Here are quotes of some of the several pieces of support for the
facts and views on Brad Jesness' web site:
Support for my views (precisely those at http://cyberper.cnc.net/index.htm) has
come
from MAJOR LEADERS IN THE CLINICAL/COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY FIELD
(the facts and views that are the actual reason for the hostility
against me which has included unethical behavior and stalking and
harassment by 'professionals' in the field). All responses are to
the paper you may
have just read (as part one of the main page of this web site: index.htm,
index.html,
http://cyberper.cnc.net/ OR http://cyberper.cnc.net/index.htm
-- ALL EQUIVALENT PAGES).
Major Distinguished Clinical Professor supports Brad's Views.
Major Distinguished Clinical Professor, Alvin Mahrer,
(1997 APA Disting. Psychol. Award Winner),
after Reading Parts 1 - 3 of my major paper at:
http://www.future.net/~bradj/index.htm SAID (quoting him in part):
"Good for you! I like what you are arguing,
and what you are working toward achieving makes good sense, I think. ...
On to more of your good thinking..."
After reading the end of Part 3 through Part 5, Prof. Mahrer said, in part:
" I am impressed with your comprehensive and tough criticisms of therapists
and their training. Excellent work.
My book (the best of ll) can feed and support your critical notions."
After reading Part 6, this Distinguished Clinical professor said (in part):
"I am reading chapters in O'donohue and Kitchener's Philosophy and
Psychology. Some of the chapters on ethical codes are hand-in-glove with
what you write.
Publish your stuff!...
Most of the issues you cover are (a) very important, but (b) not in my
experiential approach."
After reading the Addendum to part 6, Prof. Alvin Mahrer says:
(again,quoting part of what he said):
" Your criticisms and analyses of this batch of material reads as if it
ought to be in an APA Psychologist article. Why not? Do it!
I agree with all your solid points.
Again, I do research to discover more about how to do psychotherapy
better."
AND:
From: ivey@titan.oit.umass.edu (Allen E Ivey)
Subject: Supporting Brad
Date: 1996/07/11
Message-ID: <4s3nhd$b21@nic.umass.edu>#1/1
organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
newsgroups: sci.psychology.psychotherapy
Yes, he is controversial, but he raised important issues. Psychology
seems to me in a narrow fog and brad is one tryinig to free us to
think more openly.
I am not aware of efforts to censor Brad. If so, that is a disgrace and
speaks very poorly about some narrow mind(s).
Brad perhaps needs to be a bit more patient with us, but most of all I
respect him, his ability, and his willingness to challenge us all.
Allen Ivey, Distinguished Univ. Professor
U Mass. Amherst
AND
(quoting) Dr. Paul Barrett, chief clinical psychology researcher:
"... monitoring the largely evidence-based arguments put up by Brad, I have
yet to see much of a defence from the assembled clinicians on the
CLINICAL-PSYCHOLOGISTS listserv that could be said to address the thrust of
his arguments. This is not to say that I agree with the manner in which Brad
expresed his arguments (which revolve around only one or two very simple,
*but potentially devastating propositions*), but within the body of several
of his messages, these propositions did seem to be relatively unambiguous.
[(*s inserted by me)]
Barrett, again:..."[but if Ziskin is correct] then the clinical profession
is akin to a form of wizadry. If he is largely incorrect, the profession
should be able to silence critics such as Ziskin, and the Brad Jessness's of
the world! Perhaps a published rebuke exists already? If so, could someone
post up a reference or two that I can follow up."
