Bestselling Author Dr. Kixx Goldman Asks If We Need To Label Ourselves

The author of "Speak From Your Heart And Be Heard" explores the harmful effects of labeling people in psychotherapy.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:33am

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In a recent article, bestselling author Dr. Kixx Goldman questioned the practice of labeling people, especially in psychotherapy treatment settings. Goldman, the author of "Speak From Your Heart And Be Heard: Stories Of Courage And Healing," argues that labeling people can lead to stigmatization, stereotyping, oversimplification of complex behaviors, and inaccurate diagnoses. She shares a personal story about a client named "Frank" who was labeled as "paranoid" by other mental health professionals, but Goldman took a more compassionate approach focused on her client's strengths.

Why it matters

Dr. Goldman's perspective highlights the potential harm that can come from labeling people, especially in the mental health field where accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial. Her approach of focusing on a client's strengths rather than applying a limiting label aligns with growing calls for more personalized, holistic, and trauma-informed mental health care.

The details

In the article, Dr. Goldman recounts her time counseling at a mental health center in a small town outside of Vancouver. She was inspired to write a short story, "Monitored," about a client named "Frank" who came to therapy due to conflict in his relationship. Frank reported feeling that he was being monitored at work, leading other mental health professionals to potentially label him as "paranoid." However, Goldman saw Frank's fears as a way to protect himself from facing painful relationship problems, and she took a compassionate approach focused on his strengths rather than applying a limiting label.

  • Dr. Goldman wrote the short story "Monitored" years after counseling at the mental health center in the small town outside of Vancouver.

The players

Dr. Kixx Goldman

An author, psychologist, and coach who wrote the book "Speak From Your Heart And Be Heard: Stories Of Courage And Healing." She advocates for a compassionate, strengths-based approach in mental health treatment rather than labeling clients.

Frank

A client of Dr. Goldman's who came to therapy due to conflict in his relationship, but the focus shifted to him reporting feeling "monitored" at work. Other mental health professionals may have labeled him as "paranoid," but Dr. Goldman took a different approach.

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What they’re saying

“Once upon a time, I counseled at a mental health center in a small town out of Vancouver. Years later I was inspired to write a short story, Monitored, about my work at the center with an interesting client, "Frank.”

— Dr. Kixx Goldman, Author (Dr. Kixx Goldman's website)

“I never did embrace labels like "paranoid." As noted, it helps us store information. It can be practical to categorize, order and label. But unlike designer labels-Calvin Klein, Levi, Betsey Johnson to name a few-those we attach to people pathologize them.”

— Dr. Kixx Goldman, Author (Dr. Kixx Goldman's website)

What’s next

The ebook version of Dr. Kixx Goldman's book "Speak From Your Heart And Be Heard" will be available for free on Amazon on March 17 and March 18, 2026.

The takeaway

Dr. Kixx Goldman's perspective on the harmful effects of labeling people, especially in mental health treatment, highlights the need for a more compassionate, strengths-based approach that avoids oversimplifying complex human experiences. Her approach aligns with growing calls for personalized, trauma-informed care that empowers clients to heal and grow.