'Lighten Up, Francis' Dept.

Rush Limbaugh is under fire from members of the American Health Association for offering "free therapy" via his listener call lines for those afflicted with Post Election Selection Trauma (PEST).

He loves the extra attention, of course.

For those unaware of either PEST or the Limbaugh Treatment Option (meaning you probably just got back from that post-election trip to Mars), that certain practicioners of psychological counseling are reporting a new pathology afflicting Americans who backed John Kerry on November 2.

Yeah, they're serious. They even have "proof." A man identified as "Paul" wrote to AHA:

“I too was very depressed, and I knew a lot people who felt the same way. You have to understand that to many of us, this was the key election about the future of our country, and with a Bush win that future is pretty much destroyed. Naturally, there’s going to be some significant grief.”

Always on the cutting edge of compassionate conservatism, Limbaugh rushed to offer on-the-air therapy at no charge. AHA is not amused.

“Rush Limbaugh has a way of back-handedly slamming people,” said Sheila Cooperman, a licensed clinician with the American Health Association (AHA) who listened Friday as Limbaugh offered to personally treat her patients. “He’s trying to ridicule the emotional state this presidential election produced in many of us here in Palm Beach County. Who is he to offer therapy?”

A talk radio host, my dear Mrs. Cooperman, a talk radio host.

“Rush Limbaugh has no clinical qualifications to counsel anyone,” Cooperman said. “He’s not only minimizing PEST, but he’s bastardizing the entire psychological field and our clinical expertise.”

Bastardizing? Does that mean this field of expertise has uncertain parentage?

Douglas Schooler, the Boca Raton trauma specialist who treated 20 people with hypnotherapy following Kerry’s loss, said he believes many people suffering from election-related symptoms are still afraid to step forward. “The Republicans want Kerry voters to shut up and pretend they’re not feeling anything,” Schooler said. “But many people have serious emotional pain over this election and it’s unhealthy to stuff it down inside of you. Therapy is the best way.”

Well, if you really think it's necessary ...

“Most of the calls I’m getting are from Republicans making fun of the whole thing,” Schooler said. “One guy wrote me a letter saying I should tell people to vote Republican and save themselves the stress. Republicans want to minimize the whole story of election fraud and voter anger.” Schooler said he did not expect the Republican gloating to stop anytime soon.

Hmmm ... gloating, eh? Sounds like the therapist needs a little counseling too. BTW, if this therapy involves discussion of election fraud, are these AHA counselors qualified to discuss it? Did they moonlight as poll watchers on Nov. 2? At the risk of being "insensitive" we would posit that they may run a significant risk of malpractice if they are citing election fraud statistics as part of their therapy. And finally, accused of taking the PEST therapy story and "rubbing it in the faces of Democrats," Limbaugh responds:“

Now, my friends, I didn’t do that. I reached out. I offered a hand of friendship. I offered my own counseling services.”

AHA officials, listening to the taped broadcasts, described Limbaugh’s tone of voice as sarcastic.

Limbaugh sarcastic? We detected no bitterness. How about Limbaugh facetious. We did detect lots of amusement. There is a difference.

Or in the words of beloved Sgt. Hulka: "Lighten up, Francis."