Being Human Podcast - Episode 74: Merciless Mental Health vs. the Radical Compassion of the Catholic Proposal

Welcome to Episode 74 of the Being Human Podcast: Merciless Mental Health vs. the Radical Compassion of the Catholic Proposal

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg proposes that a Catholic response to our culture’s gender and sexual confusion is more compassionate than anything the secular world of mental health care is offering, and fleshes out how a Catholic understanding of the body can offer clarity to the current cultural chaos. 

Discussed in this episode:

• Compassion as the appropriate response toward those struggling with difficulties in the area of sexual attraction or identity;
• Clarification of points made in last week’s episode; 
• Acknowledgment of abuses experienced by some seeking to change their sexual orientation, and the need for better therapy options that are more appropriate to the dignity of the person; 
• Further exploration of the deep error in how we view our bodies as a result of Cartesian dualism; 
• What’s ironic about our modern culture’s position on “body shaming”; 
• How a Catholic view of the body can offer hope and clarity to the current cultural chaos; 
• The need for a deeper and renewed understanding of masculinity and femininity, and the purpose of being created as male and female. 

Resources mentioned or relevant:

• Episode #73: The DSM Disease (Part Two); 
• Dr. Robert Spitzer reading his letter of apology;  
• Blog article: How the Church Can Understand Homosexuality;
• Learn more about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
• Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you! 
• Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!  
• Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych; 
• Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; 
• Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available. 

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to [email protected] - we would love to hear from you!

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About Dr. Greg and the CatholicPsych Institute

Dr. Bottaro is a clinical psychologist and founder of the CatholicPsych Institute. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, a graduate school that integrates Catholic philosophy and theology with sound, empirically validated psychology.

Before his degree, Dr. Bottaro discerned a religious vocation with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs). He lived four years in the Bronx, serving the poor in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. Under the mentorship of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, this experience helped him form a spirituality based on Abandonment to Divine Providence which he now applies to psychological principles in his practice. He learned from Fr. Benedict how to discern God's voice and live a life in service to others.

Six years after leaving NYC as a friar, he returned as a psychologist. The CatholicPsych Institute began there in 2012 and has since grown to 5 offices with 12 therapists serving clients around the globe.

Dr. Bottaro now lives in Connecticut with his wife Barbra and their six children. He actively avoids watching the news and spends his free time thinking up crazy new ideas on how to make the world a better place.