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Psychologist
who allegedly insulted client ordered to undergo supervision
January
25, 2007
by Mike Jones
A
consultant clinical psychologist who allegedly called a depressed
client a “wanker” and a “waste of space”
during therapy has been ordered to undergo two-years of supervision.
A
service user told a conduct committee of the British Psychological
Society that Dr John McCarron had insulted him while treating him
for depression between 2001 and 2002.
Dr
McCarron, then working for Lancashire NHS Trust, denied ever saying
"wanker" or "waste of space". But he admitted
he may have used similar insulting language when “in conversations”
with the user, known as GL.
Dr
McCarron, whose website states he specialises in empowerment and
personal growth, told the committee that he sometimes used challenging
and provocative language in his “eclectic” therapeutic
approach.
But
he said he no longer uses such an approach, and that if had used
such language it would not have been used “directly to”
a client.
The
committee decided last week it could not be sure of the exact language
used by Dr McCarron to GL.
It
ruled that Dr McCarron had not used abusive language with the intention
of insulting GL.
But
the committee ruled he had used language which had a "belittling
effect."
The
committee also ruled that Dr McCarron had told another client, referred
to as AS, to "pull yourself together you're pathetic"
during therapy, also between 2001 and 2002.
The
committee reprimanded Dr McCarron but said he could continue to
be a chartered clinical psychologist, on the condition he undergo
clinical supervision for two years.
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