As members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) prepare to cast their votes for a new Chair, Sue Parker Hall, one of two candidates for this position, has released a video stating that she feels “compelled to speak candidly because the integrity of this election is at stake”. Parker Hall alleges that “This election is not being fought on equal ground’”
In support of this claim, she makes three important points:
Firstly, that the latest issue of the UKCPs ‘flagship’ magazine New Psychotherapist “features three articles that promote my opponent’s manifesto”. She expresses concern that: “This is an election period and the magazine is meant to represent all members, not to serve as a platform that favours one candidate”.
Secondly, that while she could lodge a complaint, she would be “complaining to the very Board that signs off the magazine and whose agenda I’m challenging. With no independent oversight of this election, I’ve no confidence that any such complaint would be addressed fairly or promptly.”
Thirdly, Parker Hall refers to a “deeply concerning letter circulating amongst certain UKCP members” which she states contains “false, defamatory and unfounded allegations against me”, accuses her of “promoting ‘far right’ views, conspiracy theories and misinformation” and being associated with “extremist movements and harmful ideologies”. Read this letter here.
Parker Hall states that “these claims are completely untrue and misrepresent my professional work, values and intentions”. She claims that these “baseless slurs against me are not only an attack on my character but also an attempt to manipulate the democratic process within UKCP. “
In her video, Parker Hall makes it clear that: “This isn’t just about my candidacy. It’s about ensuring that our professional body operates with fairness, transparency, and accountability.”
She concludes with the following statement: “I’ve made this video because I’ve been finding it difficult to get my very important message out. I’m asking you to please share it widely, particularly with your registered UKCP members. It’s urgent that UKCP registered therapists are provided with this information – information they may not be aware of before voting in next week’s elections.”
While Critical Therapy Antidote would not, under normal circumstances, give prominence to one candidate over another in an election such as this, these are not normal times. It seems that the interim Chair and Board of UKCP are promoting their favoured outcome to the detriment of Parker Hall. In order to redress the balance, we considered it only right to give her a platform to voice her concerns. See the video below.
You may find Peter Jenkins recent in-depth article on the UKCP and its proposed EDI agenda of interest in relation to the content of Parker Hall’s video.
You can see a list of all the candidates for the forthcoming UKCP elections and read their election statements here.
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