Stan Katz

Dr Stan J Katz is an American clinical and forensic psychologist. A critic of the codependency movement, Katz co-authored "The Codependency Conspiracy: How to Break the Recovery Habit and Take Charge of Your Life" (New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1991). Katz proposes that many pop-psychology movements (especially codependency) are rooted in marketing campaigns and not valid science or psychology. He is also the co-author of "False Love and Other Romantic Illusions (New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1988) and "Success Trap" (New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1990). As a Forensic Psychologist he has been appointed over one thousand times by the Los Angeles Superior Court to conduct expert examinations in Family Law, Dependency and Criminal Courts. He was involved in the Michael Jackson Child Molestation case in Santa Barbara County, California.

Dr. Katz has appeared on numerous television and radio programs including The Today Show, Larry King, Oprah, 20/20 and was featured in People Magazine. He was also the consulting psychologist on the recently cancelled reality tv series Starting Over for which he won an EMMY for his work as Co-host. Dr Katz has three children and two stepchildren.

"By creating so many different disease characteristics, the codependency leaders offer a slot for everyone. We all must be codependent because we all fit at least one of the descriptions. This tactic is very good for book sales and lecture attendance. ... But the tactic is also irresponsible. Most of the feelings and behavior listed as codependence traits are perfectly normal. They do not indicate that we came from dysfunctional families or are in one now. They do not prove we are addicts. ... All they prove is that the authors of these lists have conceived a theory so broad, so multifaceted that it is virtually meaningless."