatric meds and talk-therapy. While these may work for some, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Unfortunately, those who don't agree with this approach are often met with hostility and ridicule.

As a long-time member, I've also noticed how the site has become more and more cliquey over the years. It's disheartening to see how certain members are favored over others, and how those who don't conform to the site's strict culture are often pushed out of activities and discussions.

What's even more concerning is the recent request for positive reviews from the site's owner. It's a clear indication of how the site is run - hide the negative and only promote the positive. It's a shame that a site that claims to be a place for member support is more concerned with maintaining a certain image than actually helping those in need.

Overall, while PsychCentral may have some useful resources, it's important to approach the site with caution and be aware of its biases and limitations.

In my opinion, seeking mental health help on the internet may not be the best option. While there are some genuine and honest people on PsychCentral, I have also encountered individuals who are looking to take advantage of others. However, I did make some very good friends on the site who have been a great support system for me.

One concern I have is that there is no safety net for kids on the site. Chat rooms are open to all registered users, which could potentially expose children to inappropriate content or interactions. Additionally, spending too much time on the internet can contribute to mental health issues such as computer addiction and online abuse.

I have witnessed some of my friends on the site being attacked for no reason and even being banned without any explanation. In my opinion, there were also instances of inappropriate behavior in the chat rooms that should not have been allowed. I did bring these issues up to the administrators, but I am not sure if they were properly addressed.

Furthermore, I worry that PsychCentral could be a haven for cyberbullies and criminals. This raises the question of how this site can actually help improve mental health. I also wonder if the moderators and administrators are properly trained to handle these types of situations.

Overall, I would advise anyone using PsychCentral or any other mental health website to be cautious and aware of potential risks. Not everything is as it seems, and it is important to prioritize your safety and well-being when using the internet.

I recently had an experience with PsychCentral that left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. I had posted a question on their forums about some serious mental health concerns I was having, including thoughts about harming others. While I understand that my post may have been intense, I was hoping to receive some guidance and support from the community.

Unfortunately, my post was removed and I was permanently banned from the site. I was shocked and hurt by this response, as I had turned to PsychCentral specifically because it is a mental health site. I had hoped that I could find some understanding and help from others who may have experienced similar thoughts or feelings.

The reason given for my ban was that my "fascination for killing people" made me not a good fit for the site. While I understand that this is a serious concern, I was confused by the fact that I had seen other posts on the site discussing similar thoughts and feelings. I had hoped that I could find some support and guidance from others who had been through similar experiences.

Overall, my experience with PsychCentral left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. I had hoped that I could find some help and support through their forums, but instead I was met with a harsh response that left me feeling even more alone and isolated. While I understand that the site has rules and guidelines, I wish that they had taken a more compassionate and understanding approach to my situation.

I've been a member of Psych Central for quite some time now, and I have to say that my experience has been a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's great to have a community of people who are all dealing with similar issues and can offer support and advice. On the other hand, the site is moderated in a way that can be frustrating at times.

One of the biggest issues I've encountered is the limited freedom of speech. Even if you're respectful and have a valid point to make, you can still find yourself in hot water if the moderators don't like what you're saying. I've been in situations where I've been blamed for something another member did, and even threatened with account suspension. It's not exactly therapeutic to feel like you're being targeted for no reason.

Another issue is the quality of discussion. Sometimes it feels like people are just talking past each other, or not really engaging with the topic at hand. And the articles on the site can be hit or miss - some are really insightful and helpful, while others are just plain silly.

All that being said, there are still some good things about Psych Central. The community can be really supportive, and there are some great resources available if you're struggling with mental health issues. But overall, I'm not sure if it's worth the frustration and hassle.

I recently stumbled upon PsychCentral, a website that claims to offer support and resources for those struggling with mental health issues. As someone who has battled with an eating disorder in the past, I was curious to see if the forums would provide any helpful advice or encouragement.

Unfortunately, my experience on the site was far from positive. Despite only seeing two success stories, the threads were filled with negativity and pessimism. As someone who has been in that dark place before, I know how hard it can be to see a way out. That's why I wanted to share my own recovery story and offer hope to others who may be struggling.

However, my posts were met with disapproval and I was banned from the site for apparently trying to advertise. I was simply trying to encourage others and offer support, but it seems like the moderators are more interested in shutting down any form of self-help or positivity.

It's a shame that a website that claims to offer support for mental health issues would be so quick to silence those who are trying to help themselves and others. I hope that in the future, PsychCentral will be more open to different perspectives and approaches to recovery.