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Vivian Baruch's avatar

Thank you Helen for your courage & honesty in answering questions about the personal impacts on you of the Grievance Studies Affair. I particularly enjoyed the last chapter of "The Counterweight Handbook" (quoted below) in which you outline the liberal principles needed to combat all forms of authoritarianism, in whichever form it manifests.

An article I submitted to a psychotherapy & counselling journal was recently rejected on a few ideological grounds, one of which was an insufficient focus on its applicability to indigenous clients and therapists. The main thesis of the article was how measuring outcomes & alliance in therapy by using two short, feasible, valid, empirical measures applied cross-culturally for nearly 25 years, levels the therapy playing field. They give clients a voice in their treatment, irrespective of race, gender, religion, socio-economic status & such variables, and empower clients to direct their therapy - except those in acute crisis (suicidal or severe psychosis), and some cognitive or developmental impairments. I'm concerned about the capture of our therapy field by DEI & share your concern that "Even though the movement is too divorced from reality, chaotic, contradictory, ethically inconsistent, and alienating to survive, it has done a great deal of damage socially and will likely do a lot more before it falls."

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Helen Pluckrose's avatar

Argh! Yeah, that’s a very clear case of ideological bias. Thought about the Journal of Controversial Ideas?

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Vivian Baruch's avatar

Thanks for the suggestion. I submitted it elsewhere & it's been accepted. Will keep that one in mind though.

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Antonia Baur's avatar

I enjoyed this so much. So many great ideas for pushing back with respect.

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Paul Belz's avatar

Hi Helen, I am a very un-woke left liberal or something in the US and I really appreciate your work a lot. I used to get your articles, but I am now just getting videos I find it hard to concentrate on videos, is there a way to get articles again? Thanks. Paul B, CHico, Ca.

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Helen Pluckrose's avatar

Hey, Paul,

Thank you! I have just been remiss for a couple of weeks first because I was having migraines and then because I was away at a conference. I'm considering it my annual leave and have started writing again today.

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Paul Belz's avatar

Thanks and feel better. I look forward to seeing articles. A new perspective on things is essential and you contribute a lot. Take it easy.

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