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Erin Stevens

@aclientfirst.bsky.social

2.1K followers 892 following 308 posts

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

Posts Replies Media

Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

The news is now trickling into members' inboxes that I am one of the three successful candidates in the recent BACP elections. It was a difficult decision to stand, and frankly, the recent events surrounding governance led me to seriously reconsider whether change is possible, and whether I can be part of achieving it. After much deliberation, and conversations with colleagues and friends, I have made the decision to accept the position. It will be important for the incoming trustees to understand what has happened over the last few months (and years), so that we can understand what change is needed, especially around organisational dynamics and culture, to restore trust for members, and clients, and to address the harm which has undoubtedly occurred.

I am so pleased that Bumi and Matt are also elected. They are fantastic people, and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience which I think will be brilliant for BACP, and by extension, for its members and those who need the BACP to meet its objectives. Congratulations to both of you – I am glad you are here.

As part of the agreement I have signed, I have agreed not to comment on the BACP publicly without prior consent from the CEO or chair. This agreement comes into effect at the AGM on the 6th November. I want it to be really clear that I have signed that agreement, so my colleagues can understand why I am not making as many direct comments about what is happening in the organisation on social media. As many will know, I have never been reticent in expressing my feelings about what is happening in my membership body, and the change in my social media output is not indicative of any change in my proactiveness, or drive for positive change. Nor will it stop me listening to what members and clients are telling me, on social media or otherwise. I also promise not to disappear, not to become another invisible board member, and not to stop talking about the profession, its direction, its issues, and their impact on the…

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

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. 🙂

Front cover of April 2025 Therapy Today magazine. When therapy causes harm. Image of a therapist standing on a client's toe, which i take to be metaphorical.

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

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.

Natalie Russ account saying 'a quick reminder for therapists. There is nothing that makes therapists inherently more credible than clients. If you tend to assume that the therapist's accounting of what transacted in the therapy is more reliable than the client's, that needs to be examined. None of our schooling or training should earn us this kind of default believability. Agree or disagree? Talking about therapy harm @natalierusspsyd

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Due to unavoidable unforseen circumstances, my workshop on Rupture and Repair: its relationship with harm and the foundations of repair has been postponed by one week to Wednesday 5th March 2025. If the new time works for you, please come along: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rupture-an...

Orange poster. The harm in therapy series, rupture and Repair the Fundamentals. With Erin Stevens MBACP. Old date crossed out and 5th March 2025 stamped over the top.

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

No prob. In case it's useful to you or anyone else reading this: I don't wish to give her clicks so I haven't linked it, but this is a screenshot from an article she recently wrote.

In extreme cases, anti-colonial rhetoric has led to the denigration of traditional values and institutions representative of Western Judeo-Christian culture, including marriage, family, and biological sex, among others. Everything wrong in our world today is explained by white racism and white supremacy. There’s a risk of losing respect for valuable aspects of our professional and cultural heritage in the rush for change.

The article, featured in a magazine that aims to serve as a resource for professionals across modalities, employs terminology deeply rooted in Marxist critical theories—such as decolonising, discourse, othering, privilege, normative perspectives, marginalising, exclusion, microaggressions, binary, and stakeholders.

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

An unused vote is a vote for the opposition. Rooting for you, UKCP 🙏

Vote Pippa Donovan for UKCP chair. White lettering on a gradient blue background

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

His willingness to reflect. Below is an extract from some notes of his. Look how he notices where he could have done something more gently (and autistic affirming even though neither of us knew I'm autistic!) and his determination to do better.

rejecting. Erin got angry with me for being vague [in bold]: if we are going to unpack these incidents she needs me to be very straightforward and specific.

I talked about these ruptures as being knots in our relationship and being important - containing something that we need to continue to pay attention to. Erin was sceptical, but it felt like she was angry because she was hurting.

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Me: *posts about harm in therapy* Bluesky: *nuanced, interesting and mutually respectful discussion* Twitter:

Twitter post.

Reply to @aclientfirst

Indeed you are the true color of a beautiful woman... Just as beautiful as you... I celebrate your beauty 🥰😘🥰

22:09 . 19th Nov 24 . 2 views

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 04/10/2023

I just wrote this in an email. How's your ADHD going?

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Erin Stevens @aclientfirst.bsky.social · 05/09/2023

A man about to pop a balloon. The man is labelled "me" and the balloon is labelled "anxiety"

In the second square, the pin has made contact with the balloon, but it is the man, "me" who has popped, leaving the balloon intact.

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