Erin Stevens

Erin Stevens

@aclientfirst.bsky.social

Therapist, Supervisor and Trainer. working with people who have experienced harm in therapy, and therapists who are interested in addressing harm. Pro-client AuDHD she/they

2.1K followers892 following308 posts

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

I'm standing for the BACP board! Voting is 15th July - 15th August so if you are a BACP member, you can look for an email from Mi Voice with a link to vote around then. I'm interested in anti-oppressive practice & ethics and I'll be answering questions sent to erinstevens4bacpboard@gmail.com

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

30th April I'm hosting a 1 hour webinar on therapy therapy, open to everyone whether client, therapist or just interested. I'll overview the fundamentals of recognising harm, leaving harmful therapy, complaints (UK) and seeking support. Tickets by donation. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-thera...

eventbrite.co.ukWhen Therapy Causes Harm: A Webinar for anyone interested in Therapy HarmA one hour webinar including Q&A with Erin Stevens - a therapist working with clients who have been harmed and a survivor of therapy harm.
Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

I've been really pleased to hear from people who found this landing on their doorstep today. Finally, conversations about harm are becoming mainstream in the profession. I was grateful to be invited to participate in this issue & the corresponding podcast. If you are a BACP member check it out. 🙂

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

Therapeutic neutrality. Let's talk about what it is and what it isn't. We are inherently non-neutral. We bring contexts, some of which will be explicit, some of which are implicit, all of which influence how we show up in the world and in the room. Any attempt at apoliticism is inherently political

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Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

My long-term therapist once said to me that I always get myself to where I need to be. He didn't create my ability to make choices, he simply made space for me to see that I can. It was this non-possessiveness, this therapeutic neutrality, that helped me develop my self-trust.

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

In PCA terms, for me therapeutic neutrality is UPR in action. It's the knowledge that my client isn't 'bad', 'wrong' or 'broken', they don't need me to change them, or to tell them what to do. It's about power. But it isn't about denying the impact of who we are or how we show up in the room.

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

Therapeutic neutrality. Let's talk about what it is and what it isn't. We are inherently non-neutral. We bring contexts, some of which will be explicit, some of which are implicit, all of which influence how we show up in the world and in the room. Any attempt at apoliticism is inherently political

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

and any attempt at neutrality is inherently a non-neutral act. In short, complete neutrality is a paradoxical notion and impossible in practice. Yet, I view therapeutic neutrality as an important part of my philosophy of therapeutic practice. In reality, I think TN describes non-possessive practice

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

By this I mean that I do not operate from wishes or desires for my clients. I don't have desired outcomes for them, and I prize their self-determination. I am not meeting a client to impose my own conditions of worth on them, I don't know what is best for someone else.

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

If you are on Instagram and you are interested in harm in therapy, Natalie Russ is an important follow. This is an important fact for anyone working with harmed clients or involved in complaints processes.

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

I'm offering additional no cost tickets for tomorrow night's 2 hour workshop Rupture and Repair: The Fundamentals. 6-8pm. Due to the change in date, some of the attendees who had no cost tickets are unable to attend. Please DM me if you are a therapist or trainee and would like to come.

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

I'm listening to a really interesting webinar by Sally Openshaw about sexual boundaries in therapy. She's currently talking about how things might go wrong, noting the ways it might be pushed into the shadows and how boundary breaches escalate.

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

Really excited to announce a one-hour webinar coming up in May, with Natalie Russ Introducing the Therapy Harm Resistance Project. This webinar is open to all with tickets on a donation basis. Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introducin... Harm in Therapy Series: www.erinstevens.co.uk/events

eventbrite.co.ukIntroducing the The Therapy Harm Resistance ProjectA one hour webinar including Q&A with Natalie Russ Psy. D in conversation with Erin Stevens.
Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

If you were an attendee or ticket holder and would like to access the recording for free - please contact me for access. I am afraid I can no longer email attendees through eventbrite after the event.

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

1 hour webinar for ANYONE interested in harm in therapy. Offering info/resources to ppl who've experienced harm in therapy, or want to learn more abt harm, complaints or finding a new therapist after harm. Donation tickets. Will include live Q&A. April 30th 6pm. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-thera...

eventbrite.co.ukWhen Therapy Causes Harm: A Webinar for anyone interested in Therapy HarmA one hour webinar including Q&A with Erin Stevens - a therapist working with clients who have been harmed and a survivor of therapy harm.
Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

Well i had thought I was going to spend this evening in London lolling about the hotel room, instead of which I have just attended a 90 minute online meeting with around 50 therapist activists all invested in fighting for the future of this profession. Feeling very hopeful!

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

This evening, I had a fantastic time presenting a workshop on working with clients who have had previous harmful experiences of therapy. It was so great to share my learning and passion for working in this area. Everyone was so open and engaged, it was great.

Erin Stevens
@aclientfirst.bsky.social

Also, as an autistic presenter, I can't speak highly enough of running my own event, so that it is accessible to me. Choosing my own tech support, structuring it all my way. Best experience of running a workshop I've ever had.