Not to stray from the original message of the thread but lets keep in mind no one is trying to pass of what Rhonda and Iyanla do as "counseling". Even as broad a term as "counseling is, they would be subject to malpractice if they so much as implied what they did in the SOH was conseling. Even Dr. Stan doesn't say what he does on the show is counseling. His official title is "Consulting Psychologist", and I suspect it is to give needed gravitas to the show.

Rhonda sort of reminds me of that crazy aunt who hides a flask in her bra an sneaks sips at the family dinner when she thinks no one is looking. She's pleasant and funny enough, but no one really takes her seriously. In that way, she's relatively harmless. Iyanla on the other hand is aggresive and dominant, at best, and borderline ego maniacle, at worst. She's the most dangerous. In the proper context she's harmless. When she's writing books or her monthly colum for various women's mags, I think she can be very useful, but when she is using women with potentially serious psychological problems a la kim (who can forget that fiasco where she had kim rolling around on the ground kicking and screaming.) to play out her own unresolved issues, I think that crosses the line.

Also, I think you guys are right about the weak-mindedness of some of the HGs but I think that is by design. They need women to come into the house who can be easily guided. The women who have come into the house who are not as easily guided didn't last long: Tess..Kimberlyn..Sommer..Deborah to name a few.. but that's another thread altogether. Suffice it to say, Iyanla wouldn't be nearly as effective if someone more independent showed up in the house. I know if it were me and she tried to suffocate me with her DD's, I wouldn't have it for a minute!!