Title: Mother Sues Counseling Firm After Daughter’s Suicide Following Desensitization Therapy
Content:
After experiencing intense suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide twice within days of undergoing desensitization therapy, Ge Fei reached out to her psychological counselors Su Chao and Yu Tianyi for help. Tragically, just ten days after her second distress call, on October 22, 2021, she was found dead after jumping from the 18th floor of her apartment building, three days after her 33rd birthday.
Ge Fei’s mother, Yang Min, was shocked by the news, as she had observed improvements in her daughter’s condition. Su Chao, who had been Ge Fei’s primary counselor for six years, also expressed surprise. A month later, Yang Min filed a lawsuit against Beijing Mingxin Consulting Co., Ltd., where Su Chao and Yu Tianyi were employed.
After nearly two years of legal proceedings, the court delivered its first-instance verdict on November 13, 2023. The court found that Ge Fei’s suicide was the result of an interaction between external factors and her internal illness, with the desensitization therapy being a secondary cause. The defendants were held responsible for 30% of the damages arising from Ge Fei’s death.
Both parties were dissatisfied with the verdict and appealed. The case underwent two appellate hearings in March and June this year, but the final judgment has yet to be announced.
A review of the case materials and six years of counseling recordings and notes between Ge Fei and Su Chao revealed that Ge Fei’s suicide was a brutal act of self-harm and a manifestation of her collapsing self-worth. Helping clients establish a sense of value is a responsibility of psychological counselors, involving the discovery of inner strength and self-worth to facilitate personal growth. Whether the counselors in this case fulfilled this role remains to be seen in the court’s decision.
In recent years, the rapid expansion of the psychological counseling industry has been accompanied by issues such as unclear regulatory authorities, lack of self-discipline and oversight mechanisms, no unified practice准入标准, difficulty in determining counselor qualifications, and ambiguous fee standards. As public demand for psychological services grows, how do we uphold human values amidst conflicts between commercial interests and humanism?
Ge Fei’s bed remains as it was before her death, with most of the space occupied by stuffed toys. Her favorite toy, a worn-out plush named “Little Tiger,” sits on her pillow. This toy, bought during a family trip when she was around eight or nine, was a source of comfort for her throughout her life.
Ge Fei’s mental health issues first surfaced in 2013 when she was 25. She had witnessed her father’s affair and subsequent divorce, which deeply affected her. In 2017, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a chronic mental illness characterized by alternating depressive and manic episodes.
Before her illness, Ge Fei was a diligent and high-achieving student, graduating from prestigious universities. However, after falling ill, she struggled with emotions, excessive spending, and a regression to childlike behaviors. Her mother, Yang Min, struggled to understand how her husband’s affair and divorce could have such a profound impact on their daughter.
Ge Fei’s father, a respected historian, had been her spiritual idol. She followed in his footsteps, studying history and working as a researcher at a national museum. However, her mental health deteriorated, and she eventually had to abandon her plans for a doctoral degree.
Yang Min sought help from various mental health professionals before being introduced to Su Chao by a friend. Initially, Su Chao offered hope, and Ge Fei seemed to respond positively to the counseling sessions. However, as time went on, Ge Fei’s condition worsened, culminating in the fatal desensitization therapy sessions.
Desensitization therapy, originating from allergy treatment, involves gradually exposing patients to the source of their distress to help them adapt. In Ge Fei’s case, the therapy focused on her trauma related to her father’s affair. However, the sessions triggered intense emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.
Despite Ge Fei’s obvious discomfort and repeated suicidal attempts, the counselors continued with the therapy. After the second session, Ge Fei again expressed her distress and suicidal ideation, but the counselors assured her that they could adjust the difficulty or pause the therapy.
Tragically, Ge Fei took her own life just days later. Her mother believes that the desensitization therapy and the subsequent questionnaire about her father’s role in her life pushed her over the edge.
The lawsuit focused on whether the counseling behavior was causally related to Ge Fei’s suicide. The defendants argued that psychological counseling is a high-risk industry and that the cancellation of national qualification certificates for counselors meant they were protected by law. However, the court found that the counselors had failed to properly assess and manage Ge Fei’s suicide risk, and that Yu Tianyi, in particular, did not meet the professional requirements for counseling.
The case highlights the challenges faced by the psychological counseling industry in China, including unclear regulations, lack of oversight, and varying standards of practice. As the demand for mental health services grows, it is crucial to establish clear guidelines and ensure that counselors are adequately trained and qualified to provide safe and effective care.