Following recent case law, and the publication of the interim Cass Review report, the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is today issuing a statement on the law regarding gender-critical views and its implications for the practice of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling. This statement is also being made to highlight the fact that exploratory therapy must not be conflated with conversion therapy.
UK Council of Psycotherapy
The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy recently issued a position statement. In it they recognised that therapists with ‘gender critical’ views are likely to want to help clients resolve their gender related distress psychologically rather than through invasive medical treatment. The statement goes on to acknowledge that gender critical views are protected in law, that the exploratory therapy associated with them is in line with the recommendations of the interim Cass Review, and that such therapy should not be conflated with concepts of conversion therapy.
CAN-SG wrote to Dr Christian Buckland, UKCP Chair to welcome and support the UK Council for Psychotherapy’s guidance and position statement on gender-critical views and its implications for psychotherapeutic practice for both UKCP members and patients / service users.
We invite you to join the CAN-SG webinar to discuss this issue live on Thu 7 Dec 2023 7:00 PM.
Dr Az Hakeem, Dr Louise Irvine & Bob Withers will explore why legislation to ban so-called Conversion Therapy could harm people with gender-related distress. #CANSGConversionTherapy
Dr Az Hakeem is one of the top gender experts in the UK. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist, Group Analyst & Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at UCL Medical School. He previously ran a specialist gender dysphoria psychotherapy service within the NHS.
Dr Louise Irvine is a GP and Co-chair of Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender. She will be talking about the background to the worldwide push for legislation to ban so called gender identity conversion therapy, and some of the risks and unintended harms from such legislation
Bob Withers is a Jungian Psychoanalyst and former senior lecturer in the history and philosophy of medicine, with many years’ experience working with, researching and writing about gender issues.