Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

I'm increasingly finding that the methods are being used for dramatic effect. I can't help but wonder if the coaching methods would be a little less extreme if they weren't trying to attract viewers and sponsors.

I dislike the humiliation tactics; women who have been so emotionally damaged certainly don't need to add humiliation to their list of abuses.

And I note some inconsistency. For instance, when Rhonda was interviewing Kim asking her to write down what she expected from her housemates, Kim said that she had wanted only to have a conversation with Jill but that Jill talked but didn't really include Kim in the conversation. To that, Rhonda said "you're willing to settle for scraps?" That indicated to me that she felt that Kim should have expected better from Jill. But in the very next sentence, Rhonda said that Kim expects too much of everyone. HUH? First Kim doesn't expect enough, then it's too much?

I'd be shaking my head in confusion if I were her.

Has anyone noticed the National Enquirer style trailers? The "next on Starting Over" is getting to be more like a headline on a cheap grocery store checkout gossip rag than a respectible reality show dealing with real issues. The commercialism is getting to them.

I really love Starting Over, but I am increasingly concerned about the methods used by Rhonda. She placed Lisa in a jail cell and recently put a straight jacket on Kelly. My training in my line of work (Certified Nursing Assistant) tells me that restraints are illegal if not ordered by a doctor (or in the case of the jail cell, a judge). Common sense tells me they are also cruel and should never be used in therapy unless someone is a physical danger to themselves or others. The women had very negative reactions; Lisa threw up all over herself and Kelly was crying and very upset. I just can't believe that Rhonda does not know that her methods are illegal.

Believe me, it didn't take much for Lisa to fake barf! (She did it numerous times...)

The ladies know when they sign on to the show that it often has unorthodox 'exercises'... I know alot of people were worried about the straight jacket exercise and Kelly but when you see the episode (today's) it is put in context... Kelly seemed to glean alot out of it...

I don't think a few hours in it and supervised at that...would be cause for cruel and unusual punishment.

The ladies aren't being held there against their will and they can leave at any time. ALL of them know that they may be doing wierd things...

Lisa was also supervised and was skinny enough that she could have slipped through the bars. But the jail represented something.. and it needed to sink in... Likewise for Kelly. Kelly's inability to reach out to others... and also to ask for help. I really liked the connections she seemed to make when having the housemates help her. It forced trust and contact...
She needed a good helping of both! and a whole lot of love! Her housemates seemed to fully support her...and I think that has been the most relaxed I've seen Kelly since she got there!

As far as the straight-jacket actually being illegal....it's not unless it's used against someone's will except in the medical/psychological area you mentioned. I am in the Emergency Medicine field, and yes, we have had to use restraints......VERY rarely and almost always with law-enforcement.....but that's a case of HAVING to use them.

In the normal course of life, therapy, etc. any number of exercises/assignments/tools, etc. may be used with prior knowledge and assent.

After all.........you hear about the crazy restraints some people use in their homes for all sorts of strange reasons......not illegal either!!!

Now, that's not saying I agree with S.O. in this matter. Maybe the jacket did not have a completely detrimental effect on Kelly, but I still personally find it unnecessary.

natyboops wrote:

QUOTE:
I really love Starting Over, but I am increasingly concerned about the methods used by Rhonda. She placed Lisa in a jail cell and recently put a straight jacket on Kelly. My training in my line of work (Certified Nursing Assistant) tells me that restraints are illegal if not ordered by a doctor (or in the case of the jail cell, a judge). Common sense tells me they are also cruel and should never be used in therapy unless someone is a physical danger to themselves or others. The women had very negative reactions; Lisa threw up all over herself and Kelly was crying and very upset. I just can't believe that Rhonda does not know that her methods are illegal.

Lisa did NOT throw up all over herself. She didn't even throw up in the bag. She just made some gagging noises into it. And, made sure one of her HM's was walking by. Then, she told another HM that she'd "thrown up all over" herself. If she did, where was it? I sure as hell didn't see any. Lisa's "puke" is just as fake as her "tears".

I was surprised how Rhonda Smirked when talking about Kelly on Monday's show....she said something like "we'll just see how Miss Kelly responds to that" but it seemed mean spirited...not supportive. Perhaps someone is getting a bit big for her britches!