Jobcentres offer online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Skwawkbox Blog
Last year, the SKWAWKBOX triggered a severely-embarrassing chain of events for the government by revealing that the DWP’s Jobcentre Plus (JCP) centres, under instruction from David Cameron’s ‘Nudge Unit’ (read: psychological-manipulation), were forcing unemployed people, under threat of immediate loss of benefits, to take un-validated and dangerous ‘psychometric tests’ without ‘informed consent’ and, quite possibly, illegally in more ways than one, writes Steve Walker.
We also revealed a nudge-unit ‘front’ masquerading as a bona fide psychological institution.
You would think the government would have learned its lesson, but no.
An article on the ‘Same Difference’ blog reveals that Jobcentre Plus staff are sending people diagnosed with depression a link to an online CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) course, claiming not that it might be helpful but that it will cure their depression. Or, in their words:
Beating the blues is just a click away
Read the original article for an image of the ad and link.
CBT is widely used to treat various mental disorders, including depression. But it is generally meant to be conducted in person by a trained professional. Its effectiveness is, however, widely disputed and studies have shown that CBT consisting of ‘self-help’ reading of materials by the patient produce harmful results.
The therapy has also been heavily criticised because it is built around maintaining the status quo – in other words, getting people to feel better about situations that it would be perfectly rational to dislike, feel depressed about or want to change.
And nobody, as far as I know, would claim CBT will ‘beat’ depression. Especially with ‘just a click’.
Read the rest of the article on Skwawkbox – and don’t forget to click on the link to Same Difference as well.
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Thanks very much however the link in the words ‘original article’ doesn’t work…
Fixed – I hope.
CBT? Isn’t that one of those new-fangled ‘voodoo-therapies’ that are about as effective as using psycho-pharmaceuticals?
CBT is not a “voodoo therapy,” it is very effective for many people IF carried by a qualified CBT therapist face to face.
However whoever thought up the DWP online version should have rule 303 applied to them:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaAQsxAQYHg
Sorry about that-I should have made clear that I was referring to this ” instant karma ” solution being offered online…although I must admit to having a somewhat jaundiced view of anything that is remotely connected to psychiatry because of my personal experiences with the industry.
Glad you highlighted this Mike.
An online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy course?
Does MIND know about this latest DWP idiocy?
Confused – are you criticising CBT in general or the online version?
The online version. CBT can only be carried out face to face.
The ones needing Cognitive Behavious Therapy are IDS, Cameron, Osborne and most of this disgusting greedy government.
They are the ones who need the application of rule 303.
Doing CBT (or it’s close cousin ‘mindfulness) without face to face guidance from someone knowledgeable and experienced can, in rare instances, result in those with a history of depression/ anxiety suffering from depersonalisation. Not fun
Going to JOB CENTER PLUS? On there job focusing interviews? They don’t have any vacancies for you to be interviewed for any positions to be employed? as was in the old system! Employment centers. as if they was to revert to this old system? Then the amount of “Vacancies” that they say is out there? Would be very limited and what type of candidate they would want to interview. who would suit the position? If any body needs to do a “C.B.T! it is the very people who work for the government!. and the very people who vote for a very nasty constructive evil regime.