In the episode, "Through the Lens of Psychophobia with Dr. Michael Montgomery: Exploring the Modern Medicalization of Mental Health (S6 E9)," Dr. Montgomery shares with us in the podcast the phenomenon of psychophobia and how it manifests in today’s medicalization of mental health. Society’s fear of extreme states influences the model the system uses, and outcomes are negative due to the model itself. Dr. Montgomery believes it is time to return to a more humane interaction with those who suffer from extreme states that looks more deeply at the humanity of the patient and respects the interiority of the mind.
Michael R. Montgomery, PhD, MSW, MA, MSc, LCSW, is an existential psychoanalyst with international expertise in complex trauma, extreme states (psychosis and mania), addiction, and conflict resolution. He trained at Regent’s University London, The Tavistock and Portman, and the Anna Freud Centre. In addition to his private practice, he leads Perform23, collaborating with specialists in movement, dance, and music to create alternative access points to healing and community, most notably supporting 5th Element and Plan B in post-conflict Belfast. He is also the founder of Peacefire.us, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding between individuals from diverse and often opposing backgrounds. He is a regular contributor to the Society for Existential Analysis (SEA) annual conference, the R.D. Laing Symposium, and ISPS-US. His clinical work is primarily community-based, focused on individuals typically excluded from quality care. With over 26 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters, he is currently developing a new book and podcast on psychophobia—the fear of the mind.
To learn more about Dr. Montgomery’s theories, check out his paper: Psychophobia and its Cure: an Existential Phenomenological Perspective. Journal of Existential Analysis, 2025, 36(1): 51-66.
Follow his website at: https://drmontgomery.com/
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