Barry, I think that you have been conned. This is very sad, your analogy with pyramid selling is a good one. There is a lot of good training in therapies which are effective available in the UK, particularly cognitive-behavioural therapy. The emphasis there is on identifying idiosyncratic unhelpful meanings which events have for the person, and helping them to consider more helpful alternatives. Try reading Cognitive Therapy for emotional disorders (Beck, A.T.)(original publication data 1976, published in the UK by penguin). Things have advanced a lot from that, but it's a great book and a wonderful introduction to CBT. Beck was an analyst who lost his faith too! with sympathy and best wishes, Tantalus