Neil Oliver Counsellor – Why the HDC’s Naming Powers Must Be Reviewed Legally (Not Just Ethically)
When Public Shame Replaces Due Process There’s a dangerous illusion at the heart of New Zealand’s health complaints process: that because the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) is not a court, it doesn’t wield legal power.But for the practitioners caught in its crosshairs — especially those who are publicly named — the consequences are every […]
Continue ReadingNeil Oliver Counsellor – Why Counselling in NZ Deserves Stronger Legal Protections
When a Profession Has No Shield, Every Arrow Lands For years, I believed that being a good counsellor was enough — that if I practiced ethically, stayed current in my training, and held myself to high professional standards, I would be protected.But the truth is more sobering: in New Zealand, counsellors operate without the legal […]
Continue ReadingNeil Oliver Counsellor – When the HDC Ignores Evidence That Doesn’t Fit Their Narrative
In any fair investigation, you expect one thing above all:That your side of the story will be heard. Not accepted blindly.Not treated as gospel.But at the very least, considered. That didn’t happen in my case. According to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC), when a complaint is received, there are several pathways available to address […]
Continue ReadingNeil Oliver Counsellor – How the HDC Misrepresents Counsellor Rights and Ethics
When I became the subject of a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner, I expected at least one basic safeguard:That the people investigating me would understand how counselling actually works. They didn’t. Instead, I found myself being assessed — and ultimately condemned — by a process that showed little to no understanding of: The process didn’t […]
Continue ReadingNeil Oliver Counsellor – The Culture of Fear Among Professionals and Why It’s Silencing the Ethical Ones
There’s a silent epidemic growing inside the counselling and mental health profession — and it’s not burnout, or compassion fatigue, or administrative overload. It’s fear. Fear of being accused.Fear of being misinterpreted.Fear of having your career ruined by one-sided processes that offer no protection.Fear that one bad-faith complaint, one distorted interaction, or one misreading of your […]
Continue ReadingNeil Oliver Counsellor – The Psychological Toll of False Complaints in Mental Health
False complaints don’t just damage reputations.They damage minds.They fracture nervous systems.They hijack your ability to feel safe — not just in public, but in your own skin. When I became the target of a false and deeply unfair complaint, what followed wasn’t just professional fallout. It was a psychological assault — one that unfolded silently, […]
Continue ReadingNeil Oliver Counsellor – Rebuilding After Reputational Destruction
There is no blueprint for how to rebuild your life when your name has been publicly damaged. No guidebook.No checklist.No five-step recovery plan. There’s no hotline to call.No mentor to turn to.No roadmap for how to carry on when the thing that’s been taken from you isn’t just your job — but your credibility, your identity, and […]
Continue ReadingNeil Oliver Counsellor – Why the HDC’s Powers of Public Disclosure Must Be Reviewed
It’s one of the most terrifying moments a professional can face: discovering that your name — and your business — have been published online by a government authority, based not on a legal finding or court ruling, but on the opinion of an administrative process carried out behind closed doors. That’s what happened to me. The Health and Disability […]
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