i news article on the perils of the lack of regulation of therapy in the UK
I’m grateful to have been part of an important and exclusive investigation led by Patrick Strudwick for The i paper that uncovers the alarming reality of unregulated therapy in the UK.
The main article reveals how abusive therapists still practice, even after being struck off, leaving vulnerable people at risk.
There are further articles as part of this i investigation, to which I was asked to contribute, all published today:
GP struck off for having sex in his surgery is working as a therapist with new name
Rogue therapists struck off for sex with patients are still practising
And, this is a promising follow up by Patrick Strudwick:
Alastair Campbell: Rogue therapists are a danger to patients – the laws we need
The Daily Mail have picked up on it too.
As someone who has personally experienced the devastating consequences of unethical therapy whilst a trainee, I know firsthand how the lack of regulation in the UK allows abusers to continue practicing unchecked. Despite the therapist who abused his position of trust being struck off over ten years ago, he and his therapy business remain in practice. This is unacceptable and underscores the urgent need for government intervention to safeguard vulnerable individuals seeking help.
Patrick's article outlines this so thoroughly and clearly.
It is long overdue for the UK government to mandate the regulation of the counselling and psychotherapy industry. We entrust therapists with our mental health, yet the current voluntary system falls short in protecting those most in need. Without legal frameworks and a governing body ensuring accountability, unethical practitioners can exploit the gaps.
I have long been banging this drum. Since 2012 as it happens. I wrote a detailed post on it ten years ago, one of many.
Two years later, in 2016, along with Phil Doré, I co-authored the Unsafe Spaces report which was discussed in parliament by the Health Select Committee.
Nothing happened. I’ve got the paperwork including two vacuous messages from Jeremy Hunt and a response from the Professional Standards Authority. Former MPs Ben Bradshaw (Labour, Exeter) and Sarah Wollaston (Conservative, Totnes) were amazing in helping get the Unsafe Spaces Report heard by the Health Select Committee
I stepped back from campaigning in 2018 due to burnout from the futility of banging my head against a brick wall.
However, I continued to be consulted from time to time by journalists on the topic. I was invited to speak to Jordan Dunbar in 2019 for this BBC Radio 4 piece. Earlier this year Phil Doré and I appeared on the Lively Minds: The Mental Health Podcast to discuss the lack of regulation.
I was invited to be interviewed by Rachel Hall for this Guardian article that was published last week and decided not to this time, given that I was working with Patrick Strudwick on his investigation. I think it’s a great article by the way.
With the recent change in government, this article represents another vital moment to ramp up this call for change.
This is not just about my experience - it’s about preventing harm to others. It’s also about my preference to be part of a profession with integrity. Thousands turn to therapy during emotional distress, expecting care and healing. Without proper regulation, they remain vulnerable to exploitation. This must change to make therapy a safe and accountable practice for everyone.
Revisiting this painful chapter has been incredibly challenging. The arduous process of complaining and the abuse I endured from John Clapham and Lindsey Talbott of Palace Gate Counselling Service spanned two years. The fact that Palace Gate Counselling (as well as Clapham's other counselling service Taunton Counselling Service) is still in operation with Clapham and Talbott as Directors and practitioners is beyond insulting. This is on top of the context of the emotional and financial toll it took on me to take them to a hearing. This was, in turn, on top of the abusive experience itself. Reopening these wounds has been emotionally taxing.
I am profoundly grateful to Patrick Strudwick for his sensitivity and empathy in navigating my story. His dedication to covering this issue with care has made the process of sharing my experience feel both supported and heard. Journalists often get a bad press (pardon the pun) but I'd rather align myself with the likes of Patrick than many of the scoundrels in my own profession.