dispute with psychotherapy training providier
March 17, 2024 5:54 AM Subscribe
For context, I am in the UK. I have been training to qualify as psychotherapist since 2019. I am now in my last year of training, having already qualified as psychotherapeutic councillor. I am also the primary carer of my spouse who has severe disability that impacts their mobility and unfortunately causes sudden arm and knee dislocation. As my spouse's condition worsened this year, I asked for a permission to attend some teaching sessions online (I am close to finishing the training) and the training organisation granted me this accommodation.
Sadly, some weeks after granting me the permission to attend online I received an email saying that they now revoke the previously granted accommodation, without providing any explanation beyond saying that based on all the information given they are unable to make an exception to the rules.
One of the tutors told me verbally that the reason for their change of heart was that the head of the program told the teaching committee that my real reasons for asking to attend online are to do with the cost of travel and the time it takes, not with my spouse's disability. The head of the program is extremely hostile to me during one to one meetings in a way that is verging on bullying but of course there is never any evidence of this. The head of training can be insecure and narcissistic (quelle surprise in a therapy training) and had clashes with me in the past accusing me of not submitting to their authority.
I have written to the committee three times now asking for a clarification as to the reasons the accommodation was revoked, but all my polite requests for an explanation are ignored. For context, the sessions are always both in person and online, so there is the infrastructure (Zoom + large screen) available and other people who are not trainees are joining online every week.
Their change of heart means that I will not be able to complete my training, as I will not be able to leave my spouse to attend the sessions in person (it means traveling for 6 hours + 3 hours training). Not finishing the training can potentially result in significant financial loss for me as well as the cost of paying for the training that i am unable to complete.
My question is about the options available to me at this point. There is an internal grievance procedure that i can follow, but evoking that will put me on a war path with the training and will significantly diminish my chances of passing the psychotherapist viva, as it will be assessed by the same people with whom I am having a dispute.
Do I need to get some legal advice at this point, and if yes, what kind of solicitor I should be looking for, and can you recommend someone?
Thank you.
Sadly, some weeks after granting me the permission to attend online I received an email saying that they now revoke the previously granted accommodation, without providing any explanation beyond saying that based on all the information given they are unable to make an exception to the rules.
One of the tutors told me verbally that the reason for their change of heart was that the head of the program told the teaching committee that my real reasons for asking to attend online are to do with the cost of travel and the time it takes, not with my spouse's disability. The head of the program is extremely hostile to me during one to one meetings in a way that is verging on bullying but of course there is never any evidence of this. The head of training can be insecure and narcissistic (quelle surprise in a therapy training) and had clashes with me in the past accusing me of not submitting to their authority.
I have written to the committee three times now asking for a clarification as to the reasons the accommodation was revoked, but all my polite requests for an explanation are ignored. For context, the sessions are always both in person and online, so there is the infrastructure (Zoom + large screen) available and other people who are not trainees are joining online every week.
Their change of heart means that I will not be able to complete my training, as I will not be able to leave my spouse to attend the sessions in person (it means traveling for 6 hours + 3 hours training). Not finishing the training can potentially result in significant financial loss for me as well as the cost of paying for the training that i am unable to complete.
My question is about the options available to me at this point. There is an internal grievance procedure that i can follow, but evoking that will put me on a war path with the training and will significantly diminish my chances of passing the psychotherapist viva, as it will be assessed by the same people with whom I am having a dispute.
Do I need to get some legal advice at this point, and if yes, what kind of solicitor I should be looking for, and can you recommend someone?
Thank you.
Can you hire someone to care for your spouse while you are away at training? It may be a financial strain now but at least you be able to finish and move on.
posted by SyraCarol at 5:05 PM on March 17
posted by SyraCarol at 5:05 PM on March 17
I was with you until you added travel - they are using that to obfuscate the matter of being a carer for your spouse, which is primary, not travel, so the focus is that you are currently unable due to caring responsibilities. That detail being out, it sounds like the first two answers are worth investigating.
The other matter is there may be academic elements performed in person by the students that may differ from how an instructor engages with the class, so having a carer available for those hours might be the shortest route through.
posted by childofTethys at 8:26 PM on March 17
The other matter is there may be academic elements performed in person by the students that may differ from how an instructor engages with the class, so having a carer available for those hours might be the shortest route through.
posted by childofTethys at 8:26 PM on March 17
First of all, before you go down any kind of legal route, use the internal grievance procedure to get either a resolution or, in the worst case, formal evidence of their decision and the reasons. It won't make things any worse and can often result in better treatment, because nobody wants more complaints lodged against them. Lodging a complaint, especially one that is upheld, often actually results in better treatment rather than worse, as staff will be wary of further complaints.
Vocational and higher education is regulated in the UK, so there may be further and/or additional avenues for you. If you could send the name of the college either here or by MeMail, I'll find out the exact path you could take to get a resolution. I have lots of experience in the regulation of training, albeit not in the UK. The relevant departments' web sites are extraordinarily difficult to navigate.
posted by dg at 4:05 PM on March 19
Vocational and higher education is regulated in the UK, so there may be further and/or additional avenues for you. If you could send the name of the college either here or by MeMail, I'll find out the exact path you could take to get a resolution. I have lots of experience in the regulation of training, albeit not in the UK. The relevant departments' web sites are extraordinarily difficult to navigate.
posted by dg at 4:05 PM on March 19
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posted by spibeldrokkit at 7:03 AM on March 17 [4 favorites]