A Response to new information coming out about the James Ray Retreat Tragedy
With new information coming to light about James Ray's retreat, many are asking for my response as a former James Ray fan, as a sweat lodge participant, and as a professional counselor. There are a few points that I believe are important and would like to address.
First, the question has been raised by others about James Ray engaging in psychological therapies during his retreats, yet not providing any type of psychological credentials. I can only speak from my own experience, of course, but as a counselor, to have the privilege to sit with and counsel people, I had to:
- Spend 8 years in college studying to be a counselor.
- Earn my Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Holistic Health and Psychosomatic Psychology.
- Spend 5 years interning under the supervision of licensed professionals.
- Pass an exam that I spent a year studying for showing expertise in all areas of counseling from therapeutic technique to ethical behavior towards clients.
- Apply for a license in my specialty, Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC) License, and be approved by the Board of Behavioral Health of Arizona.
I answer to this board and must show that I am providing counseling in an ethical and appropriate way. I further have to re-apply for my license every two years, which includes a lengthy questionnaire about any complaints from clients, illegal behavior and so on. And lastly, I provide proof of participating and completing 40 continuing education credits within my field.
My license means that I answer to a panel of authorities who make sure that I am offering safe, quality, ethical care to people who seek help from me. If at any time that I am not acting in the best interest of my clients, the board can put me on probation with them, require that I do more education credit, or take my license away and tell me that I cannot counsel people anymore.
This is a check and balance mechanism to provide safety to those who are seeking help from a counselor. My question is this. If James has no credentials to perform psychological exercises, then who does he answer to if he harms someone physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually? Where is the accountability to be ethical to his retreat participants?
I remember James said at the Harmonic Wealth Seminar I went to that you don't need letters behind your name to be successful. I agree that there are people of great talent and creativity out there that don't necessarily need letters behind their name to be successful. However, if you are going to be of service to people in physical, psychological or spiritual crisis, I think it is essential to have some sort of credentials to offer assurance to the people seeking help from you that you are qualified to do so and are held accountable by a board of authorities.
Second, I was surprised to learn that James Ray left the retreat location without speaking to the participants of his retreat after the tragedy. While I was waiting to give my statement to the Sheriff, I wondered when James would show up to address his retreat members regarding the traumatic event that they had all endured together. I wondered what he would say, how he would offer leadership and role model strength, how he would be supportive to his followers, how he would share in his own process of what he had created, how he would offer condolences to his retreat members, and what he would do to take care of them in their time of distress.
I have to admit it is very difficult for me to fathom that he just left without a word. If I had been a participant in this horrible event I would have looked to him for strength and leadership, but due to his actions, ultimately would have felt basically abandoned. This has really shaken my trust in him as a leader.
Third, I continue to educate and advocate for Sweat Lodge Ceremonies.
One Native American woman wrote to me saying that she cried when she heard the story knowing that grandfather rocks and mother earth would never harm a person. She went on to suggest that people need to be careful about who and what they are putting their faith in.
I agree. Sweat Lodge Ceremony did not harm those people; the way it was run harmed those people. I encourage people to not let this tragedy reflect upon Native American people or their ceremonies.
I stand by what I said on my original radio show regarding self-help authors and seekers. Go ahead and read the book, listen to the self-help CDs, do the weekend seminar: but at the end of the day extract the wisdom that works for you and let go of the rest. Then take that wisdom and apply it to your everyday life.
I would however, strongly encourage people that are out there searching for psychological or spiritual healing to check for credentials, practice discernment and always trust your gut and ability to know self care.
I still hope for an outcome to this tragedy that includes honesty, integrity and accountability. Thank you for your time and support in this important matter. I wish peace and healing to those who have lost loved ones to this event.
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