Archived Issue
Originally emailed 1 November 2002
AT Gets Nasty in Utah
As the November elections approach, Utah politics are unique. The full force of attack politics in Utah is directed at an unopposed candidate who wants to introduce a bill to stop practices such as “holding therapy” that coercively restrain children.
Sources in Utah report that Attachment Therapists have given a PR firm a lot of money to make their state safe for “holding therapy.” Their public tactics have included so far:
Intimidating Rep. Mike Thompson (R-Orem) whose anti-restraint bill has already been unanimously positioned by committee for the fast track through the Utah legislature early next year.
Pressuring Rep. Thompson to reach a “compromise” with Attachment Therapists (it’s already a compromise).
Threatening Rep. Thompson with bogus ethics charges, claiming he has conspired with state officials to put the Cascade Center out of business.
Proposing to counter Rep. Thompson’s efforts with a joke bill to be introduced by Sen. Parley Hellewell (R-Orem) that would “get rid of bad therapy and keep good therapy.”
Holding weekly “town meetings” at Utah high schools to “inform” the public about how Rep. Thompson has persecuted Attachment Therapists.
Pressuring client families into action to promote AT’s unvalidated and dangerous practices. (In particular, Colorado’s AT “parenting expert” Nancy Thomas is at it again!) The Cascade Center has a new, slick website up with frequent calls to action and press releases.
Geoffrey Fattah, “Orem center stands by its practices: 2 lawmakers clash over the controversial practice,” Deseret News, 29 Oct 2002.
Caution: links may have aged since this AT News was first emailed.