I think you need a new association. Just as the Darlington nurses have, I believe, set up a new union. If enough people leave conspicuously and join the new one, that should get some attention.
Thank you Lucy for this hard hitting and heartfelt piece! As someone who has been trying to effect change from within for 4 years I congratulate you for cutting your loses, i still hope that as a member I can expose the rot and force their hand, but that perhaps says more about my tendency to stay in relationships long after I should leave! I have to know there is absolutely 100% no chance of it surviving and Iām very very close to that now
I totally understand that ā as I say, I have been teetering on the brink for a long time. It was that outrageous statement after the Supreme Court ruling, when the difficulties (and that is being polite) of children, women and gay people as a result of this ideology have never been acknowledged, which was the final straw. I felt as if I was being 'gas lit' by my own professional body.
Well said, Lucy. The partisanship of the BACP and the blatant marginalisation of those who donāt subscribe to the new creed is of the greatest concern. A generation of children are being damaged by political ideology which has no interest in their safety or well being, and the BACP is endorsing this.
I entirely agree ā it is as if all rational thought, any moral code and any sense of responsibility have been ditched, to satisfy a few true believers in a fantasy. And these are supposed to be adults, in whom the Professional Standards Authority places its trust.
This is an outstanding account of the present state of the BACP and our profession as a whole Lucyā¦.thank youā¦as a fellow leaver I resonate with āthe waterās lovelyāā¦.it is sickening to the soul to remain a member of a gaslighting organisation that tells you how diverse they are whilst shutting you outā¦their motto should be āinclusion for me but not for theeāā¦this piece is highly informative, poetic and playfulā¦I love the membership card cut with pinking shearsā¦how many of us still have a pair of those traditional thingsā¦.?ā¦.staying in is a tough choice and those pushing back on the inside, like you say, deserve our respect and supportā¦who knows how this disastrous tragedy will be turned aroundā¦at least two of the members standing in the forthcoming BACP election for trustees are ideologues and will be doubling down on this careless, cavalier and harmful approach. God help us.
Thank you, Sue. You were an inspiring example, as I edged closer and closer to leaving. I suspect in the end, the whole thing will collapse under the weight of its own inconsistencies, as well as external pressure. Like you, I fully respect all those fighting from within. And you never know when a pair of pinking shears will come in useful!
Lucy, this is one of the most well informed and brilliantly researched pieces of work I have seen that absolutely captures pretty much everything that disturbes me about the present and future approach and safety of therapy. As of last week, after 20 years, I have withdrawn my membership from the BACP, long time coming. In 2020, I stopped working in schools in Surrey and West London. Safeguarding, even then, was fast falling down around children and young people in favour of ideology.
Thank you so much for this, Sonia. I finally reached a point where I felt I couldn't tolerate this abdication of responsibility from what is supposed to be a professional membership body anymore. After all, the BACP holds a register for the Professional Standards Authority ā many rely on that as a guarantee of professional competence (including lots of employers) ā and yet the Association appears to be entirely in hoc to a destructive ideology and apparently seeks to avoid engaging with members who try to hold it to account, for the benefit of both professionals and the public alike.
'There is an unwarranted arrogance about being āon the right side of historyā, allied with an unwillingness to acknowledge that there are other legitimate viewpoints, which in fact align far better with what are widely understood to be therapeutic principles' - Absolutely.
āOver a year after publication, there has been no statement from the BACP on the review and no revision of guidelines for woking with gender-confused children. ā
A Freudian slip?
Seriously, well done, and good luck with everything you do.
Thank you so much ā and I particularly appreciate it, as you know all about difficult choices! Your piece in the Wall Street Journal was shocking and eye-opening. Thank you for all that you are doing to turn the tide ā please keep speaking too!
I think you need a new association. Just as the Darlington nurses have, I believe, set up a new union. If enough people leave conspicuously and join the new one, that should get some attention.
I agree ā somehow we need to rediscover professionalism and boundaries, both have been lost.
