A British psychotherapist was “reckless,” “disrespectful,” “dogmatic” and “unprofessional” in trying to turn a homosexual patient heterosexual, a hearing has concluded.
Last week, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy found Christian counselor Lesley Pilkington guilty of professional malpractice. after she let her “personal preconceived views about gay lifestyle and sexual orientation … affect her professional relationship in a way that was prejudicial.”
The saga entered the public eye in February, 2010, with an investigative report in The Independent (London), in which gay journalist Patrick Strudwick went undercover to research the world of gay-to-straight therapy. In the article, Strudwick described his visits, in 2009, to two accredited UK counselors to receive reparative treatment.
According to Strudwick’s account, Mrs Pilkington suggested low self-esteem, a family history of Freemasonry and unacknowledged sexual abuse were to blame for his “same-sex attraction,” or “SSA.” He denied any of the three existed, but Pilkington was insistent, he said.
Strudwick has come under fire for deceiving Mrs Pilkington into believing he was an unhappy gay man who wanted to be cured of his homosexuality. Yet even those who support reparative therapy — a practice supported by little scientific evidence — are hard-pressed to justify such dubious practices as linking homosexual orientation to the spiritual influence of Freemasonry and insisting on the presence of sexual abuse. Strudwick’s pretence pales next to this pseudo-scientific charlatanry.
As a result of the hearing, the BACP suspended Pilkington’s licence, and she will have to undergo extensive retraining or risk losing it altogether. With the support of the Christian Legal Centre, however, she is expected to appeal the verdict.
The other psychiatrist in Patrick Strudwick’s investigation was Belfast-based therapist Dr Paul Miller, an associate of Richard Cohen. According to Strudwick, the General Medical Council dismissed his call for a hearing against Miller.
Ms. Pilkington seems very inclined to the pentecostal/evangelical slant regarding Freemasonry, abuse etc…..I am pleased the patient wouldn’t abide by her biased leanings and brought it to the attention of the authorities.
@Jacquie Yep — been there, done that, got the T-shirt, eh?
All that Freemasonry and sexual abuse claptrap is straight out of the ’80s charismatic handbook.
cue Exodus, et al screaming bloody murder about “free speech being quashed” and “it can happen here cuz we have basically the exact same government as the British” and such…
Going undercover and posing as a certain type of client is a NECESSARY practice to uncover harmful and unqualified providers!
It’s not Strudwick who is wrongful or deceptive. Doctors, or any other kind of person who is getting paid and who uses credentials as qualified providers must be held to a very high standard of competence.
Would Pilkington herself say that a woman’s uterine tumors and bleeding can be cured with leeches attached to her abdomen? Or that schizphrenia or post partum psychosis are a mark of satanic possession, therefore the sufferer deserve dunking in extremely cold water, and exorcism?
I’m so over people using gays and lesbians for their medieval practices, and expecting to profit from it unchallenged.
It’s very difficult for such practices to be peer reviewed. And their conferences, camps and other gatherings are not open to the press or other observers. If they were so confident in the efficacy of their practices, why is it done with stone walls surrounding it?
This so called ‘doctor’ deserves what she’s getting. And kudos to Strudwick. This is the only way to get at these people. Imagine what might have happened to Zack Stark if he’d been completely cut off without being able to cry for help?
As a former ex-gay who suffered at the hands of those who pushed this harmful brand of “therapy,” I say… THANK YOU to the UK :0)
Do you know about the cult-like organization called Re-evaluation Counseling? RC founder states that “participation in sex with a human of your own gender is based on distress. It arises only out of distress experiences in the past” and holds that it ‘”cannot compromise with any “identification” of the person with a pattern which pushes the individual towards participation in sex with people of his or her own gender. We do not concur with any identification of oneself as Gay, Lesbian, or bisexual as ultimately “rational.”‘ And so they promote their covert “reparative” therapy to uncover the “memories” that will lead the person to understand what is underneath. Heartbreaking when you see those they lie to and manipulate.
There is non-RC co-counseling available for those who need it.
@Jane Spickett Not heard of Re-evaluation Counseling, but will look into it. Thanks.