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Latest issue:March 2010
Vol.21
Issue 2
Latest issue:
A selection of articles are freely available to aid your research, guide your practice or inform you about a broad range of therapy related subjects.
Search for articles by keyword or browse the archive.
Trauma: the unreported casualty of war |
| "In the March issue of this journal, two psychotherapists wrote about the psychological impact of military occupation on the Palestinian people. In response, David Bedein reports from Sderot on the effects of Palestinian rocket fire on the city's residents" |
A response to ‘To resist is to exist’ by Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto |
| "The recent spate of correspondence over the publication in Therapy Today of ‘To resist is to exist’ by Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto (March 2009) has raised the ire of many readers, despite the BACP statement that BACP ‘has no position or policy with regard to Middle East politics’" |
Treat assertions about sight loss with caution |
| "In their paper ‘To resist is to exist’ (Therapy Today, March 2009), Kemp and Pinto cite a case of a child becoming blind due to the psychological trauma attributed to reported demolition of her house. I note that her mother reportedly became ‘mute’. As an optometrist I am not in a position to comment on the psychoanalytical diagnoses regarding causes but I would ask that I be allowed to make some observations." |
A legitimate topic for discussion |
| "Your article ‘To resist is to exist’ by Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto discusses the psychological impact of military occupation on the Palestinian people. If this is a legitimate topic for discussion in your journal – and surely it is – then description of the causative factors has to be part of that discussion" |
No monopoly on suffering |
| "Your article ‘To resist is to exist’ (March 2009) is a disturbing one that demands attention in that it presents an emotive picture calculated to shock and is viewed almost exclusively from the Palestinian perspective" |
One-sided debate |
| "I’m sure I am not the only reader to comment on the 'Palestine: to resist is to exist' piece, March Therapy Today. I will confine myself to a few brief points." |
Great shame of our time |
| "I have just read the article concerning Palestine and would applaud the writers who have described the situations they encountered" |
Authors’ response to criticism |
| "In our article (To resist is to exist, March Therapy Today) we argued that the Occupation has a direct and destructive impact on the mental health of Palestinians (and perhaps of Israelis too); and, in addition, we briefly intimated that our discipline might contribute to understanding the unconscious dynamics behind the conflict" |
Disturbed by hostile response |
| "I commend Therapy Today and Eliana Pinto and Martin Kemp for publishing the article ‘To resist is to exist’. I am disturbed however by such a hostile response to a straightforward and honest recording of the current facts in Palestine. Indeed I think the response sheds light on why this problem seems so intractable." |
Concern at shocking article |
| "As longstanding members of the BACP, we are writing to you concerning the recent, quite shocking article ‘To resist is to exist” in this month’s Therapy Today" |
Suffering on both sides |
| "Many thanks to you for your courage in publishing the article on Palestine.I write as a long experienced counsellor and social worker who has visited some of the places mentioned in the article, and know some of the people visited" |
Failure of judgement |
| "We are writing to register our concern and dismay at the article 'To resist is to exist' in the March issue of Therapy Today. The official BACP journal is no place for a political article." |
Blatant bias |
| "Has Therapy Today entered politics? This blatantly bias article is nothing more than five pages of pro-Palestinian propaganda with the occasional psychological sentence thrown in." |
Inaccurate article |
| "My heart sank when I saw the cover of your March Vol. 20 Issue 2 edition. It sank further when I read the article. First of all, it is inaccurate. As yet, there is no such state as Palestine." |
Consider casualties from all sides |
| "I am a child and young person’s counsellor and a member of BACP. At present I am working towards accreditation. It is a long and arduous task, but I am working with determination and am actually enjoying it." |
Political polemic |
| "The article ‘To resist is to exist’ is a most blatantly one-sided piece of political polemic. It has no place in what is supposed to be a professional journal." |
Misleading without another viewpoint |
| "We were very disappointed to read your article ‘To Resist is to Exist’. The article contained several factual errors and omissions which led to conclusions that we dispute." |
Flawed background research |
| "An unfortunate outcome for a professional journal that offers a forum for the expression of views is that the opportunity can arise for the presentation of mere opinion as fact, no matter how biased or erroneous" |
The effects of conflict |
| "I was very proud to be a member of an organisation (BACP) which took the brave step in publishing this moving account on the situation in Palestine" |
Highlighting long-term consequences |
| "I am a member of BACP and was very pleased to see the timely article on Palestine in the March issue" |
Excellent article |
| "I just want to say what an excellent article Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto have written about the occupation of Palestine in the most recent copy of Therapy Today" |
Biased and political |
| "Your magazine is packed with excellent relevant articles – so why the totally biased and political one on the Palestinians?" |
More balance needed |
| "In printing the article about Israel and the Palestinians by Kemp and Pinto, you have published a piece of unashamed one-sided political propaganda thinly disguised as professional analysis." |
No mention of suicide bombers |
| "I was concerned at the editorial and the article ‘To resist is to exist’. The whole tone is closer to a political campaign than anything to do with counselling and psychotherapy and politics clearly is not the function of BACP or its monthly journal." |
Non-political ethos |
| "I have been a member of BACP for over 20 years and accredited for 13 years. I have always understood the ethos of counselling to be non-political" |
