Winning isn't everything

[LP]

Holy mackerel, Spotted One. You've just invalidated the best of intentions from, and dare I disagree, a very honourable and well meaning group of people. I have a few very close friends who are relationship counsellors and they're really decent folks in a really difficult -- often on a hiding to nothing -- profession.

I've been to a marriage guidance counsellor and he was a bloody ripper. Fair, smart and compassionate. Helped enormously... from the Bouverie Centre in Carlton.

I admit it was a gross generalization.

But it's certainly not the case that a noble profession means all practitioners are noble, in fact quite the opposite, many such professions that service the weak and vulnerable are very attractive to charlatans and predators. I'm sure the guilty are all repentant after the fact!

I detect a tender nerve in there somewhere

Not first hand. I've had a relative who life was ruined by some people operating under those banners, counselors recommended by lawyers. It was a scam, one referring the other in a game of cheque book ping pong until the money ran out, at which time the true lack of care or compassion was exposed!

It's beholding on those noble professionals to clean up their own industry, and it is an industry, or else put up with being tarred by the same brush! Instead they whisper amongst themselves at conferences and do nothing official to call out the cheats and charlatans! They both need a professional standards board that isn't Micky Mouse!