Back in May in a new version of If we loved each other, the former star sexologist of the TVA show, Louise Sigouin, has just been officially sentenced by the Ordre professionnel des sexologues du Québec (OPSQ) to a fine of $35,000 and a six-month suspension for violated its code of ethics. The Disciplinary Board and complainants, who confided in the Dutyraise concerns about its return to the air.
In its decision made public on Tuesday, the OPSQ Disciplinary Council endorsed the joint agreement presented by the two parties on January 24. During the hearing, Mr.me Sigouin had pleaded guilty to nine counts against her, relating to two complaints against her.
She will have to pay a fine of $14,000 in addition to reimbursing the complainant’s expert fees of $21,846. As for her temporary radiation of 6 months, she will have to serve it when she decides to become a member of the order again, which she left voluntarily last May.
In its decision, the Disciplinary Board said it was particularly concerned with “protecting the public and safeguarding the image of the profession” underlining all “the relevance of the public nature of this decision so that the population is able to dissociate the respondent from the exercise of the profession of sexologist in the event of his participation in a future season of the program If we loved each other “.
The OPSQ declined to comment on the decision. Mme Sigouin did not respond to the interview request from the Duty.
worries
Two of the plaintiffs in this case, however, told the Duty share the concern of the Disciplinary Board. In order to comply with the publication ban protecting their identity, we granted them confidentiality.
“I saw the advertisements of Si we still loved each other and I am very concerned about the impact on the lives of participants. I am saddened by the thought that they might go through a negative ordeal. Especially since there is no longer anyone to protect them because Mme Sigouin is no longer a member of the order. It is now a life coach who speaks in Quebec and whose words are based on five dualities, not recognized scientifically. His approach is dangerous, it polarizes instead of uniting,” said one of the complainants.
“Despite the judgment rendered, I remain very concerned for the participants who will be presented on television and what they may have experienced during the filming and the “therapy” of Mr.me Sigouin. I find it sad that this show and the participation of Mme Sigouin persist despite the harm it can cause in its path. It’s inhumane,” said another complainant.
Back on the air
Note that Louise Sigouin will be back on the 1er May, at the helm of the new show If we still loved each other. This time, she will support five couples experiencing relationship difficulties and looking for tools to get through. Also the fourth season of If we loved each other was filmed last summer and should be presented on TVA soon.
In a joint statement, TVA Group, Quebecor Content and Duo Productions indicated to the Duty that Louise Sigouin will be presented on the show as an “expert in relational support” and no longer as a “sex therapist”. This change of title had already been made in April in the show If we loved each otheras soon as Mme Sigouin had informed them of his withdrawal from the OPSQ.
“Louise Sigouin and the teams working on the production of If we loved each other have always acted in a benevolent, collaborative manner, placing the well-being of participants at the heart of their concerns.
Are the methods employed by Mme Sigouin, and denounced the OPSQ, will still be in this new show? The issue of Duty remained unanswered.
Notice to participants
Sexologist psychotherapist, Astrid Abelé and her colleague Martine Drapeau, were mandated by the OPSQ to issue a professional opinion on the conduct of Louise Sigouin. In their reports, that the Duty was able to consult, they agree on the fact that the conditions set up in the docu-reality do not allow the creation of a professional relationship of trust between Ms.me Sigouin and the participants.
From the outset, the process is not adequately explained to the participants, while Louise Sigouin does not discuss with them the expectations and limits of the process, even ignoring their concerns.
“The quality of [ses] interventions are sometimes adequate and relevant but often insistent, confrontational, even abrupt and authoritarian. “, notes M.me Abele.
She also notes that the former sexologist “seems to act according to the parameters of production more than on the scientific principles of the rules of the art and the generally recognized standards of practice of the profession of sexologists. »
Without commenting on the “Sigouin approach”, Mme Abelé nevertheless expresses reservations in his report about the use of labels in a helping relationship, as is the case with the “five dualities” used by Louise Sigouin in If we loved each other.
“Unless you are able to make a diagnosis specific to your professional function [psychologue médecin] it is generally inadvisable to label people […] It takes a reductive and stereotyped look at the human experience, at the person, their characteristics, their needs, their reactions, which can be felt to be disabling, judging or stigmatizing,” she writes.
She is of the opinion that the ex-sexologist “has deviated from the scientific principles” of the profession, “in a serious way” within the framework of his participation in the program.
Astrid Abelé invites anyone wishing to participate in a program of this kind to find out about their rights and the possible consequences that this experience would have on their private life.