17 June 2009
Call for action
Please vote on the debate "Psychotherapy has done more harm than good"
Dear Therapist
Tonight there is a debate by intelligence2 sponsored by the Spectator in London at the Royal Geographical Society on the motion "Psychotherapy has done more harm than good", and you may have heard a discussion about matters around this debate this morning on the Radio 4 Today programme between Lord Layard and Jeffrey Masson. The bbcpodcast is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj9z. The last five minutes of the program is where the above mentioned conversation takes place.
You as a registrant know that UKCP represents the widest constituency of professionals providing psychotherapy. It is also the guardian of the highest professional standards. We have knowledge and understanding about the efficacy of psychotherapy and its fundamental value and values.
I welcome debate about the role of psychotherapy in society, and UKCP works hard to promote opportunities for intelligent debate. Unfortunately, we were not invited to participate in tonight's debate, and even when we asked, we have not been allowed to attend - we are told that the event is too fully-booked. We believe that many in the audience may know little about psychotherapy, and as far as we know the event was not advertised through professional routes. The good news is that Andrew Samuels will be there. I spoke with him earlier today and we talked about how this debate needs to reflect the profession and his role as a professional practitioner and as he is an Honorary Fellow of the UKCP this adds to the impact of his wisdom in this arena.
If you want to express your views you can vote for or against the motion "Psychotherapy has done more harm than good" by following this web-link http://www.intelligencesquared.com/events.php?event=EVT0183
I urge you to vote today, before the poll closes tonight - the poll closes at 7pm, but it would be better to get votes in before the debate starts at 6.45 pm.
As the UKCP isn't allowed to have a nominated representative of the profession, if you are at this event please consider your role in this event and look for an opportunity to raise questions such as:
Are the panel's views being influenced unduly by very highly publicised failures of psychotherapy?
Do they really expect that with the negative attitudes of society in general and the press specifically that the vast majority of those who have benefitted from psychotherapy are going to come forward?
Is the panel working to standards that would meet the 'evidence base' demanded by the government and the public?
How does the government support broad based research that would provide evidence for the debate?
Best Wishes
James Antrican
Chair UKCP
UK Council for Psychotherapy | Registered Charity No. 1058545 | Company No. 3258939 Registered in England
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