One-sided debate |
| "I’m sure I am not the only reader to comment on the 'Palestine: to resist is to exist' piece, March Therapy Today. I will confine myself to a few brief points." |
No monopoly on suffering |
| "Your article ‘To resist is to exist’ (March 2009) is a disturbing one that demands attention in that it presents an emotive picture calculated to shock and is viewed almost exclusively from the Palestinian perspective" |
A legitimate topic for discussion |
| "Your article ‘To resist is to exist’ by Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto discusses the psychological impact of military occupation on the Palestinian people. If this is a legitimate topic for discussion in your journal – and surely it is – then description of the causative factors has to be part of that discussion" |
Treat assertions about sight loss with caution |
| "In their paper ‘To resist is to exist’ (Therapy Today, March 2009), Kemp and Pinto cite a case of a child becoming blind due to the psychological trauma attributed to reported demolition of her house. I note that her mother reportedly became ‘mute’. As an optometrist I am not in a position to comment on the psychoanalytical diagnoses regarding causes but I would ask that I be allowed to make some observations." |
Great shame of our time |
| "I have just read the article concerning Palestine and would applaud the writers who have described the situations they encountered" |
Authors’ response to criticism |
| "In our article (To resist is to exist, March Therapy Today) we argued that the Occupation has a direct and destructive impact on the mental health of Palestinians (and perhaps of Israelis too); and, in addition, we briefly intimated that our discipline might contribute to understanding the unconscious dynamics behind the conflict" |
Disturbed by hostile response |
| "I commend Therapy Today and Eliana Pinto and Martin Kemp for publishing the article ‘To resist is to exist’. I am disturbed however by such a hostile response to a straightforward and honest recording of the current facts in Palestine. Indeed I think the response sheds light on why this problem seems so intractable." |
Concern at shocking article |
| "As longstanding members of the BACP, we are writing to you concerning the recent, quite shocking article ‘To resist is to exist” in this month’s Therapy Today" |
Failure of judgement |
| "We are writing to register our concern and dismay at the article 'To resist is to exist' in the March issue of Therapy Today. The official BACP journal is no place for a political article." |
Blatant bias |
| "Has Therapy Today entered politics? This blatantly bias article is nothing more than five pages of pro-Palestinian propaganda with the occasional psychological sentence thrown in." |
Suffering on both sides |
| "Many thanks to you for your courage in publishing the article on Palestine.I write as a long experienced counsellor and social worker who has visited some of the places mentioned in the article, and know some of the people visited" |
Inaccurate article |
| "My heart sank when I saw the cover of your March Vol. 20 Issue 2 edition. It sank further when I read the article. First of all, it is inaccurate. As yet, there is no such state as Palestine." |
Consider casualties from all sides |
| "I am a child and young person’s counsellor and a member of BACP. At present I am working towards accreditation. It is a long and arduous task, but I am working with determination and am actually enjoying it." |
Political polemic |
| "The article ‘To resist is to exist’ is a most blatantly one-sided piece of political polemic. It has no place in what is supposed to be a professional journal." |
Misleading without another viewpoint |
| "We were very disappointed to read your article ‘To Resist is to Exist’. The article contained several factual errors and omissions which led to conclusions that we dispute." |
Flawed background research |
| "An unfortunate outcome for a professional journal that offers a forum for the expression of views is that the opportunity can arise for the presentation of mere opinion as fact, no matter how biased or erroneous" |
Highlighting long-term consequences |
| "I am a member of BACP and was very pleased to see the timely article on Palestine in the March issue" |
Excellent article |
| "I just want to say what an excellent article Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto have written about the occupation of Palestine in the most recent copy of Therapy Today" |
Biased and political |
| "Your magazine is packed with excellent relevant articles – so why the totally biased and political one on the Palestinians?" |
More balance needed |
| "In printing the article about Israel and the Palestinians by Kemp and Pinto, you have published a piece of unashamed one-sided political propaganda thinly disguised as professional analysis." |
No mention of suicide bombers |
| "I was concerned at the editorial and the article ‘To resist is to exist’. The whole tone is closer to a political campaign than anything to do with counselling and psychotherapy and politics clearly is not the function of BACP or its monthly journal." |
Non-political ethos |
| "I have been a member of BACP for over 20 years and accredited for 13 years. I have always understood the ethos of counselling to be non-political" |
To resist is to exist |
| "Notes on the psychological impact of military occupation in Palestine" |
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Printable version
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We have received an unprecedented amount of correspondence, both negative and positive, in reponse to last month's article 'To resist is to exist'. More of this can be read here (see 'related articles', right). This was not a journalistic report but an account of a personal experience and one that we realise represents only one aspect of a very complex situation. We would like to stress that this article in no way represents the views of Therapy Today or BACP, which has no position or policy with regard to Middle East politics. The purpose of this journal is to provide a forum for debate between therapists and we will give equal space to alternative perspectives on this issue which relate to mental health, with the aim of giving balance over time. As requested by several readers, we will be publishing another article from an Israeli perspective in the near future. (See Trauma: the unreported casualty of war, June Therapy Today).
