052026 ~ Help or a Crutch? - Frank Rubino

Psychotherapy is not a lifelong crutch but a temporary bridge to self-reliance — and when it becomes a comfort zone of endless validation, it fails its purpose. Frank Rubino, a psychotherapist from Plymouth, Michigan, delivers a candid and contrarian take on modern therapy, arguing that its greatest danger isn’t failure to help, but becoming a dependency. He warns that some therapists, seduced by the emotional intimacy of the relationship, avoid challenging clients — turning sessions into cheerleading rather than healing. The real test of progress? When therapy starts to feel hard. If it’s too easy, it’s probably not working. Rubino insists the goal isn’t to keep patients coming back, but to help them walk away stronger, wiser, and independent — a 'rebirth' rather than a relationship. He also critiques insurance-driven session limits that force premature endings, undermining the very process they’re meant to support. Ultimately, both therapist and patient share responsibility: the therapist must recognize when healing is happening, and the patient must have the courage to leave — even if it feels like losing a lifeline.