Betty Dodson with Carlin Ross

Better Orgasms. Better World.

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I agree, I do not enjoy the rants either, to the point I don’t
know if I want to continue reading this site at all.

Betty, a fragile 17 year old
child comes to you sincerely asking for help. Your response is that she is
drowning in misinformation, and she can solve all her problems herself if she
simply changes her diet, boyfriend and therapist. You call her boyfriend a loser,
and her therapist lame ass.

Who the fuck do you think you are? How do you
presume to know so much? I doubt that the young girl will find any benefit in
your lengthy reply because she’ll be so stunned and bewildered by your
irresponsible remarks. What a shame, to have the knowledge and ability to be a
help to people, and then choose to abuse that responsibility. You could do so
much better. Maybe you should write your replies, let them sit for a day or two
and review them before posting, and consider how the reader is going to receive
your message. “First do no harm”.

I rarely comment anymore but my forensic professor went on a tangent and after a year of studying forensic psychology, I had to respond. Honestly, the 17-yo we're all referring to doesn't seem so fragile enough to reply to Betty and if she's familiar with this website she should be familiar with Betty's approach, which is straightforward.

And, Princess, my personal experience is that psychology and sexuality are rarely discussed anymore with the same understanding or seriousness as psychology and child development or psychology and forensics. So Betty's not far off in stating that work of many mental health professionals is borderline fraudulent when they try to address women's sexual health. Researchers I've studied commented on the disadvantangeous landscape of sexuality when it comes to mental health professionals:

You have Marriage and Family Therapists, Sex educators, sex coaches, etc. It's completely fragmented and human sexuality isn't an essential component of learning in psychology (if you don't believe me, check out grad schools for psychology and their curriculum in America... very rarely do colleges require psych students to learn about human sexuality). And, yeah, when a psychologist or psychiatrist has a private practice, then there's the potential to profit from a client's lack of self-coping skills, especially when it comes to sexual issues. To quote Darwin, “We do not even in the least know the final causes of sexuality.  The whole subject is hidden in darkness.”

My point? No amount of expertise or learning will ever prepare us to help others when it comes to sexuality. So, quite honestly, the most learned psychologist (or sex therapist) will never know as much as they want to about sexuality. To do so could compromise their profession and social status in life, a limitation that made me decide not to go into mental health.

Princess, unless you're the type of mental health professional Betty is referring to, then you shouldn't be offended by her comments. Practically, the only difference between you and Betty is that she can be hands-on and you cannot. Other than that, she coaches and guides women as well to be comfortable with their bodies so obviously she teaches more than sex (Like you implied, women sometimes don't immediately run out to buy out a mirror... but they will have to do it eventually if they want to get past their own lack of self-awareness).

And don't be sorry that you have a business, either. Not every professional in the same business may have the same empathy or concern as you do and I think that is who Betty is referring to. This post actually seems like a personal rant in response to a serious situation in mental healthcare that should be addressed (Are we forgetting that FOR CENTURIES "doctors" and other quacks have been severely misdiagnosing women's sexual issues out of their own sheer ignorance?) and so I was expecting a little more than a "waah waah" about Betty yet again speaking her mind on her own website.

I'm a bit conflicted here. I generally agree with Betty's views on the medical profession, big pharma, organized religion, etc., but I don't like how she often paints everyone belonging to those groups with the same brush. It's not always that black and white and there are exceptions to every rule (and Princess sounds like one). Still love you though Betty. 
On an unrelated note, it's nice to see you're still around Christina. I miss your posts around here & A Fantastic Nightmare. 

Well Princesss, I question the value add of this psychologist who would not get this 17 year old off this acne drug which not only has negative effects on sexual response (there is a class action suit against them for this very issue)  but it  also induces such severe depression that people commit suicide?  But instead of questioning the medication, the shrink diagnosed the side effect as anorgasmia! 

I also take a special type of offence to this type of bashing.   It's so god damn fashionable to hate on medical professional these days.  Highly Irritating.  I am working toward advanced practice in womens health issues and I like sites like this but certain things are so wrong to the point its scary. 

They did a video once on birth control, ranting and raving about how all these things were terrible but they couldnt even get it right when it came down to talking about which forms of birth control did what and how they worked.  I was agast. 
And don't even get me started on how Betty shrugs of herpes like its nothing.  I will agree that it isn't some sort of lifelong torture sentence but it IS serious, especially for women.  You will always need to disclose it to partners, so there goes your opertunities for spontenaty because most people wont be interested, and for a women of childbearing years, its very likely that you will not be able to give birth vaginally.  
I think DodsonAndRoss.com could use a little updating when it comes to how they treat matters of a medical nature, or frankly, they could at least put in a little effort and get basic birth control information correct.  This used to be a place I would send patients for information but these days I am finding myself less and less able to take it seriously. 

Betty routinely gets things wrong that there is no excuse for getting wrong though, honestly.  If shes supposed to be an expert but on more than one occasion I have seen her and carlin up on youtube taking rubbish about different forms of birth control, and look into what she has to say about the severity or lack of severity of herpes.  It's completely short sited opinion of one lady who doesnt recognize that for a lot of people herpes IS SERIOUS, and has serious reprocussions by way of not having a say in how you give birth, putting all future partners as risk, one more thing biraging your immune system.  

It's upsetting. 

arsvenustatis...why do you think so many people have lost respect for medical professionals?

Honestly?  Probably because they haven't got a clue about how things work and our healthcare system is so poor. 

 arsvenustatis thanks for your honest criticism, I value this site, but it's not a cult or religion, constructive critcism is good. What are the other sites you like, I only know of this site and ifeelmyself.com forum really. I wouldn't abandon this site but it would be nice to read a broader selection of feminist sex positive views.

On the question of herpes, I think your right, Betty does play it down too much but then on the other side the rest of society is hysterical and uncompassionate about it. Diabetes is also a reason  why someone may need a ceasarian. Diabetes, though not contagious, is actually more serious than herpes, but who would think twice about seeing a partner because they had diabetes. All our vulnerabilities test the true (platonic or sexual) friendship of others and often, knowing who is using you and who your real freinds are is a good thing. 

Betty has responded to this on another post by pointing out that in this particular case she seemed to have helped the person we were all worried about.
I'm a guy and maybe I don't have a dog in this hunt.
Be that as it may,  I defend Betty for the anarchy.  She may have been off her rocker to suggest that 9/11 was a government cover-up,  but by gd I will defend her right to say crazy shit as long as she doesn't pretend to know everything.  She does not and we are fools for believing otherwise.  
I point out that in general we are also fools for believing that our medical system and anything other that our own true experience is going to always help us find the truth.  Circumcision is a good example of that.  Why with all this "knowledge" and "science" we still think cutting little babies is just A-OK. I just recently found out that the real reason I was cut was that parents were worried that I would look different from all the other boys.  So it was all just cosmetic surgery anyway.

Betty and Carlin, You are one of the few, if not the only ones giving us free information on orgasms and standing up for women's pleasure! Your voices are valuable. Thank you and keep it up!!!! Princess, let's not fight amongst ourselves here, we're all on the same team. Betty's continuing to pave the way, and I am right behind her!