Woman campaigns for stricter therapist regulation after successful lawsuit

Following a successful civil lawsuit against a therapist she accused of rape during a session, a woman has advocated for more stringent regulation of therapists and counsellors. Ella Janneh received over £200,000 in damages in June after her civil claim, which proceeded after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) opted not to pursue criminal charges against her therapist, Michael Lousada. Ms Janneh has since initiated a campaign urging the government to implement statutory regulation. The government, for its part, has advised individuals to seek out practitioners listed on a voluntary register that is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA). Warning: This article contains details some might find distressing Ms Janneh, who chose to forgo her right to anonymity, attended Mr Lousada’s clinic in Belsize Park, north London, in 2016. She testified in court during the proceedings that her reason for visiting him was to address panic attacks experienced during consensual sexual activity, stemming from childhood abuse. The High Court was told that during the £750 session, the therapist had stated his penis was “like a laser beam” that could “burn up trauma”. Furthermore, the court was informed that Ms Janneh neither requested nor agreed to penile penetration being employed as a “therapeutic technique”. Following the CPS’s decision not to prosecute Mr Lousada, Ms Janneh initiated a civil court claim for “trespass to the person”. After an eight-year pursuit of justice, Ms Janneh has expressed her intention to advocate for the establishment of a new regulatory body, aiming to “keep the public safe from therapists who abuse their power over clients in therapy”. She stated: “It is shameful that presently the onus is placed on the public to keep ourselves safe.” “It’s time we address this issue. And victims’ voices must be at the centre of this change.” At present, individuals in the UK are able to identify as a therapist, psychotherapist, or counsellor without possessing standardised qualifications or training. While the government has the authority to place specific professions under statutory regulation, the inclusion of any new profession at this level of oversight would necessitate a statutory three-month consultation period and adherence to parliamentary procedure. Ms Janneh asserted that the therapy and counselling sector should “to agree to be statutorily regulated”. This week, she presided over a meeting to launch the campaign, supported by her solicitors, Leigh Day. In a statement, the firm declared: “The closed-doors discussion brought together key stakeholders including UK professional bodies to discuss the issue and seek their support.” The statement indicated that numerous attendees concurred on the necessity for a government-regulated register of therapists and that “a coalition” would advance the topics deliberated. Cat Rubens, a solicitor at Leigh Day, commented that the meeting “really highlighted the need for better regulation in therapy”. She further stated: “Counselling should be a safe space. “With better regulation we can ensure that there are measures in place to better protect members of the public from harm.” A spokesperson for the government expressed commendation for Ms Janneh’s “bravery in speaking out”. They added: “Taking advantage of someone who is seeking help while at their most vulnerable is reprehensible and we would urge anyone affected to come forward so those responsible can face justice.” The spokesperson emphasized that individuals seeking therapy are entitled to confidence and trust in their healthcare professional, which is why the government advocates for the use of qualified practitioners listed on registers accredited by the PSA. They concluded: “To meet the standards for PSA accreditation, an organisation must have a focus on public protection and robust processes for handling complaints against practitioners.” For those impacted by sexual abuse or violence, assistance and support can be accessed through the BBC Action Line. The best of BBC Radio London is available on Sounds, and updates from BBC London can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas may be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Further information on our external linking policy is available.