PsychoBabble may be hazardous to your health is the case Joe Nucci makes in his book PsychoBabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free. (2025)
He’s not wrong. I know this because my Psych-girl has hanging in her office this sign: Social Media may be hazardous to your health.
Let’s talk about that.
Nucci’s Case
Joe Nucci is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), psychotherapist and social media influencer 
. Ironically, he only “sees” patients/clients online. Additionally, he’s rather expensive (30% more than my Psych-girl, who is older and more experienced, better trained and educated. Moreover, she has a doctorate.); and not that seasoned. Furthermore, Nucci is bi-sexual. Which, in my opinion, has advantages and disadvantages. Depending. He practices in Colorado, where I live.
Nucci argues that the Field of mental health is being damaged by social media (TicTok therapy), non-professionals, and “therapy-speak”. Or “PsychoBabble”. Because individuals in need of help regarding mental health are often: 1) not getting it; or 2) getting “bad therapy”. In that, I agree. His argument is well sourced and researched. He makes the case that because of “Concept Creep” and vague, ambiguous language, people are being mis-diagnosed, mis-led, and sometimes even hurt. Because of the medicalization and monetization of normal, inevitable loss, suffering, and struggle. In other words, “Necessary Losses”. In other words, sick people are not getting well, and well people are made sick–because of a culture that suffers from reality. Or that which is objectively true.
Nucci sets out a strong case. He uses real case examples from his practice wherein patients were misdiagnosed and mis-categorized with regard to personality, traits, relationships, work, etc. and so on.
Early on, Nucci talks about the mis-use and misunderstanding of the word “projection”. When in fact what was happening was a “reaction formation”–an ego defense mechanism. Which is a subset of repression. All of which is classic Freudian analysis.
Furthermore, Nucci asserts, most people don’t know why they do what they do. Moreover, don’t even know who they are. I agree. Cause for therapy? Can be. Or maybe not. It depends on how you are doing. Additionally, how what you are doing is affecting others.
Nucci questions the current, popular ideas of political and social movements–that everything is of a social construction. In other words, what causes what. It’s good, independent thinking.
The Case Against
The case against Nucci is that he might be entrapped in a reaction formation himself. Which is to say, in his own words, “occurs when people express the opposite of what they truly feel, sometimes to an exaggerated extent, because they deem what they feel to be unacceptable for some reason.” (p.28)
Nucci does self-disclose a lot in the book. Okay. And then he defends that as a tactic in therapy. Sometimes. Fair enough. Many of his conclusions are like that. Maybe yes, maybe no. Sometimes. All of which is true. That’s the nature of the beast – psychotherapy. It takes a long, long time to answer some questions. Moreover, things change. People change over time, mature. Furthermore, so does the culture. He’s a little young and still figuring out who he is. However, he’s cashing in now. Online. Because the “iron is hot”.
Conclusion
My conclusion is, as always when it comes to books, based on the question: Should you read this book? I say yes, if you’re in therapy or thinking about it. And even a practitioner. Nucci raises a lot of good questions to think about. Would I hire Joe Nucci to help me regarding my health and well-being? No.
Part of our social problems are the result of people not knowing who they are? or what, why, and how things are. A lot of people who should be in therapy will never find their way in. Some people would be better off if they’d never heard the word narcissist or projection, or neurodivergent. Of this, I agree with Nucci.
On this I also agree with the author – PsychoBabble may be hazardous to your health.
I always find your blogs interesting and enlightening. And I thank you for giving the good and the bad. I’m not necessarily into the whole psychiatry and psychology thing (though I minored in Psych in college), but I certainly don’t have bad feelings for people who find it useful. I’d never heard of this guy before, and based on what you’ve said, I’d probably stay away from him particularly. But it is a very good read, and I’m always glad to learn from you!
Thanks, Rich. Yeah, overall I agree with Nucci’s argument. But then – he goes on to do that which he argues against. AND, he charges $250 a session! Furthermore, doesn’t see patients face-to-face in an office. What!? So, he’s part of the problem.
Mental health (what is it?) is a huge problem. And social media makes it worse. In many ways. For instance – TDS is a real thing. It is, as I argue in my book, a reaction formation. Most likely. I use fiction to make that point. A conversation with Dr. Freud. Thus incorporating humor to make a very serious point. Too sophisticated? Probably; but you got it. Therefore showing that yep, you’re fine – don’t need a shrink’s advice. 🙂