Welcome 2026.

Actually 2026 has arrived with a sense of dread. But that's another story! Every year I write a letter to myself as the year ends. And so, this morning I got to read last year's letter to me now. I sat down with good coffee and cake, and started to read. Clearly this time last year I was stuck in the pain 'therapy' brought me - and I was on my way to making the complaint official, despite all my misgivings about the complaint process.

Because I felt so uneasy about making an official complaint, and so that the therapist could understand what had occurred to make therapy so profoundly damaging I sent him the recordings of the sessions with my annotated transcripts.

And because he didn't reply, or offer any acknowledgement of a problem I felt that there was simply no other option left except to send him my victim statement. I didn't want to see myself as a victim - but there wasn't any other way now to view it.

Only by deeply acknowledging what had happened to me was it possible then to really think about making an official complaint. But I still felt very uncomfortable about reporting him so I emailed UKCP requesting guidance. I honestly thought this was a reasonable thing to do.

Silly me.

I received by reply an AI generated email asking me to just make the complaint. I guess UKCP don't concern themselves with the emotional and psychological impact of the complaints procedure? Until then I hadn't thought about the actual role of the professional membership bodies. The AI generated reply ( or worse, human writing like an AI!) caused me to investigate.

And then everything crashed when I got the letter from the police saying that the therapist had accused me of harassment. 

After that it would have been really sensible to contact the police and ask for the contact details of the solicitor who 'rescued me'. And to ask questions. I didn't and I won't ask, I refuse to act defensively or to attack. What comes out of this mess should simply be knowledge and insights into how to prevent suffering!

So, what's next? 

I've looked at the impact the complaints procedures have on therapists.  Now I want to know about the client's experience - and this is proving very difficult. I specifically want to hear from UK based clients, because this is where I am.

Meanwhile here is an account from America that gives an insight into what may be on the other side for clients. 

Please note - I cannot believe that the absence of reports from British clients means that things are handled better here. Nor can I believe for a second that I'm the only client , or concerned relative who has been defensively reported for harassment to the police by a therapist fighting to avoid a complaint.



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