Proper supervision of self-appointed therapists
SIR – Jane Alexander (Letters, April 14) wrote of her distress that her daughter had been alienated from her after undergoing cognitive therapy, like the young women who were the subject of Mick Brown’s piece (Magazine, April 7). They had fallen under the influence of a self-appointed “healer”.
Unqualified people cannot set themselves up as doctors to handle physical conditions. Equally, nobody should be able, unregulated and without suitable qualifications, to set themselves up as therapists or councillors to address mental health or anxiety issues. They should be required to belong to a body, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which would require them to be adequately qualified and properly supervised.
Gregory Shenkman
London W8
SIR – Sir John Nutting (Letters, April 17) is right. Mick Brown’s article not only exposed a matter of huge private concern to the families caught up in the activities of so-called “healers”, but also raised a matter of great public interest that needs urgent attention.
I am no longer a Member of Parliament, but when I was, it was (and remains) clear to me that a new law along the lines of those already in force in France and Belgium could go a long way in protecting vulnerable adults from the malign attentions of those who improperly exploit their emotional and psychological difficulties.
There are always reasons not to do something if there are other pressing issues on the Government’s legislative agenda, but I hope that, despite the important things demanding their attention, both the Government and Parliament will find time to legislate for these two humane, sensible and politically uncontroversial measures: the licensing and registration of informal healers or therapists, and the creation of criminal offences covering the exploitation of the emotionally and psychologically vulnerable.
The 2015 general election prevented my making progress in that Parliament despite the support of those at the very top of the Government.
I ask those in Parliament today to pick up the baton and run with it.
Sir Edward Garnier QC London EC4