REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)              moderated group sci.psychology.psychotherapy This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the change in status from unmoderated to moderated for the Usenet newsgroup, sci.psychology.psychotherapy. This is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time.  Procedural details are below. Newsgroup line: sci.psychology.psychotherapy    Practice of psychotherapy. (Moderated) RATIONALE: sci.psychology.psychotherapy Since this newsgroup was created a year ago, it has acted as a dumping ground for any miscellaneous article an author feels is appropriate, without regard to the group's charter. Instead of becoming a niche for professionals and laypeople alike to discuss psychotherapy techniques and similar topics, it has become a foggy mirror of sci.psychology.misc, hosting discussions on topics ranging from sex with children to the ever-popular scientology topics. Personal e-mail, changing followups in threads, and posting the charter on a regular basis has done little to dissuade the off-charter topics that regularly appear and overwhelm the newsgroup. Individuals, too, have used this and similar groups as a soap-box in which to preach their particular gripes against psychotherapy, or more generally, science and psychology. While certainly criticism of psychotherapy is appropriate to this forum, dozens of articles posted every day from the same people also are overwhelming the group's ability to sustain and propose other appropriate topics. Dozens of professionals who have contacted me in the past year have stated their desire to utilize the forum for discussions of psychotherapy topics, but are fearful to do so because of the flames and personal insults they have observed on it. It is therefore proposed to moderate this newsgroup with a broad range of moderators, to help reduce the overwhelming noise on the group and bring it closer to the intentions of the original charter. CHARTER: sci.psychology.psychotherapy This newsgroup is for the discussion of all different modalities of psychotherapy, their efficacy, and their acceptance within the psychotherapeutic community. All forms of psychotherapy as practiced by a wide range of disciplines (psychology, psychiatry, marriage and family counseling, social work, etc.) are welcomed here, as are all clinicians in varying fields. Emphasis is placed on discussing psychotherapeutic methods, rather than research or theory, since these latter topics are covered in separate newsgroups. Examples of appropriate topics for this newsgroup might be discussion of techniques used in interpersonal therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, marriage and family therapy, client-centered therapy, rational-emotive therapy, etc. Ethical issues in practice as well as specific psychotherapeutic techniques may also be discussed. Case discussions, as long as anonymity is ensured, are also welcome. Participants are reminded always to be careful of confidentiality and ethical issues when posting such questions. Individuals seeking help or information on a specific emotional, psychological or related physical problem or disorder may also post questions about specifical psychotherapeutic techniques and treatments. Individuals are encouraged, however, to seek out answers to these types of questions elsewhere first. Advertisements for any products, as well as discussions on: psychopharamalogical interventions, whether psychology is a science or not, scientology topics, whether X behavior is normal or not, and on any research or theoretical areas outside the purview of psychology or psychotherapy would remain on other existing newsgroups and are examples of topics that are inappropriate for this group. Flaming and personal insults are also not appropriate to this newsgroup. Moderation Guidelines: This is a loosely moderated group, moderation mainly being used to screen out irrelevant, non-psycotherapy articles, personal attacks and arguments, irrelevant political debate, and other topics as warranted. The purpose of moderation on sci.psychology.psychotherapy is create a collegial forum for the discussion about psychotherapy