No. There is no resemblance between Scientology and psychotherapy or any other so-called mental therapy.

Prior to publication of Dianetics, The Modern Science of Mental Health, mental therapy viewed man as a mere collection of chemicals. The traditional view in this field was that man was only the sum of his genes. His IQ and abilities were fixed and there was nothing he could do to change himself.

Psychiatric treatments reflect a brutality Scientologists cannot tolerate. They include such harmful practices as brain damaging electric shock, dangerous psychotropic drugs and surgical techniques which cause irreparable physical, mental and spiritual harm. In contrast, Scientology deals with man as a spiritual being. It increases self-determinism by providing tools people can use to enhance their abilities and improve their lives. In the field of counseling, Scientology is unique. It relies upon the full consent of the individual, and does not attempt to reshape his opinion in any way.