CTA, along with many concerned clinicians and therapy educators, has been following James Esses’ case against the UK Council for Psychotherapy – the second largest therapy professional body in the UK – very closely (see an early post here ). James was expelled from his training institute, Metanoia, and had his professional body membership terminated on the grounds of his holding gender critical beliefs. This was going to be a test case in the pushback against gender ideology being inserted into the therapy field.
So, it is with a great sense of relief that we can report that James reached a favourable settlement with the UKCP on Monday (11th December) (see news item here). The UKCP published an agreed statement which is reproduced below. Note the final line which commits this professional body to protecting practitioners and students who hold gender critical beliefs. A clear line is being drawn.
James has demonstrated what can be achieved through determination, courage and clear thinking. But we are also aware that this victory was achieved at great personal cost. James was subjected to two years of social media mobbing, slurs on his character and attempts to cancel him (see here for an example of this).
‘UKCP recognises that gender-critical beliefs (that sex is both binary and immutable) are protected under the Equality Act 2010. UKCP also recognises the validity of the professional belief that children suffering from gender dysphoria should be treated with explorative therapy, rather than being affirmed towards irreversible and potentially damaging medical intervention. Psychotherapists and counsellors accredited by UKCP are fully entitled to hold such beliefs and any discrimination against them on this basis, including by UKCP-accredited training organisations, is unlawful.’
Leave a Reply