Thread by @WeVotedToLeave, @katymcconkey I saw your exchange with TV psychologist Emma Kenny.She said to [...]

@katymcconkey I saw your exchange with TV psychologist Emma Kenny.

She said to you that she "doesn't deny anything" - I'm not convinced by that.

She also said "I know what's coming"

It's interesting to look at her past tweets to assess these assertions

What does she think is coming, I wonder?

She's not denying anything apparently? Not a conspiracy theorist?

Is she denying the reality of the pandemic? Is she denying the need for vaccines?

Is she using cautious professional judgement as a media psychologist, knowing what she says is listened to by many? Is she supporting the important public health vaccination programme?

Can we assess her judgement and views by those she puts her trust in?

Is she encouraging people to follow those posting responsible takes?

In this video she asks a series of questions. I'm asking a series of questions too.
Is she denying the reality of the covid pandemic? Is she amplifying conspiracy theories and misinformation? Is she spreading anti vaccine messages? https://twitter.com/emmakennytv/status/1318879612194226176?s=09

https://twitter.com/emmakennytv/status/1318879612194226176?s=09

And of course the big question
She acknowledges many people contact her considering taking their own lives

With her twitter activity being what it has been, does this mislead and give weight to the paranoia of potentially vulnerable followers, and potentially put them at risk?

This tweet from @emmakennytv said it all.

To support elderly neighbours is creditable, but to make a point of doing so not wearing a mask?

To have parties? See friends? Invite "EVERYONE" round?

It appears irresponsible beyond words to me. What an example to set others

Listening to her video clip above, she ends it with "for anyone else looking in, this is madness"

I quite agree.

If I didn't know she was a "media psychologist", I'd be suspecting she was in need of psychiatric help, not in the business of dishing help out to vulnerable people

Looking at her twitter profile, she follows her name with MBPsS, and MBACP and @thismorning resident @closeronline

But what do these mean?

Without looking it up, I was mistakenly under the impression she has an accreditation as a psychologist with at least one professional body? Maybe she is an accredited counsellor? Or a chartered psychologist perhaps?

Is she? Is that what these initials mean? I didn't know

So the BACP is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy working to develop safe, ethical, and competent practice

Is she an accredited member of the BACP? If that was the case she would be entitled to use the title "MBACP-Accred" for those who can demonstrate high standards of competent and ethical practice

It seems she just lists herself as MBACP, the "minimum" a client should expect

Who are the BPS? The British Psychological Society is responsible for the promotion of excellence and ethical practice in the science, education, and practical applications of psychology.

So is she a Chartered Psychologist?

As said here, technically anyone can call themselves a psychologist, but unless you meet the particular requirements (eg judged "fit to practice") you will be unable to describe yourself as a Chartered Psychologist or work in certain sectors.

She uses the title MBPsS, and doesn't use the title Chartered Psychologist.

So what does MBPsS mean?

It is the starting point to a career in psychology, it's a prerequisite for those who wish to go on to many of the BPS accredited post graduate and doctoral programmes

She says she doesn't call herself "anything other than psychologist ... no protected title"

But she does hold herself out as a "registered psychological therapist" on her website and lists her BACP registration number

She also interestingly says she holds "all relevant qualifications to practice" and mentions she had been a keynote speaker for the BPS

All relevant qualifications that is, presumably, apart from being a Chartered Psychologist or MBACP-Accred, for example?

Her website http://emmakennytherapy.com does show this logo when it opens - "The British Psychological Society Accredited"

I'm not quite sure what this accreditation refers to. Can @BPSOfficial assist in explaining this?

She holds herself out as being able to provide "expert analysis" and "expert comment"

This seems odd to me, considering she is not describing herself as MBACP-ACCRED or as a Chartered Psychologist.

Does the word expert really mean much in this context?

She holds herself out on her website as providing "expert advice" and "expert opinion" and states she is "now recognised as one of the UK's leading TV psychological experts". She describes how she is a "highly sought after authority" and provides "expert research"

To join even as a graduate member of the BPS and use the title MBPsS you need to have achieved AT LEAST a 2:2 in an undergraduate degree accredited by the society

Emma did achieve a 2:2 in Psychology from the University of Central Lancashire, as shown on her website

The British Psychological Society has a code of ethics which lays out "the precise forms of ethical conduct and behaviour which The Society expects of its members"

https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-ethics-and-conduct

The BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) requires all members abide by their Ethical Framework and Professional Conduct Procedure, and registered members must agree to the terms and conditions of the BACP register

https://www.bacp.co.uk/membership/registered-membership/

This ethical framework includes:

https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/

The BACP also provide guidance on the use of social media

https://www.bacp.co.uk/membership/membership-policies/social-media/

So the BACP have different classes of membership

Registered membership. Emma Kenny is a registered member

Accredited membership

Senior Accredited membership

So a question for the @BACP. Under your ethical framework, membership policies and protocols, and social media guidance to members, should someone be at least accredited or senior accredited before holding themselves out as an expert and authority? Just wondering?

A question for @BPSOfficial re Emma Kenny.

Do you feel that caution in making knowledge claims has been exercised?

Has social media activity had due regard to the power of influence being appropriately managed? Values applied responsibly, taking care to avoid potential harm?

@BPSOfficial has published a document "Psychology and Media Productions:
Guidance for commissioners and producers"

https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/Policy/Policy%2520-%2520Files/Psychology%2520and%2520Media%2520Productions%2520-%2520Guidance%2520for%2520Commissioners%2520and%2520Producers.pdf

Extracts from this:

On her website Emma Kenny offers TV Psychological Assessments, offering "thorough psychological assessments of contributors of all ages" and bespoke aftercare packages.

BPS guidance says this (see extract below). Is Emma registered with the Health & Care Professions Council?

Here is where one can search the Health & Care Professions Council register for practitioner psychologists. https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/register-results/?query=Kenny&profession=PYL

Register results

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/register-results/?query=Kenny&profession=PYL

In addition to these services, she also has her own therapy clinic.

https://www.emmakennytherapy.com/therapy

I wonder how much BPS Chartered Psychologists, HCPC registered practitioner psychologists, MBACP-Accred, and MBACP-Snr Accred practitioners charge?

Hmmm

I have no idea whether Kenny is still associated with this organisation, but it appears she has been up until relatively recently

Held out as "most eminent" here. Eminent is the dirt of adjective I would expect to see associated with a Professor

https://twitter.com/Gurdur/status/1347622972719247361?s=20