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AIBU?

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Original poster

Or is there something odd about the Speakmans

137 replies

Miga1 · 24/08/2020 14:45

What's the story with the Speakmans? Something doesn't sit right with me... Their "therapy" is miraculously quick at "treating" people with phobias of many years. Today on This Morning they helped a woman with a huge needle phobia which was preventing her getting cancer treatment. The female Speakman commented on how long the treatment was taking and then mentioned it had been a whole "4 hours." Just doesn't seem right and they both look like I wouldn't buy a 2nd hand car from them...

OP posts:
LakieLady · 24/08/2020 18:52

Generally though I think This Morning is just awful so they fit right in

Whenever I'm channel hopping and I catch a bit of This Morning, there are always weird people on it. Sometimes it's only Piers Morgan, but there's always someone weird ...

Viviennemary · 24/08/2020 19:12

Never heard of them. They sound like a pair of charlatans to me.

fuandylp · 24/08/2020 19:19

Would love to know how they can cure a needle phobia in a matter of hours.
I have an extreme phobia of needles and I am going to have to deal with it. I've only just got to the point where I can even bear to think about it long enough to look for treatment.
I'm in another country and have contacted some psychotherapists and psychologists. They are all saying that it will take a minimum of 10 1-hour sessions and possibly up to 20, based on their experience of treating people in the past.

Katyy · 24/08/2020 19:31

Does anyone know how they cure emetophobia ?

LandedInMyLap · 24/08/2020 19:36

Apart from the fact they look like half of Bucks Fizz, I’ve nothing against them.

The80sweregreat · 24/08/2020 19:41

I haven't watched this morning since Richard and Judy left ( Even then I didn't watch all the time. )
The Speakmans did have their own afternoon show on about 4 years ago which is where I've seen them in action , but I didn't know they were on in the mornings. They seem ok and genuine. They seem to help a lot of people , so that is good.

Dellaandthedealer · 24/08/2020 20:00

Never heard of them!

HappyGirlNow · 24/08/2020 22:53

Up to 20 hours to cure a phobia?! Nonsense.

I don’t particularly like them but I’ve had a severe cat phobia and also a debilitating fear of heights, both cured years ago in separate sessions, each took only about 1/2 an hour..

Tillygetsit · 24/08/2020 23:52

EMDR cured my PTSD. If they're not swinging their arm about it's not EMDR.
I was very sceptical but 4 hourlong sessions and a 13 year problem was gone.

Liddell · 25/08/2020 00:00

I have always been terrified of snakes but I used advice they have given on the show and was able to see and touch friend's corn snake!

I amazed myself!

I don't like the criticism of their looks, very unfair.

MrsAvocet · 25/08/2020 00:14

I've never heard of these people so no idea what they do, but I have had EMDR as therapy for PTSD. I was extremely sceptical beforehand, but willing to give anything a try really, and was very surprised how effective it was. But from what my therapist explained and my own reading, I understand it to be a therapy that is specifically for PTSD. I suppose it would possibly be effective therefore for a phobia or particular anxiety that was caused by a traumatic experience but my understanding is that that is not always the case so I don't think it would be the appropriate therapy for all phobias. And its not supposed to work in an hour. I did see some improvement after my first session, though the therapist told me that it is variable and some people don't get any benefit or may even feel worse after the initial couple of treatment sessions. It certainly was not sold to me as any kind of miracle cure or quick fix.

PercyKirke · 25/08/2020 01:14

Never heard of them and from what I've read here I'll keep it that way.

Runningjump · 25/08/2020 01:35

I always thought they were brother and sister Blush

Heartofglass12345 · 25/08/2020 01:55

I saw a clip of them talking to someone who used to be my slimming world consultant on this weight loss island thing on this morning (I didn't see the actual programme at the time) and they asked him why he overate. He said something along the lines of because he was sad/ depressed and she said to him 'you eat because you want to make yourself unattractive to men due to your fathers reaction to you being gay'!! What the hell?? How did she come to that conclusion and how offensive to say he would be unattractive to men because he's overweight Confused
definitely not right lol

wheresmymojo · 25/08/2020 02:02

Their schema based techniques are a variation of NLP (neuro linguistic programming).

NLP and hypnosis are very similar and re-programme the unconscious mind.

They are very effective at treating things like phobias and behaviours that you want to change. Phobia treatment with NLP is quite often very quick (a very experienced practitioner could do it in an hours session).

There's nothing about it that is 'quackery'.

Traditional therapy (counselling, psychotherapy) isn't very effective with phobias.

wheresmymojo · 25/08/2020 02:05

Also people are dismissing it on the basis of exactly zero first hand experience.

The 2 people on the thread who have first hand experience have said that it worked exactly as seen on the show.

When I did my NLP training I'd been drinking 2 litres of diet coke every day for years which had given me burning tongue/mouth syndrome due to the amount of citric acid. I'd tried many times to give it up and failed. On my NLP Training I gave it up after a technique that took max 10 mins. Another guy gave up sugar in his drinks in the same way.

Tolleshunt · 25/08/2020 02:12

I’ve only seen them once or twice and am dubious about their lack of credentials and the fact that the sessions are so heavily edited on TV.

However, their claims to cure phobias in 4 hours (I think somebody upthread said?) are nothing wild or unremarkable. Most hypnotherapists would resolve most phobias in that or considerably less time - often one session only. It really is the fastest way to get rid of a phobia. Very effective.

Tolleshunt · 25/08/2020 02:13

That should have said nothing wild or remarkable, not unremarkable.

Thecobwebsarewinning · 25/08/2020 06:18

My young D.C. had an extreme dentist phobia. It took 4 sessions with a hypnotherapist (so about 4 hours) to get her from a point where she would lie in the chair with her jaws clamped shut, tears flowing down her cheeks in total silence and tense to the extent her body would spasm to a mindset where she could stroll in and lie back perfectly relaxed. That was over 20 years ago. She is in her mid twenties nowadays and has never relapsed. She is meticulous about having 6 monthly checkups (even when at uni or working overseas). It was like a miracle. I was also very impressed that the hypnotherapist was so confident of his methods he refused to take any payment until the treatment had worked.

Heartofglass12345 · 25/08/2020 11:01

Could this type of therapy work for weight loss then? Willing to try anything!

Desperadododo · 06/09/2020 17:34

@Heartofglass12345

Could this type of therapy work for weight loss then? Willing to try anything!
They have an audio book for weight loss!
liverbird10 · 06/09/2020 17:46

@ExclamationPerfume That post is rather unkind, but made me laugh more than it should. Grin

anorangeaday · 06/09/2020 17:51

I wouldn’t trust them

JalapenoDave · 06/09/2020 17:52

Maybe they are aliens.