Why is an experienced counsellor under fire?

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve been watching the rapid disintegration of speech rights in the UK with horror. More than 700 people arrested in a single week, police knocking on doors to warn against even attending protests, and of course Lucy Connolly still sitting in prison because of a tweet.

And I’ve caught myself feeling a little smug. I’ve thought: New Zealand isn’t so bad. We’ve managed to hold the line.

But then Matthew’s* case landed in my inbox.

I’ll cut to the chase: I know you will be as appalled as I am about what Matthew is being put through and I am writing to you to see if you’ll chip in so we can join the fight for him.

Matthew is a counsellor with decades of experience helping people through some of the darkest chapters of their lives. He is respected by clients and has committed his career to the wellbeing of others.

But now, he is being dragged through a professional inquisition. They honestly may as well be holding pitchforks at this point.

21 separate complaints have been laid against him. Not by clients, not by families who feel let down, but by his fellow counsellors.

His offence? Speaking openly about the counselling profession’s adoption of gender-affirming ideology. Actually, worse… he has dared to question it.

On social media and on his blog, Matthew has often pointed to the Cass Review. (This is an independent investigation commissioned by the UK’s NHS, which found that the evidence for gender medical treatments in children and young people is weak, risky, and often driven more by ideology than science.)

Matthew wrote about how he agrees with the review that young people deserve time and space to explore their feelings, not to be rushed into drastic medical interventions. He has also warned that “affirmation-only” therapy could itself be a form of conversion therapy because so many of the children being transitioned would otherwise grow up into healthy gay adults.

As a gay woman myself, I could not agree more, but this is not a perspective the establishment in New Zealand is very fond of.

But whether you agree or not is irrelevant. Why is an experienced counsellor unable to question their profession’s stances and practices?

Surely we are better off when professionals are free to do so. How can we trust individuals in these positions if they’re forced to self-censor?

Surely engaging with credible evidence and research from overseas is a legitimate endeavour in any profession. We cannot stand by while the bullies in our institutions control to the most minute detail which professional research is beyond the pale.

Will you join us in standing up to this censorship?

It is his professional opinions that the NZ Association of Counsellors (NZAC) now alleges amount to Matthew “causing harm.”

He is accused of disrespecting colleagues, spreading “discredited views,” and practising “outside his competence.”

Let’s be clear: these are not good-faith disagreements. They’re not presenting their case, arguing their points. They’re simply silencing an idea they don’t like and punishing anyone who doesn’t toe the line.

If the complainants succeed, Matthew faces suspension or expulsion from NZAC. Membership isn’t legally required to practise, but it is the profession’s key credential. Without it, his credibility is shattered, referrals dry up, and his livelihood could collapse.

Think about that: after decades of service, his career could be destroyed not because he failed his clients, but because he was punished for his opinions and daring to voice them.

This is why the Free Speech Union exists. We are standing with Matthew and helping him prepare his response, and have contacted NZAC reminding them of their duty to respect the speech rights of their professionals. And if NZAC delivers an unjust ruling, we are ready to take the fight to the next level.

But this kind of fight takes resources, and as you know, Matthew is not the only Kiwi we are helping to stand up to the censors.

We can only take on the establishment, the institutions, with the support of free speech supporters like you. Will you consider making a contribution so that our team at the Free Speech Union can do what they do best?

The battles over sex and gender might not be your cup of tea. You may disagree entirely with Matthew's perspective. But that’s not the point. Today, they are policing this issue, tomorrow, it will be something else.

What happens when counsellors in New Zealand are punished for which side of a foreign conflict they lean toward? Or if they are told they must ‘affirm’ people with eating disorders or body dysmorphia? Will the entire profession be expected to sign up to a prescribed list of political beliefs, too? 

This isn’t just about Matthew, it’s about whether professionals in this country are allowed to think for themselves at all.

Matthew cannot take on a professional body and its legal machinery alone. That’s why he needs us. And that’s why we need you.

Donate today so our fantastic team can defend Matthew and the many other Kiwis who are under fire for totally legitimate speech.

Every dollar makes a difference. Every dollar tells us that New Zealanders will not stand by while professionals are silenced for speaking their minds.

Silence is what they want. With your backing, we’ll make sure Matthew, and others like him, are not bullied into submission.

Thank you for standing with us.

Ani O'Brien | FSU Council Member

*Name changed to protect him from further harassment.

PS. Cases like Matthew's move quickly, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Your support today means we can give him the backing he needs before it’s too late.