Guru and Goldsmiths 2

The Times Higher 's reporting on "the guru and the psychotherapist" appears to use selective material and innuendo. I have known Windy Dryden for many years and have no reason to doubt his professional integrity.

Derek Gale contributed a chapter to a book I edited on controversies in counselling and psychotherapy. He is unorthodox, but this does not warrant overuse of the guru tag and The Times Higher 's verdict.

If there are additional salient facts not published for sensitive legal reasons, perhaps it would have been wiser to wait before printing this story.

May I suggest that any improprieties implied in this article are put into perspective? Your front-page story ("RAE selection gets brutal", February 2) demonstrates some of the dehumanisation and abuse of university employees that is so chronically perpetrated and acquiesced to as to be taken for granted. Infinitely more harm is done via such odious, competitive and ridiculous policies and practices than by occasional risk-taking therapists.

Colin Feltham
Sheffield