ABSTRACT
This chapter explains that the psychotherapeutic enterprise today exists in a primitive form, characterised by dysfunctionality, arrogance, selfishness, abusiveness, infectiousness, insanity and deceit. Contributions from neuroscience to basic psychotherapy literature are increasing (see, e.g. Warren 2014), while meaningful and penetrating sociological input is not. 'Social responsibility' implies that not only charitable agencies but all social organisations (whether commercial or professional) have a duty to society beyond and, perhaps because of, their initial raison d'etre. Private troubles are public issues and vice versa. All clients of psychotherapy, whatever their psychological distress, are reflexive psycho-social and biological beings, as is the therapist. Psychotherapy should reflect this reflexivity. Crucially, the psychotherapeutic enterprise should reflect on the mess in the world and pay penance for its seventh sin of psychotherapy, ignorance about and/or ignoring of this mess, by formulating and implementing socially responsible actions aimed at mending the mess which may also help to mend minds.
