Introducing a new book by Dr. Brent Potter. By Brent Potter PhD -- Director for the Society for Laingian Studies Elements of Self-Destruction “You have to diagnose her now,” my colleague said. “What? I just met with her for an hour-and-a-half. Plus, I’m off the clock in ten minutes.” The response: “It is procedure here that the assessment, diagnosis, and paperwork be completed and turned in directly after the intake session.” It was my first assessment at my first job as a clinician. I felt no sense of reassurance as I, the dutiful new employee, plopped myself down and thumbed through the DSM, the so-called diagnostic ‘Bible’ of mental health. I had 10 minutes left and, mercifully, the DSM provided highly simplistic ways to diagnose. For those without time to read—apparently I was not the only one—it had convenient little boxes with bullet points.