On Friday, Durek Verrett published a video on Instagram where he claimed that spirits can take up residence in children. In the video, he says, among other things, that behavioral problems in children can come from the children being possessed by spirits. It has caused strong reactions. Among the critics are public debater and journalist Ingeborg Senneset and father of five Svein Tore Bergesuten, who believe the royal house should distance itself from the video from Märtha Louise’s fiancé. Healthcare professionals are also critical of what Verrett refers to as “parenting tips for parents”. – This is completely bullshit, and belongs in the Middle Ages. We finished with this in the 16th century, says Trude Fixdal, specialist in child psychiatry to news. – What he is proposing can, from a purely academic point of view, be harmful to children, she adds. – Traumatizing Fixdal, who has a track record of over 25 years, says that emotion regulation in children is a well-known problem for therapists. – Firstly, it is very common for a child to struggle to regulate emotions, for example at the age of defiance. All children can get angry, scared or sad. These are feelings they learn to handle growing up, usually with help from their parents, she says. Trude Fixdal, specialist in psychiatry and child and youth psychiatry. Photo: Privat / Privat The psychiatrist explains that children do not have the same ability to think on an abstract level as adults. – It doesn’t matter how much love you put into it. If mum or dad says you’re obsessed, it can be very frightening or, at worst, traumatizing. Fixdal believes that attributing behavioral problems to spirits can also lead to parents avoiding seeking the necessary help. Responds to the criticism In a live broadcast on Instagram on Tuesday evening, Durek Verrett responds to the criticism. – You have no idea how many strong reactions I get. They think I’m talking about exorcism, he says in the live broadcast. He thinks people “don’t understand his spiritual world and shamanism”. – It is always the Norwegians who are not educated in spiritualism. They think they can tell me what to do. It is interesting and fascinating, he says. Durek Verrett responded to the criticism in a live broadcast on Instagram on Tuesday evening. Photo: Screenshot of Durek Verret’s Instagram account, taken 12/12/23 However, Fixdal believes that it is not appropriate to anchor the advice to his shamanistic practice. – Verrett is moving dangerously close to a professional field that is strictly regulated by the Healthcare Personnel Act, but as he is not a healthcare professional, he is not covered by the legislation. He can be as much of a shaman as he wants, but he cannot hide behind it, Fixdal asserts. The psychiatrist is clear that parents have the greatest responsibility when it comes to children’s development, but emphasizes that Verrett should also be careful in his statements. – It is very easy to write this off as nonsense, and I think most Norwegian parents understand that this is gross. At the same time, Verrett as a public figure has many followers. news has contacted Durek Verrett’s manager Simon Valvik for further comments on Tuesday. Valvik says that Verrett is in the USA and that he has not yet had the opportunity to respond to the criticism. Nor does the Royal House have any comment on the statements.
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Psychiatrist critical of Durek Verrett’s advice on exorcism – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
