English counselor, charged with bias against homosexuals, says witnesses were threatened
January 20, 2011
A Christian counselor in England, facing legal charges for seeking to help a man leave the homosexual lifestyle, has reported that potential witnesses in the case have received threatening phone calls.
Lesley Pilkington faced a January 20 hearing with a professional-standards panel of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy as a result of charges brought by an undercover journalist, Patrick Strudwick, who had presented himself to her as a Christian who wished to overcome his homosexual urges. After surreptitiously recording counseling sessions, Strudwick accused Pilkington of showing him disrespect because of his homosexual orientation.
Prior to the hearing, the investigative panel asked Pilkington to provide a list of witnesses who could testify to her professional competence. She reports that soon after she furnished that list—which was always provided to Strudwick—the people on the list began receiving intimidating calls, in which they were told not to attend the hearing. Pilkington has asked the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy to postpone her hearing and investigate the source of the threats.
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Posted by: stpetric -
Jan. 21, 2011 6:13 AM ET USA
So, this therapist didn't recruit her "patient" but responded to *his* request for help with behaviors he claimed to find bothersome; she framed her intervention in terms of the values he claimed to hold; and *she's* accused of an ethics violation? The only silver lining could be if the accusation goes to adjudication, the case for therapy for same-sex attraction might get a hearing.
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Posted by: rpp -
Jan. 20, 2011 7:01 PM ET USA
No surprise there.Fir he comes in and lies about what he wants the doc to help him with. Then when the doc does just that, he files charges insisting she did what he asked. Then he intimidates and threaten anyone who suggest that that is what the doc did. Seems pretty clear who the unethical party is here. However, I fear that the doc will not get a fair shake.
