Therapists slam ACC plan to cut sex abuse spend

 A group of local psychotherapists worry proposed changes to ACC's sensitive claims unit could see victims of sexual abuse only getting part of the therapy they require.
ACC has been looking at ways to reduce its spend on victims of rape and sexual abuse, and has looked to what are known as the Massey Guidelines.
Published last year, they suggest shorter-term therapy is more beneficial than long-term therapy.
But psychotherapist Beverley Kearse said short-term counselling wouldn't work for those who had been traumatised over a long period.
Her colleague Paula O'Boyle agreed and said it would be unethical to attempt to give therapy in a certain amount of time.
"You can't open a person up and then leave them open," Ms O'Boyle said.
They are backed by the NZ Association of Psychotherapists, who have delivered an open letter to the Minister for ACC, Nick Smith, asking him to explain and justify the proposed changes. Association president Sean Manning said changes were being hurriedly imposed, which would negatively affect clients who were already distressed.
"The proposed process where a victim of sexual abuse will have to tell their story to three people before getting help will actually be damaging," he said. "If you want to put people off asking for help, this is a good way to do it."
Hawke's Bay psychotherapist Claudette O'Brien said cutting the cost of therapy would cost the country more in the long run.
 Without rehabilitation, more would require hospitalisation or Government benefits, she said.
"You see how much they spend on sports-related injuries compared to the small amount spent on sexual rehabilitation, there's something very skewed there," Ms O'Brien said. All three local psychotherapists said they could not work ethically if short-term therapy became ACC's model of care.
ACC's director of clinical services, Kevin Morris, said psychotherapists across the country were mistaken if they thought there were plans to have a set amount of sessions for all cases.