I find it UTTERLY bizarre. Of all the legally protected terms - how in God’s name is that NOT one!? The law is culturally so behind. I just really want - at a time when women are seeking therapy more than ever before - people to know that it’s not a protected term, and to use the BACP register.
Incredibly powerful interview. I also finished listening to Dangerous Memories last week. I was shocked at the ways Huey and Tori suffered at the hands of Anne. I also couldn't believe the lack of regulation when it comes to therapy and all it's sects like "holistic healing". I liked the way it compared similarities with cults in the final episode. But I also wonder what the impact has been if any on an increase in self proclaimed therapists since the boom of self care, mindfulness and wellbeing over the last decade or so? Also the fact that women are more like to go therapy and are therefore more at risk? SO much more to be explored and unpacked...
I definitely think the rise in heterodoxy (and the decline in organised religion) has a large part to play. I also think medical misogyny plays a large part, particularly for women who aren’t white, which sees people seeking alternative remedies/ practices (it’s defo a key part of why diets *categorically not rooted in science* - like the alkaline diet, clean eating, celery juice etc - take off.) It’s all such a fertile ground for quackery. And then, of course, there’s good old Covid which saw more people seeking mental health support than ever before… https://www.rethink.org/news-and-stories/media-centre/2021/03/demand-for-mental-health-advice-soars-in-year-after-first-lockdown/
Wow. I remember decades ago hearing Roseanne Barr on a talkshow saying that she had learnt she'd been sexually abused as a child from a therapist who helped her access repressed memories. It really freaked me out and made me try to analyse all my memories and honestly still live in doubt to this day. I think probably because of the way our generation was made to hug people we didn't want to and any discomfort we were forced to ignore, even if it was only a discomfort over having to give a kiss to a "smelly old person" or tickling carrying on when you wanted it to stop. I'm so grateful that teaching kids bodily consent is so normalised now.
I hadn’t heard of Dangerous Memories, I’ll be checking that out, and the interview with Huey is heartbreaking.
Given the number of people seeking mental health support, it seems little wonder that people will seek help whenever they can when people often have to pay for therapy/support due to waiting lists. And this is not to take away from the work done by the many excellent therapists out there.
Semi-related, I am a psychologist (MSc) and I’ve lost count of the number of times people have asked me to ‘help’ them. I’m like…. Errr no, I have no clinical practice and there is a whole world of ethical issues right there! I would have assumed that all therapists have to register and sign up to code of conduct, but clearly I was wrong! (I would be struck off from the British Psychological Society if I did ‘practice’ work).
Again - totally bizarre to me that there is no overarching governing body where, as you say, you have to ‘sign up’ to a code of practices etc. Reminds me of conservatorship in the states, where anyone can be a conservator and charge unholy amounts for their ‘guardianship’!
My first time in the comments! Having now ploughed through 3 of your summer reading recommendations I was pleased to see a pod recommendation yesterday! 2 long commutes later and I have finished! Thank you for sharing this and for the interview follow up. I love that she is getting to tell her story to talented interviewers and producers.
It’s terrifying that anyone can label themselves a psychotherapist in this country!
I find it UTTERLY bizarre. Of all the legally protected terms - how in God’s name is that NOT one!? The law is culturally so behind. I just really want - at a time when women are seeking therapy more than ever before - people to know that it’s not a protected term, and to use the BACP register.
You’re doing GOOD work. So many will think twice after reading this x
Incredibly powerful interview. I also finished listening to Dangerous Memories last week. I was shocked at the ways Huey and Tori suffered at the hands of Anne. I also couldn't believe the lack of regulation when it comes to therapy and all it's sects like "holistic healing". I liked the way it compared similarities with cults in the final episode. But I also wonder what the impact has been if any on an increase in self proclaimed therapists since the boom of self care, mindfulness and wellbeing over the last decade or so? Also the fact that women are more like to go therapy and are therefore more at risk? SO much more to be explored and unpacked...
I definitely think the rise in heterodoxy (and the decline in organised religion) has a large part to play. I also think medical misogyny plays a large part, particularly for women who aren’t white, which sees people seeking alternative remedies/ practices (it’s defo a key part of why diets *categorically not rooted in science* - like the alkaline diet, clean eating, celery juice etc - take off.) It’s all such a fertile ground for quackery. And then, of course, there’s good old Covid which saw more people seeking mental health support than ever before… https://www.rethink.org/news-and-stories/media-centre/2021/03/demand-for-mental-health-advice-soars-in-year-after-first-lockdown/
Wow. I remember decades ago hearing Roseanne Barr on a talkshow saying that she had learnt she'd been sexually abused as a child from a therapist who helped her access repressed memories. It really freaked me out and made me try to analyse all my memories and honestly still live in doubt to this day. I think probably because of the way our generation was made to hug people we didn't want to and any discomfort we were forced to ignore, even if it was only a discomfort over having to give a kiss to a "smelly old person" or tickling carrying on when you wanted it to stop. I'm so grateful that teaching kids bodily consent is so normalised now.
Great work here Pandora and how courageous of Huey to come forward with her story. Truly terrifying. 💔
Thanks so much Vix. And I agree - i am in awe of her and the other women. Such a hard thing to recover from.
I hadn’t heard of Dangerous Memories, I’ll be checking that out, and the interview with Huey is heartbreaking.
Given the number of people seeking mental health support, it seems little wonder that people will seek help whenever they can when people often have to pay for therapy/support due to waiting lists. And this is not to take away from the work done by the many excellent therapists out there.
Semi-related, I am a psychologist (MSc) and I’ve lost count of the number of times people have asked me to ‘help’ them. I’m like…. Errr no, I have no clinical practice and there is a whole world of ethical issues right there! I would have assumed that all therapists have to register and sign up to code of conduct, but clearly I was wrong! (I would be struck off from the British Psychological Society if I did ‘practice’ work).
Again - totally bizarre to me that there is no overarching governing body where, as you say, you have to ‘sign up’ to a code of practices etc. Reminds me of conservatorship in the states, where anyone can be a conservator and charge unholy amounts for their ‘guardianship’!
My first time in the comments! Having now ploughed through 3 of your summer reading recommendations I was pleased to see a pod recommendation yesterday! 2 long commutes later and I have finished! Thank you for sharing this and for the interview follow up. I love that she is getting to tell her story to talented interviewers and producers.
Congrats on your debut, Anne! It is lovely to have you here