Thank you Lucy for this hard hitting and heartfelt piece! As someone who has been trying to effect change from within for 4 years I congratulate you for cutting your loses, i still hope that as a member I can expose the rot and force their hand, but that perhaps says more about my tendency to stay in relationships long after I should leave! I have to know there is absolutely 100% no chance of it surviving and Iām very very close to that now
I totally understand that ā as I say, I have been teetering on the brink for a long time. It was that outrageous statement after the Supreme Court ruling, when the difficulties (and that is being polite) of children, women and gay people as a result of this ideology have never been acknowledged, which was the final straw. I felt as if I was being 'gas lit' by my own professional body.
Well said, Lucy. The partisanship of the BACP and the blatant marginalisation of those who donāt subscribe to the new creed is of the greatest concern. A generation of children are being damaged by political ideology which has no interest in their safety or well being, and the BACP is endorsing this.
I entirely agree ā it is as if all rational thought, any moral code and any sense of responsibility have been ditched, to satisfy a few true believers in a fantasy. And these are supposed to be adults, in whom the Professional Standards Authority places its trust.
This is an outstanding account of the present state of the BACP and our profession as a whole Lucyā¦.thank youā¦as a fellow leaver I resonate with āthe waterās lovelyāā¦.it is sickening to the soul to remain a member of a gaslighting organisation that tells you how diverse they are whilst shutting you outā¦their motto should be āinclusion for me but not for theeāā¦this piece is highly informative, poetic and playfulā¦I love the membership card cut with pinking shearsā¦how many of us still have a pair of those traditional thingsā¦.?ā¦.staying in is a tough choice and those pushing back on the inside, like you say, deserve our respect and supportā¦who knows how this disastrous tragedy will be turned aroundā¦at least two of the members standing in the forthcoming BACP election for trustees are ideologues and will be doubling down on this careless, cavalier and harmful approach. God help us.
Thank you, Sue. You were an inspiring example, as I edged closer and closer to leaving. I suspect in the end, the whole thing will collapse under the weight of its own inconsistencies, as well as external pressure. Like you, I fully respect all those fighting from within. And you never know when a pair of pinking shears will come in useful!
Well said, a thorough and thought provoking post.
Thank you so much.
Itās a brave step and I commend you for doing it! You can leave and keep your voice. And your voice is still needed. Others may do the same. š
Thank you, Jason. And thank you for using your voice in the way that you do ā it is very powerful.
Lucy, this is one of the most well informed and brilliantly researched pieces of work I have seen that absolutely captures pretty much everything that disturbes me about the present and future approach and safety of therapy. As of last week, after 20 years, I have withdrawn my membership from the BACP, long time coming. In 2020, I stopped working in schools in Surrey and West London. Safeguarding, even then, was fast falling down around children and young people in favour of ideology.
Thank you so much for this, Sonia. I finally reached a point where I felt I couldn't tolerate this abdication of responsibility from what is supposed to be a professional membership body anymore. After all, the BACP holds a register for the Professional Standards Authority ā many rely on that as a guarantee of professional competence (including lots of employers) ā and yet the Association appears to be entirely in hoc to a destructive ideology and apparently seeks to avoid engaging with members who try to hold it to account, for the benefit of both professionals and the public alike.
TLDR version: a cult ate your organisation. I completely understand.
'There is an unwarranted arrogance about being āon the right side of historyā, allied with an unwillingness to acknowledge that there are other legitimate viewpoints, which in fact align far better with what are widely understood to be therapeutic principles' - Absolutely.
Thank you!
Terrific writing, Lucy.
Thank you, Harriet!
āOver a year after publication, there has been no statement from the BACP on the review and no revision of guidelines for woking with gender-confused children. ā
A Freudian slip?
Seriously, well done, and good luck with everything you do.
Thank you!
What a hard and brave choice. There seems to be an international counter current against ideological rigidity. Keep speaking!
Thank you so much ā and I particularly appreciate it, as you know all about difficult choices! Your piece in the Wall Street Journal was shocking and eye-opening. Thank you for all that you are doing to turn the tide ā please keep speaking too!