A distressing regression in the field of psychotherapy and counselling has been evidenced this week, impacting the LGBTQIA community going forward.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy’s (UKCP) abrupt withdrawal from the Memorandum of Understanding marks a deeply concerning shift, potentially opening the door to validating practices that aim to alter the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQIA individuals, pushing them towards hetero- and gender-normativity. This development threatens to reverse progress, framing psychotherapy and counselling once again (we’ve been here before) as means through which conservative ideologies can be propagated at the expense of LGBTQIA rights.
The Memorandum of Understanding, in essence, is an agreement among professional bodies in the psychotherapy and counselling fields, pledging to combat discrimination and prevent practices that attempt to ‘convert’ LGBTQIA people. Its abandonment by the UKCP could legitimise harmful therapeutic interventions, reigniting fears of a past where such tactics were more openly employed.
Historical instances of directive psychotherapy and counselling, which sought to attribute homosexuality (a term that has largely fallen out of widespread use) to familial or developmental ‘faults,’ exemplify the types of practices the Memorandum aims to prevent. Many, including myself, have endured such prejudiced approaches, where the focus was on blaming rather than understanding and acceptance.
The departure of the UKCP from this crucial agreement not only poses a direct threat to the dignity and rights of LGBTQIA individuals, but also calls into question where the ethical standards governing psychotherapy and counselling in the UK are heading. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of scrutinising the values and principles upheld by professional bodies before seeking therapy, and you are advised to ask a prospective therapist to which body they are aligned, before you enter into a contract and start paying them.
In these challenging times, when regressive elements seek to undermine the gains made in securing LGBTQIA rights, it is imperative for those committed to diversity and inclusion to be discerning in their choices – whether it’s in selecting a therapist, aligning with professional organisations, or advocating for equitable treatment in all spheres of life.
There is fightback within the professions of psychotherapy and counselling. Check out Therapists Against Conversion Therapy and Transphobia for how anyone can join in making your opinions known on the UKCP leaving the Memorandum of Understanding.
xph therapy offers integrative counselling, which means working with multiple therapy types, including CBT, psychotherapeutic and person-centred to develop a therapeutic pathway just for you, whatever outcome you’re hoping to achieve. Get in touch in a variety of ways. See the contact page for more info.