The Speakmans- AIBU to think they’re charlatans?

[Gobsmacking]

Just seen the Speakman’s on ITV and I am really surprised that they are considered therapist’s. They don’t seem to really listen to the person, they tell them what’s wrong with them ( generally something obvious imparted as though they are providing some profound insight) and then make person confront fear ( which I know is not recommended) whilst egging the poor person on in a two against one tag team fashion.
Person then does whatever Speakman’s cajole them to do and then the Speakman’s declare said person cured. And we see no follow ups to see if this is indeed the case and said person goes on to frolic with snakes/ get on a plane etc.
AIBU to say they are a pair of charlatans who probably shouldn’t mess about with people’s mental health?

I truly believe that it was a coin toss between this and tarot /palm reading /astrologer to the stars, and this won.

I snorted at that photo, so unnecessarily intense.

@Tonnerre you know I’d hope so, but a pp pointed out that actual qualified people had complained and nothing happened. Which is a shame actually as I’d like to hear an actual qualified person talk about mental on tv. That I would find interesting.

I do agree they are very odd and very cringey BUT... I'm a hypnotherapist and work a lot with fears and phobias - what I've seen them do is the start and finish and seems conducive with what would go on "in between". I think a-lot of it is played up in terms of what they say for explanation from a viewers perspective. However, if they operate their "inbetween/behind scenes" the way most hypnotherapists do, then theres a lot of talking, slow exposure to fears/phobia through visualisation and also techniques from MCBT and NLP.

The whole Jeremy Kyle thing comes to mind that bosses at ITV should be ashamed for allowing this.

Mental health not just talk mental

I'm dubious based on his hairstyle alone

The riddlers always come to mind!

But @WildAngel, presumably you trained and have qualified? So aren’t a charlatan.

Gobsmacking
Yes I'm trained but to be truthful theres not much in the way of regulatory bodies such as with medicine (mores the pity). There are recognised accredited bodies who people favour being members of in order to show their level of training and experience.
Wish there was more regulation in the field - many con artists out there ....

They are absolutely charlatans, yes. They don't have any accreditation from any credible source.

It's pretty disgraceful that they get airtime, really. A bit like Channel 4's programmes with Gillian McKeith, who had absolutely no genuine credentials in diet and nutrition and would regularly say things unchallenged on her programmes that were UTTER nonsense and often scientifically impossible.

It makes me furious that TV producers will drag out people with absolutely no genuine qualifications in their field and present them as experts purely because they're 'entertaining'. And when it's related to health - physical or mental - it's just bloody dangerous.

[steps down from soapbox]

Just like Judi James, 'body language expert' - why does she get so much airtime? Winds me up.

Ha they are pretty terrifying. They look like they belong on the set of a Rob Zombie movie.

Theknacktoflying I was thinking the same thing. I’ve not seen any of the episodes but surely this is very risky for ITV and has the potential to be a total carcrash if they mess someone up.

It is like when (Dr) Gillian Mckeith was making folk eat seeds and had tupperware boxes of poop Itv love all that nonsense and the speakmans fill that void they are ridiculous.

@Unpoquitititoloco you win

Gillian McKeith dramatically 'fainting' on I'm a celebrity

That photo is frightening Unpoquitititoloco 😬

The road they live on is called Speakman Lane, which kind of tells you about what kind of narcissistic people they are. They don't want to help people - they are just all about the money.

I bet they make people sign some sort of form beforehand, like you have to sign before using trampoline parks etc, a sort of “I declare that it’s not you fault if I die” kind of thing

They give off a charlatan vibe to me too. Seem insincere. Google the Guardian article on them - sums them up I think!

Speakman Lane . They have been trying to get mainstream famous for years i wouldn't trust them with my fear or phobia.

OK, I've got to join in... I think there are some really mean comments on here.

I like the Speakmans. I think they're authentic and positive and helpful, which is more than you can say about many other people.

Erm, they are unqualified and unaccredited

So not authentic, not ethical

Authentic