Greg suddenly realised why the sign on the door read 'Psycho Therapy'. Illustrated by Mike McRae

Doctor doctor?

When is a doctor not a doctor? In today's world, that can be a difficult question to answer. For 34 year old Australian Rebekah Lawrence, that answer could potentially have saved her life.

In December, 2005, Ms. Lawrence jumped to her death from the second floor of her office building in metropolitan Sydney. Two days prior to the tragedy, she had attended a personal development course that was considered to be 'extreme' by an inquest looking into her suicide.

Her behaviour immediately prior to her death was described as regressive and childlike, and was connected to therapy sessions attended at a course run by the group People Knowhow - an 'Australian organisation of adult educators committed to the principle that everyone has the ability to be happy'. On one level, the link remains circumstantial and open to speculation. Blaming this organisation for playing a direct role in a young woman's suicide could be considered unreasonable. Yet the event has shone a light on the potential problems that can arise when well-meaning individuals describe themselvs in a manner that could mislead patients into thinking they have a high level of expertise in a given field.

We readily associate terms such as 'doctor', 'counsellor' or 'psychotherapist' as describing a high level of experience and knowledge in mental health or medicine. However, without a regulatory body determining precisely what such a description might refer to, anybody who views themself as a health expert could just as well advertise themselves as such.

People Knowhow's 'Turning Point' program included childhood regression therapy, for 'loosening people up and breaking down their resistance to change'. Evaluated by properly trained professionals, the chance that Rebekah might have been diagnosed with a mental health problem, and subsequently given effective treatment, increases dramatically. As with all forms of medicine, the administration of treatments in mental health has inherent risks that need to be understood and assessed accordingly.

Amongst the recommendations made to the coroner following the inquest into Ms. Lawrence's death is a call for the regulation of professional use of the terms 'counsellor' and 'psychotherapist', as well as a national system for accrediting such courses. Meanwhile, it pays for us to critically evaluate the meaning of such terms, especially when it comes to putting our health into the hands of another.

by Mike McRae

Handy Links

Battleground God

Thinking critically will not automatically decide whether you're a die-hard fundamentalist or a militant athiest. But it should determine how consistent you are in your beliefs. Take this quiz in the Philosopher's Magazine and see how far you can get without taking a hit.

Science made simple

Sometimes, there's no better way to learn how the universe works than by testing it yourself. Science by Email, is a weekly email newsletter produced by CSIRO Education and CTEG's Mike McRae, packed with science activities, news and useful links.

Smarter than That is another fantastic resource to add to your bookmarks. It's motto of 'When in doubt, try it out!' is definitely appropriate, with a range of great little home experiments that cost little but teach a lot.

Resource: The 'Whatabout?' game

When it comes to defining words, we often reach for the nearest dictionary. However, as any good writer knows, it's rare that words can be substituted with a simple phrase and still convey exactly the same meaning.

When it comes to definitions, there are two different types of meaning; the denotative, or literal meaning, and the connotative or associative meaning. Dictionaries are great at providing the former, yet as the latter relies so heavily on a cultural context, it is somewhat more difficult to pin down with consistent accuracy. Importantly, the connotative meaning can become less vague with time, eventually becoming denotative itself.

For example, the word 'gay' denotatively meant 'joyful' up until the latter half of the 20th century. As the word carried effiminate overtones, the term gradually came to imply a perjorative for male homosexuality. In more recent decades, the term has come to refer literally to homosexuality of both genders, with its old denotative meaning having been lost to history.

Interestingly, the term has recently begun to take on new connotative meaning, being used again in a denigrative, colloquial way to refer to anything that is weak or unsuitable. Language is a fluid thing, evolving over time.

Activity

Create definitions for the following words -

animal, science, English, art, chemicals, wrong, old

Ask a second group to find examples of situations where the denotative meaning might not be suitable, or of situations which are not covered by the definition. Adjust the definition, and again look for situations where it might not apply.

i.e.

• 'Chair is 'something you sit on''
• 'What about the floor? You can sit on it, but nobody would call it a chair'
• 'Chair is something with four legs that you can sit on'.
• 'A horse has four legs and I can sit on it, yet I wouldn't call it a chair'

Discuss whether there is a connotative meaning for each term.

Extension

Research the history of the words 'nice', 'mean', 'decimate'. Do they mean the same thing today as they once did?

by Mike McRae

Book Review

Kaz Cooke - Girl Stuff: Your Full On Guide to the Teen Years

I’ve used Cooke’s work in the past with great success. This brand new book presents a highly detailed and comprehensive guide to pretty much everything a teen girl (or human being, let’s face it) needs, including a sensible attitude towards pseudoscience and the paranormal:

There’s no harm in having a fortune teller or psychic read your palm or tell your fortune - unless you run your life by it, or take everything as a definite. mediums, who claim they can recognise ‘messages’ from the dead, are best left where they belong - in movies and TV shows.

…think of your horoscope as one-size-fits-all advice that could apply to just about anybody, and just read the astrology columns for fun.

Karma: … is often used by non-members of these religions as a warning… don’t interpret this to mean that if you have bad luck, or get sick, it’s your fault. It isn’t.

Whilst I am hesitant over Cooke’s enthusiasm for chiropractic therapy in some of her other texts, this is a very useful find for those who want to cover some of the ‘big topics’ in the female teen years and know that they’re also contributing to a skeptical mindset.

by Kylie Sturgess