Letters to the Editor
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This page is available for readers to throw brickbats or bouquets, to sound off on any subject that has provoked their ire or promoted their admiration, and generally to share with the rest of us. There is no shortage of space! |
From Mark Edwards, Dawlish, England, July 27, 2004
[re Issue 13 - and the book review of Therapy Culture]
Hi Joe
Many thanks for the latest issue of NP - some really good articles.
I am very interested to see that you have reviewed Therapy Culture by Frank Furedi. That guy seem to me to be on a different planet to the rest of us! (He's also written a book criticising 'parenting skills' as a concept.) I thought your review very good but think you were far too kind to him! I have looked through the book and can find no suggestions by him as to what one does when one is suffering the consequences of our inhumane society. I can only conclude that he wants us to stand on the street corner exhorting everyone to start the revolution.
The other beef I have about this book is that I can't agree with his premise that we as a culture are 'therapy obsessed'. I wish! It seems to me that the opposite is true - that the 'system', whatever it is, actively suppresses the counselling industry. If you talk to teachers who have tried to develop emotional literacy in schools you will find they have a struggle on their hands. The psychiatric model of mental health, which keeps power very firmly in the 'professionals' hands, and locates problems in the individual, not in society, heavily dominates in the UK. It seems fairly obvious why the Government is not keen to promote different models such as humanistic counselling where our social structures might come under scrutiny.
And of course, the other question that his premise begs is why? If people ARE indeed turning toward counselling and therapy, it is for a reason. Our materialistic, consumer - based, celebrity obsessed lifestyles are perhaps lacking somewhere and people are becoming aware of it.
In my view Frank Furedi is very much part of the 'Establishment' and seems peculiarly obsessed with this subject. This latter is probably the one thing we have in common!
Best wishes
Mark Edwards
NB If you want to publish this as a letter in the next NP feel free!