Verification
This website contains information that can be verified in various ways:
- The books, articles and websites mentioned are sourced so that they can be checked to see if they actually do contain the information quoted.
- The website editor has shown he was genuinely a primal therapist trainee for a number of years (see evidence in Introduction), and as such is a valuable source of information on primal therapy, and is without a financial vested interest on the subject.
- Some of the website editor’s observations have been verified by others. For example the interview with TR verifies some of the authors observations, as does the article by Curtis Knecht (MFT).
- The fact that the author was threatened is verifiable with the LAPD, and by the evidence in the section “Is Primal Therapy a Cult?” and the US Constitution allows for the reporting of crime and facts in the media.
- For ‘your stories’ entries the author is bound to keep the identities confidential. However, the author has used discretion to weed out claims that do not match with a deep knowledge of primal therapy and the history of primal therapy. In this way, the author often can verify from other sources whether the story is genuine.
- The interview with the former trainee TR. uncovered information that matched the authors own independent knowledge of the 1990s, and can be verified with other witnesses too who were around in the 1990s. The author has no reason to doubt any of the information provided by TR.
- Opinions are based on real observations and experiences that can be verified. Due to the supreme law of the land, the US Constitution, there is freedom to discuss those opinions.
- Arthur Janov is a name that comes up several times on this website. This is because he has branded his therapy to his name, and he is the only author on the subject. There is no intention to comment on the biography or character of Janov. In criticizing the treatment and theory behind primal therapy it is sometimes necessary to mention Dr Janov, and his theories and techniques may be questioned. This should not be confused with a personal attack on Dr. Janov. I want to point out that it is not libel to criticize treatments, techniques or theories, even if the treatment has been tied to a person’s name. Libel is the use of information that are deliberate lies to damage an individual. If it is true it is not libel; if it is inconvenient and true it is not libel. If it is opinion based on true observation it is not defamation. This is an important point because the free speech law in the Constitution can be infringed by educated people who cry ‘defamation’ in the face of factually based criticism or opinion, if the general public does not understand what libel or defamation actually means.
In psychotherapy, it is expected that one practices a technique based on independently tested effective techniques and based on the large, impressive and ever changing foundation of psychological science (see APA Ethics code). In the same way in medicine one can only practice based on the science of biology and replicated and clinically tested techniques. It you choose not to follow these rules, you are going to have to learn to accept criticism, without taking that criticism personally, or crying ‘defamation’ in an effort to suppress information or criticism.
Verification by Outside Independent Investigators
The author will work with an independent investigator(s) in the field of psychology, so long as they are not affiliated with primal therapy and never have been. Representatives from the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Psychological Science (APS) or the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) are welcome to come to verify information. Other academics will also be considered, for example Psychologists from APA accredited schools, or perhaps sociologists who specialize in the right areas, or well educated journalists.