"... my job is largely to do with assessment and treatment evaluation, plus
innovation where required. I have to go back to first principles in order to
determine where, how, and why, both assessments and treatments are
implemented, using standards of evidence appraisal that I would use in my
more usual work/research as an individual differences research
psychologist." Paul Barrett, Chief Scientist, Ashworth Hospital,
Liverpool, UK; Hon. Senior Research Fellow, Dept. of Clinical Psychology,
Liverpool University
AND
Quoting :
Now the quote of the serious distinguished clinical researcher and
chief U.K. scientist(quoted with his permission):
Message-ID: <eMKZdpnV9GA.364@nih2naaa.prod2.compuserve.com>
Newsgroups:sci.psychology.psychotherapy,alt.usenet.kooks,alt.brad.jesness.die.die.die
Xref: news alt.brad.jesness.die.die.die:1026 alt.usenet.kooks:84310
sci.psychology.psychotherapy:48321
Hello
With regard to the recent postings by Brad Jesness, and the use of my name
etc. as a supporter of his documents etc.... let me clear up one or two
issues.
I agree that the major foci of Brad's 30 page document are worth considered
professional discussion and some very careful thought. Specifically:
1. The difference between counseling and therapy, including the
consideration of just what constitutes "therapy".
2. The problems with placebo and waitlist controls, and effect sizes in the
controlled studies literature. Further, the whole issue of what constitutes
"therapy" and "outcome" in such studies is problematical.
3. The problem of categorisation boundaries of disorders in the DSM -
reliability issues etc.
4. The problem of diagnostic accuracy/agreement on the part of both
psychiatrists and psychologists.
5. The legal status of the clinical psychologist as an "expert".
6. The overall standards of "practice" mandated by the APA.
However, I'm not sure anyone would disagree that these are some of the most
taxing issues facing the profession. For example, just what is a desired
"outcome" - who "desires" it - how can we measure such outcomes (if at
all?), what constitutes a therapy (such that we can distinguish it from
"non-therapy"? Also, for those who might have digested some of my arguments
concerning science and measurement, I'm sure that the issues now seem even
more problematical - as they should. Remember also that the three volume
series edited by the late Jay Ziskin(1995) provides much of the detailed
legal and technical arguments surrounding the issues encompassed in Brad's
documents. Of course, several critics have accused him of being selective in
certain areas - but the sheer weight and breadth of evidence brought forward
by the various contributors dwarfs such arguments.
So, this is where I agree with Brad that the APA should be considering if
there is any kind of firm recommendations that could be made concerning
clinical practice. However, this is easy to propose - but damned difficult
to see how an organisation can approach the issues in a formal manner.
[snip of short content-irrelevant paragraph]
Regards ... Paul
P.S. Should anybody wish to quote or cross-post this message, feel free. As
always, I stand by everything I post.
-Reference-
Ziskin, J.Z. (1995) Coping with Psychiatric and Psychological Testimony
Vols. 1, 2, and 3. Law and Psychology Press.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Barrett Direct Tel: (44)-1555-841343
email: p.barrett@liv.ac.uk Hospital Tel: (44)-1555-840293
CompuServe: 100035,2124 Fax: (44)-1555-840024
http://www.liv.ac.uk/~pbarrett/paulhome.htm
Chief Scientist, The State Hospital, Carstairs, Scotland, ML11 8RP, UK
(end quotes)
******
Unfortunately, a newsgroup post of an entire transcript
of
a phone conversation with Distinguished U Mass psychologist,
Allen Ivey has been lost. This transcript showed Ivey's
complete and strong support for the entire paper
(on the
main page of this web site).
Here is a link to other support major persons in the field
have provided.
I have also received support from no less a major figure in the
field than Paul Meehl. Carroll Izard and others have also lent
their support. Robyn Dawes also offered support, but later
backed out in a personal email he sent someone (Dawes does
not have the courage to take the stand needed in the psychotherapy
field. His book, which I have read, does not go far enough. In
good part I have finished the job for him.) Now, does the field have
the courage or integrity needed to establish the NECESSARY
FOUNDATION OF A SCIENCE? That is the question. It has
been for decades.
It should be
pointed out that some of the well-known and famous
individuals noted above, who were aware of the atrocities against me
on Usenet and in other forums, wrote letters of support for me to the
APA when 'Dr.' Leslie Packer filed her bogus ethic
complaints
against me. (Needless to say, the ethics complaint was judged to
show NO ethical violation by me. Too bad Packer quit the APA
before the case against HER was heard.)