Baylissa Closing Her Practice

I am very sad to inform people that Baylissa is closing her practice and website. I received this message this morning, as I have a membership on her site.

 

"I am saddened to be sharing this unexpected news of the closure of Bloom in Wellness with you. Unfortunately, I cannot continue as recent conflicting statements and false accusations about me on forums, and private efforts to sabotage my work, have weakened my practice to the point where I can no longer meet the costs of running the website and covering my living expenses.

 

The result of the drama on the forum is that I am dealing mostly with suicidal crisis calls as well as accusatory messages telling me to stop lying.  I have gone from being almost fully booked every day to just a few sessions per day and with none on many days. This is the first time since I started doing consultations that this has happened. I have also had membership cancellations with messages telling me I don’t cater for the protracted when, as you know, this is not the case.

 

I have been attacked, cyber-bullied and threatened with closure of my website and with promises to do everything to “bring me down”. I am shocked at the level of hate being directed at me and I am so sorry it has come to this.

 

One thing I can do is to put your daily emails of encouragement in book form so you can have them by your bedside to read first thing each morning. It won't cost much to do this. But I can no longer afford to do the other things that are costly, like hosting the videos on Vimeo, etc. I am heartbroken to be taking away what I have been told is a lifeline for some of you, but I see no other option.

 

I have thought of how I could keep the site going but if I increase the monthly membership fee, some of you won’t be able to afford it and a significant number will cancel. It is most likely that I will end up with even less income which will not cover costs and would leave us in the same position. I already have members who stopped paying their fees, so the number of members we have does not reflect the actual income.

 

I see my only option as one in which I will do my best to find work as a coach, counsellor and consultant, not specifically related to withdrawal, but in the areas I did before, such as rape and sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, self-compassion, etc. I won’t have any restrictions regarding who I help and so if someone in withdrawal books a session, that’s okay too. I am hoping if I work this way I won't be targeted as a "withdrawal" therapist "taking money from sick people" and hopefully the attacks will stop.

 

I will admit that I am scared. I don’t know what my future holds but I have to trust that I will find somewhere to live and have food to eat. I have just enough money in my account for one month’s rent and then that’s it. I have no idea what to do.  Because of the dystonia, I can't do jobs that require sitting up all day or that are physical. I have to have faith and work as hard as I can. As I’ve always said to all of you, fall down seven, get up eight. I will keep going, to the best of my ability. Please pray for me.

 

Well, this is our news. I didn’t even realise what was going on out there in the community until people started filling me in. There is a risk with doing work like this, but I am still in shock. I love what I do and I will never regret having done it over these past 13 years. The profound compassion I feel for all of you cannot be articulated. You know this. I can never thank you enough for your support and for having been a “Bloomie”. I am overwhelmed at the moment so please give me a bit of time...  I don’t know yet how things will be wrapped up. I will do my best to make resources available and I will send an update with your membership cancellation date, resources links, etc.

 

Please don’t lose heart. Maybe I became redundant for saying the things I know to be true, things that anecdotal evidence supports, including that we all heal.  I am not a follower or someone who needs to conform or joins bandwagons. The withdrawal community has changed and is almost out of control. Everything I share with you is based on truth, is responsible, and is meant to keep you safe and limit your exposure to the things that can affect healing. My intentions have always been for good, from my heart. Please know this."

 

 

 

Well, now we only have Jennifer Leigh in the US.  We really are alone in this.  It’s not right.

Oh that's too bad. I kept seeing her name posted on the forums and was probably going to reach out and see if i can get some withdrawal questions answered. I was on her website the other day but couldnt figure out how to make an appointment. Its probably obvious but my brain doesnt work well right now. Sad to see any withdrawal specialist close. Are there any others who offer benzo related counseling? I can never find anyone who knows a single thing about benzos.

This is truly devastating! Whoever attacked one of the only resources i had is evil. People didn’t have to go to her site or listen to her. This is pure evil. I hope by some miracle she gets the money she needs to keep helping those who actually want to be encouraged and supported. Shame on those who are hopeless and don’t want others to survive also! I am so grieved even more.

What the helk?! Who would attack someone who is trying to help...  wow. I am actually on the path right now to be a certified health coach for this very reason. Well- to help those in withdrawals from Benzos. And lifestyle changes in general.  Of course I need to walk the walk first ... but my point is that she brought so much hope whether or not the issue of healing means a full recovery. So sad for sure.

I understand especially if her life was being threatened. She certainly helped me a great deal and I will never understand people that complain about not having support would turn around and attack someone that was truly trying to help us. Certainly she was not in it for the money because the membership was so low. I knew she really cared about my welfare and it was great to have someone that had personally experienced WD on my side.

 

Whatever the evil intentions were, it still will not stop me from healing because i refuse to give in to human threats. I am on assignment from a higher power.

This is truly devastating! [...] This is pure evil. I hope by some miracle she gets the money she needs to keep helping those who actually want to be encouraged and supported. Shame on those who are hopeless and don’t want others to survive also! I am so grieved even more.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

This is an incredible loss and shock to many of us. I have used Baylissa's services, and can only say that I have seldom met anyone who I consider such a bright light of hope, compassion, and love...a true angel.

 

My husband and I will continue to support her in any way we can, and I hope with my whole heart that others see this event for the tragedy and disgusting evil that it is - and have the integrity to add their voices in support of an incredible woman who has saved many lives in more than a decade of service. Shame on those who project their fear, anger, and negativity onto one of the only voices of Light available to those in psych-med withdrawal.

