Victim urges tougher regulation for therapists

A woman who successfully sued a therapist over claims he raped her during a therapy session has called for tougher regulation of therapists and counsellors.

Ella Janneh was awarded more than £200,000 in damages following her civil claim in June, after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to press charges against her therapist Michael Lousada.

Ms Janneh has now launched a campaign calling on the government to introduce statutory regulation.

The government has urged people to use practitioners who have signed up to a voluntary register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA).

Warning: This article contains details some might find distressing

Ms Janneh, who has waived her right to anonymity, visited Mr Lousada in his clinic in Belsize Park, north London, in 2016.

She told the court during the trial that she had visited him after suffering panic attacks during consensual sex because she was abused as a child.

The High Court heard the therapist had said his penis was "like a laser beam" that could "burn up trauma" during the £750 session.

The court also heard that Ms Janneh did not ask for or consent to the use of penile penetration as a "therapeutic technique".

When the CPS chose not to prosecute Mr Lousada, Ms Janneh then pursued a claim in the civil court for "trespass to the person".

After her eight-year battle for justice, Ms Janneh says she now wants to campaign for the introduction of a new regulatory body to "keep the public safe from therapists who abuse their power over clients in therapy".

She said: "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."

Currently anyone in the UK can call themselves a therapist, psychotherapist or counsellor without standardised qualifications or training.

The government can bring certain professions under statutory regulation, but any introduction of a new profession to this level of oversight would be subjected to a statutory three-month consultation and parliamentary procedure.

Ms Janneh said it was time for the therapy and counselling sector "to agree to be statutorily regulated".

This week, she chaired a meeting to start the campaign with the support of her solicitors Leigh Day.

In a statement, the firm said: "The closed-doors discussion brought together key stakeholders including UK professional bodies to discuss the issue and seek their support."

It said many agreed that there should be a register of therapists that was regulated by the government and that "a coalition" would pursue what was discussed.

Leigh Day solicitor Cat Rubens said the meeting "really highlighted the need for better regulation in therapy".

She added: "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 government spokesperson said it commended Ms Janneh for her "bravery in speaking out".

"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.

"Anyone seeking therapy deserves to have confidence and trust in their healthcare professional, which is why we urge the use of qualified practitioners on registers accredited by the PSA.

"To meet the standards for PSA accreditation, an organisation must have a focus on public protection and robust processes for handling complaints against practitioners."

If you have been affected by sexual abuse or violence, help and support is available via BBC Action Line.

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