Labour’s Dawn Butler backs regulation of counsellors after ‘horrific’ TV sex therapist rape case

Former Labour MP Dawn Butler has vowed to press the Government to regulate all therapists in the UK after watching a “horrific” case of a sex therapist being raped on TV.

Ella Janneh, 37, has been awarded more than £200,000 in damages after she brought a lawsuit against Mike Lousada, accusing the renowned sex therapist of rape and sexual assault during a therapy session in 2016.

The court heard there was “no doubt” he had reduced Ms Janneh, 37, to a childlike state, causing her to have a panic attack, before penetrating her and performing several sexual acts to which she could not consent.

Mr Lousada has appeared on national television shows such as This Morning, in major media outlets, in Durex videos and has even been linked to a clinic run by Spire Healthcare.

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Ms Janneh’s case has sparked calls for mandatory regulation of therapists and counsellors in the UK, as there is currently no legal requirement for them to be registered with a professional regulator.

In Mike Lousada’s case, the Attorney General’s Office did not pursue criminal charges, so he is free to continue practicing if he wishes.

Independent has previously reported on calls for the government to introduce mandatory regulations for social care workers who can practice their profession without having to join a professional organisation.

Ms Janneh, represented by Leigh Day Law Firm, he told The Independent: “After the police and CPS failed to stop Mike Lousada, I was out of options. There was no professional body he could go to to stop him from practicing. To raise the alarm. There was no register he could put his name on. There was no check he would have to go through in the future to gain access to vulnerable people.”

“As a street person, I was shocked to realize that there was no mandatory regulation of therapists. Lousada was able to present himself as someone with the highest ethical standards, and yet there was no mechanism for accountability. It was just fancy words.”

“Where you have unchecked power and authority, you’re going to find abuse. And the most vulnerable people come into these exercise rooms and without mandatory regulation, you think, ‘Well, this has to happen.'”

The calls were joined by Ms Butler, the Labour candidate for Brent East, who in a statement to The Independent said she was “shocked” that the CPS had failed to address Ms Janneh’s case, leaving serious questions to be answered.

She said: “Sitting through this trial, I heard some of the most horrific and disturbing descriptions of abuse I have ever heard. I still fear that there may be many women who are holding on to the trauma of the abuse.”

“If I am lucky enough to be re-elected, when I return to Parliament I will push for changes to the law to protect women. This horrific case has shown that we urgently need new legislation to properly regulate therapists.”

She added that she would be particularly vigilant about people claiming to provide psychotherapy or counselling services who behaved in an “abusive, controlling or coercive” manner.

“It is time we took the epidemic of violence and abuse against women seriously,” Ms Butler said.

Talking to IndependentBABCP President Dr Saiqa Naz said the new government must begin a discussion on statutory regulation for those practicing psychotherapy.

“The public deserves a level of protection similar to what we see for doctors, nurses, social workers and licensed psychologists. There are many approaches to psychotherapy, and without a way to regulate providers of psychotherapy, we create a potential public safety problem.”

“You wouldn’t let a surgeon operate on you without the right skills and training. People seeking help should know that their psychotherapist is properly trained and registered, that they are a safe pair of hands and that they are accountable if something goes wrong.”

Representatives from the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats were contacted for comment.

Rape Crisis offers support to people affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn at 800-656-HOPE (4673)