Responding to Scott Galloway's "The Cult of Therapy": A Balanced View on Mental Health Support

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a huge Scott Galloway fan. I don’t agree with everything he writes, but I deeply respect him—he’s wise, brutally honest, and gives some of the best advice out there. I discovered him about five years ago during a really tough financial period in my life, and since then I’ve read almost all of his books and faithfully follow his No Mercy / No Malice newsletter. His recent piece, “The Cult of Therapy,” really got me thinking. (You can read it here: https://www.profgalloway.com/the-cult-of-therapy/) He raises some sharp points about how therapy has been commodified, its accessibility problems, and the bigger societal fixes we need—like stronger relationships and systemic change. I appreciate his personal vulnerability and his critique of therapy as a “luxury good,” but as the founder of Dandelion Mental Health Services, I wanted to respond with my own perspective as a mental health professional. Therapy isn’t a cure-all, but in my experience, it’s an incredibly valuable tool—especially when it helps people build real connections and heal from what’s truly holding them back. Here are my thoughts on some of the key ideas he raised.

The Power of Relationships: Therapy as a Bridge, Not a Replacement

I completely agree with Scott that strong relationships are the foundation of happiness and well-being. In a world drowning in loneliness—which is exactly why so many people end up in my office—it’s relationships, not endless navel-gazing, that sustain us long-term. Yet the clients I see are often there because isolation, past trauma, or deep trust issues have made forming those bonds feel impossible.

A good therapist doesn’t keep people stuck in self-reflection; we actively help them heal relational wounds so they can step into healthier connections. The research on this is overwhelming. The Harvard Grant Study—the longest-running study on adult development—found that close relationships are the strongest predictor of long-term happiness and health, far outweighing money, fame, or IQ. Studies in Psychological Science in the Public Interest show stable friendships lower stress, strengthen immunity, and even lengthen life. Research from the Journal of Happiness Studies demonstrates that sharing positive experiences with others reduces cortisol and builds emotional resilience far more effectively than experiencing joy alone.

Every day in my practice, I watch this happen: people who’ve survived toxic relationships or childhood trauma learn to trust again, communicate better, and open up to meaningful connections—romantic, platonic, or familial. For me, therapy isn’t about replacing relationships; it’s about giving people the tools to finally have the ones they deserve.

If you’re feeling lonely right now, know that reaching out is the bravest first step. Therapy can be the safe space where you unpack what’s in the way and start building the bonds that bring lasting joy.

The High Cost of Therapy: Blame the System, Not the Therapists

Scott is absolutely right that therapy is too expensive and out of reach for many who need it most. But I want to be clear: this isn’t a “therapist greed” problem—it’s a systemic failure driven by insurance companies that chronically undervalue mental health care.

The numbers are grim. In the U.S., mental health providers are reimbursed at shockingly low rates—Medicaid often pays 40% below private cash rates for the same services. A 2024 APA survey found that 60% of psychologists leave insurance networks primarily because of inadequate pay and crushing administrative burdens—endless paperwork and frequent claim denials. Denials can hit 20-30% for mental health claims in some states, often on flimsy grounds like “lack of medical necessity” even when clear progress is being made. And getting credentialed onto insurance panels? It can take months of hoops, only to face capped panels or rates that barely cover rent and continuing education.

This forces many talented therapists into cash-pay models just to stay afloat, which unfortunately prices out lower-income clients and widens inequality. Research from the Center for American Progress estimates that these barriers leave millions untreated, costing our economy billions in lost productivity.

At Dandelion, we fight for policy changes—stronger mental health parity enforcement and fairer reimbursements. In the meantime, we offer sliding-scale fees and do everything we can to keep care accessible, because I truly believe everyone deserves support, no matter their income.

AI Therapy: Promising Tool, But Not a Human Replacement

Scott is bullish on AI’s potential for therapy, and I see some real benefits—scalability, waitlist relief, basic mood tracking. But I don’t believe it’s the full answer, especially when it comes to the deep “relationship” aspect of healing.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has sounded alarms about this. In The Anxious Generation, he shows how over-reliance on digital interactions (now including AI companions) correlates with soaring anxiety and depression in young people. He calls the long conversational “relationships” kids form with AI one of the most dangerous developments—because they lack true reciprocity, empathy, and accountability. A Common Sense Media report found 75% of kids are already engaging with AI companions, often secretly, and some have received harmful advice on topics like self-harm. Studies on AI romance apps show these pseudo-relationships can actually pull people further from real human connections.

In my view, AI is great for simple tools, but it can’t replicate the nuanced, attuned presence a human therapist brings—the subtle reading of emotion that drives real change. I’m open to ethical AI augmentation, but for profound healing, nothing replaces a skilled human on the other side of the room.

Why I Believe Face-to-Face Therapy Is Still Superior

Online therapy exploded during the pandemic and undeniably increased access for some, but research keeps showing it’s not equivalent to in-person work—especially for deeper or more complex issues.

Studies in Frontiers in Psychology comparing modalities found face-to-face therapy more effective across a wide range of problems, largely because non-verbal cues—body language, eye contact, tone—build stronger therapeutic alliances. Research in JMIR Mental Health shows higher dropout rates in virtual therapy (up to 30%), often due to technical issues and weaker emotional connection. For trauma work in particular, the felt sense of physical safety in a shared space can dramatically speed healing. Screens, distractions, and the inherent distance of video just don’t compare.

At Dandelion we offer hybrid options, but I always recommend in-person sessions when possible. There’s something irreplaceable about unfiltered, embodied human presence.

Final Thoughts

Scott’s article has sparked an important conversation. Therapy culture definitely has its excesses, but writing off therapy entirely misses how powerfully it can facilitate real, lasting change—especially when it’s focused on relationships and root causes.

I believe the path forward is clear: prioritize human connection, fix the broken insurance system, use AI thoughtfully as a supplement (not a substitute), and preserve the unique power of in-person care.

If anything here resonates and you’re on your own mental health journey, I’d love to help. Reach out to Dandelion Mental Health Services for a compassionate consultation—let’s work together to cultivate the well-being you deserve.