 

Baylissa will have my undying respect, gratitude, and love forever.

 

Lara

I booked an appointment today. Do the same.

 

...i refuse to give in to human threats. I am on assignment from a higher power.

 

Preachergirl, me too. Standing with you.

 

I booked an appointment today. Do the same.

 

Marina - I'm booking one now. Requesting others to follow suit. Let's make it happen.

...i refuse to give in to human threats. I am on assignment from a higher power.

 

Preachergirl, me too. Standing with you.

 

I booked an appointment today. Do the same.

 

Marina - I'm booking one now. Requesting others to follow suit. Let's make it happen.

 

Booking one now!!

Ah that's sad, we should be able to disagree without personally abusing someone or trying to sabotage there business. Is there a reason why she's using vimeo? Is youtube not free?

Isn’t she the person that says everyone heals, but isn’t healed herself?

 

Booking one now!!

 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

Isn’t she the person that says everyone heals, but isn’t healed herself?

 

Baylissa is fully healed. The dystonia she suffers from predates her benzo use.

Booked.

Isn’t she the person that says everyone heals, but isn’t healed herself?

 

Baylissa is fully healed. The dystonia she suffers from predates her benzo use.

Ahh okay. Had me worried there since that’s my last symptom.

I’d be happy to donate a few bucks to help the cause, she have a GoFundMe?

Sam, I don't think she has. But that's a good idea...I'm going to suggest to her. Thanks!

Before two years I was living in Manchester U.K. I know that Baylissa lives in U.K. but when you are booking now do you meet her live or only you are booking for call? Is she make visits or have a office or it is only call and mails? I was never meet her at this point. Just wondering?

Baylissa was put in Benzos for her pre-existing dystonia.

 

I feel devastated by this. She is an enormous help to myself and others. She has probably saved many, many lives. Whoever is doing this is simply cruel. Nobody has to use her services but those of us who chose to find them invaluable.

Before two years I was living in Manchester U.K. I know that Baylissa lives in U.K. but when you are booking now do you meet her live or only you are booking for call? Is she make visits or have a office or it is only call and mails? I was never meet her at this point.

 

Lexsant, she's in Wales. I'm in South Africa, so I book Skype sessions usually. She might well do live appointments if you're close enough to her office... Please do consider booking a session. Thank you!

Sorry if this has been answered, but why can’t she accept insurance as payment?

I understand she’s a certified mental health expert.

I, for one, am and will always be a part of Baylissa’s (and Jennifer, Don, Una, and Ian’s) “tribe.”  I am healing from my benzo exposure and I will continue to believe that we all heal because I trust those who have been witnessing this healing for decades.

 

I empathize and my heart breaks for anyone affected by benzos or other psych meds. Especially those who have been on this road for a long time. But a bully is a bully. Being in withdrawal does not preclude people from being bullies and certainly that is what I’ve seen here in this instance. And I’m quite sure it goes much deeper than the posts on this forum. I don’t think this is new to any of the kind souls that work with this population.

 

I go back to my original words about the posts in question which were “mean-spirited.”  I thought this forum was supposed to be a place of support and encouragement but I can see from the actions of some that is surely not the case. People in all stages of this journey are crying out for empathy and to be heard and everyone should be heard, but it’s the way the message is presented. When you’re being told you’re scaring people, very vulnerable people, that’s probably a good cue to back off.

 

Finally a word about Baylissa and the others who support those in drug withdrawal. Shame on anyone attempting to denigrate their work. For MANY people in wd they are a lifeline and their only means of information and support. I have worked with Baylissa, Jennifer and Don throughout my withdrawal and they are some of the kindest, most generous souls I’ve ever met. Let me make this perfectly clear to everyone, the accusations about them are DEAD WRONG. And the outcome of this community losing any of them is detrimental for all of us. There are many people who are going to suffer this loss.

 

It’s a shame and a disappointment that this ever happened and that this forum participated in hurting our cause rather that pushing it forward.

 

McS

 

 

McS, beautifully said...

 

Sorry if this has been answered, but why can’t she accept insurance as payment?

I understand she’s a certified mental health expert.

 

Sam, as I understand it, although she's a licensed therapist (trauma, abuse, and other modalities), her role in terms of psych-med advice is officially that of 'coach/source of withdrawal support' only. As she's not a medical doctor, she's not legally qualified to advise or comment on 'medical treatment' - i.e. coming off psych drugs.

 

(Not that your average medical doctor/'expert' seems either morally or intellectually qualified in that regard...but there ya go.)

I spoke to her last week and she didn't mention it, but if it's on her site then I guess it's real. I have spoken to her many times and I would be devastated if she closed down; I use her more than the board because she is the only one who sees healing every day. She says she couldn't do this if she didn't see people heal all the time, and just hearing that is worth the consult every few weeks for me. I highly recommend her.

Agreed, McS, you said it all, except that I am angry, very angry and I don't know what to do with it. One of the ring leaders has had the nerve to post something sympathetic and it's all I can do not to rip into this person but I know this will only cause stress and pain, to myself and to the community, so out of respect, I will restrain in myself, but if ever there was proof that this cancer needs to be excised, it is this. I will have to distance myself from this place of a while, I think, or I just don't know what.