Off the Couch
The weblog of Kyle MacDonald.

 

A psychotherapist's view of events and happenings in Aotearoa and beyond...

 

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Ideology of Denial

July 16, 2010

Recently I was asked if my quote in this Herald article meant that I thought that ACC were deliberately looking for ways to decline claims, a contentious assertion to be sure. I don’t think that, and I said so. Such a crude and simplistic explanation clearly makes little sense. I harbour no ideas that the day [...]

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How you can help (again.)

June 1, 2010

It hardly seems like eight months ago most of you signed an online petition, and as a result of all your signatures and the concerted efforts of many, we were promised an independent clinical review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims. Well the day has finally arrived, and the Independent Review Panel has [...]

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Survivors

May 16, 2010

In these enlightened times we deliberately choose to use language to more accurately describe the types of attitudes we think are morally important for society as a whole. For this reason we refer to people who have experienced sexual abuse as survivors, and try to avoid calling Maori cannibals. This is the essence of “Politically [...]

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Who to believe

April 28, 2010

You’d think after all this time, we’d have this sorted out, but no: I’m afraid I still don’t know who to believe when it comes to the politics around ACC. The Sunday Star Times ran a shocking story recently about some very disturbing emails that a client of ACC claims show a despicable internal culture of the [...]

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Question time, but no answers…

April 2, 2010

So what questions would you like answered by the Hon. Dr. Nick Smith?  Personally I’d like to know who these “expert clinicans” are, especially seeing he’s relying on them so heavily .  So far as I can tell none of the people they’re relying on are experts in the field, so I’d like that one [...]

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The Poison Chalice

March 24, 2010

I’m pretty optimistic by nature, so forgive my spin on this one. Maybe it’s also just my need to feel like we are actually making a difference. But I honestly believe we are. It seems ACC are unable to find a “reviewer” for the new clinical pathway. Rumours are two have been approached, and turned [...]

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The Swamp Creatures

February 18, 2010

Organizational culture is a hard thing to measure and describe. ACC has worked over the years to generate an image of them being helpful and compassionate over the years; their logo even says, “Prevention, Care Recovery.” However as all who have dealt with ACC recently know, for sensitive claims or indeed any claim, the culture [...]

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ACC invents Time Machine: Uses it for Evil

January 28, 2010

Having been unhappy with only finding ways to deny current and new claims, ACC appeared to have used their considerable talents and resources to develop technology that even the most skilled and ingenious quantum physicists have been unable to achieve: the ability to travel through time and change the past! Now anyone who has ever [...]

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New Years Resolution: Complain more

January 10, 2010

I have always been inclined to complain about injustice. It will surprise few that I have even been known to send the odd letter to the editor in the past and much to my partner’s annoyance even yell at the evening news. Occasionally I even stop watching the news, just so I stop yelling at [...]

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The Rapists Charter

December 16, 2009

One of the most well recognised tactics that abusers of all types use, and this is confirmed time and time again in the clinical literature, is to “blame the victim.” The classic example of this being when a woman is blamed for being attacked due to having dressed too provocatively. That’s why I was so [...]

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Someone really should tell them

November 24, 2009

So I’ve been worried lately I might have been a little harsh on ACC. It is possible, even likely I thought, that they actually don’t know that their public statements are ill-informed. Likely, I thought because if they do know then that means senior ACC managers and maybe even the Minster Hon. Nick Smith are [...]

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Insensitive Claims

November 17, 2009

“We’re pleased to say that the transition has gone smoothly.”   Alarmingly, Dr. Peter Jansen the senior clinical directorate who is in charge of these changes  recently sent a letter where he made the above statement!   The story is very different in reality, and we are starting to hear horrific stories of confusion and incompetence.  Stories [...]

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