Christian counselor’s attempt to cure gay man was 'malpractice' - In The News - Springhill Group Counselling

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SPRINGHILL GROUP COUNSELLING
By PresenterMedia.com
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Christian counselors attempt to cure gay man was
malpractice

• A gay man was tried to be converted to become
  heterosexual, his Christian psychotherapist found
  guilty of professional misconduct.
• Lesley Pilkington, a Christian psychotherapist,
  was condemned by the professional body for
  counselors subsequent to an undercover journalist
  posing as a patient furtively recorded her during
  a therapy session at her home.

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British Association for Counseling and
Psychotherapy 
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British Association for Counseling and
Psychotherapy (BACP) ruled that she had breached
the professions ethical code despite finding
that Mrs. Pilkingtons client, Patrick Strudwick,
deliberately misled her. She now affronts being
chastised off the associations widely renowned
professional register and is considering an
appeal.
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Two Column Layout

• Mrs Pilkington, 60, practises reparative
  therapy, a contentious method which assumes that
  homosexual orientation can be therapeutically
  changed in clients who are motivated.
• Back in 2009, Mr Strudwick met Mrs Pilkington at
  a largely Christian conference on therapy of
  homosexuality.  He told her he said he was
  unhappy with his gay lifestyle and that he wanted
  treatment for his same-sex attraction.

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• Mr. Strudwick recorded a session on a tape
  machine strapped to his stomach while he appeared
  to Mrs. Pilkingtons private practice, based at
  her home in Chorleywood, Herts, and
• He collected evidences which he later used in a
  protest against Mrs. Pilkington to the BACP.  A
  decision by the BACP panel was made but both
  sides were advised to treat the issue as
  confidential while Mrs. Pilkington considered
  whether to use her right to an appeal.

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• Mr. Strudwick wrote about the BACPs decision for
  the Guardian newspaper while Mrs. Pilkington then
  issued her own press statement through the
  Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting her
  case. The BACP has refused to comment, stating
  that the process has not yet concluded.
• The disciplinary panel described Mrs. Pilkington
  as reckless, disrespectful, dogmatic and
  unprofessional and ruled that her treatment of
  him constituted professional malpractice.

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• The ruling affirmed that her accreditation to the
  organization will be suspended at the same time
  she will be ordered to complete training. If she
  be unsuccessful to comply she will be forced off
  the register.
• Mr. Strudwick said in his newspaper article, I
  am an out, happily gay man. I was undercover,
  investigating therapists who practice this
  so-called conversion therapy (also known as
  reparative therapy) who try to pray away the
  gay.

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• I asked her to make me straight. Her attempts to
  do so flout the advice of every major
  mental-health body in Britain.
• Mr. Strudwick alleged that Mrs. Pilkington asked
  him whether he had been the victim of sexual
  abuse as a child and then prayed for God to
  bring to the surface his past suffering, and
  suggested he take up rugby.

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• This had the effect of lulling Mrs. Pilkington
  into a false sense of security in which he could
  manipulate the sessions to meet his own
  agenda.
• Mrs. Pilkington said I am deeply concerned that
  the privileged and confidential relationship
  between a counselor and her patient will be
  undermined by a journalist seeking a
  sensationalist story without any substance.

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• Reparative therapy is a valid therapy that many
  people want and it should not be damaged by
  irresponsible reporting. The hearing is still
  subject to an appeal.