Protecting the Public
Dear Anthony,
I wanted to thank you for writing such an interesting article in the November issue of Counseling Today regarding Life Coaches. I am a recent graduate in Community Counseling and just passed the LPC exam.
Here in Dallas, a lot of so-called “hypnotist/hypnotherapists” pass themselves off as therapists and life coaches. It’s amazing because they have NO clinical training to practice mental health. I’m wondering if there are any laws out there to protect the public.
For example, there is a guy in Dallas who is top listed on Google for Hypnotherapy.
The guy claims to be a “board certified hypnotherapist”…but in reality it requires no formal education nor licensure. If you look at his site, he claims to treat all kinds of clinical issues … including addictions. There are an awful lot of people out there claiming to by hypnotherapists, but are not licensed by the state to perform therapy. I’m wondering what I can do as a counselor to change this situation?
Sincerely,
Jeremy Porter
– – –
Dear Jeremy,
Thank you so much for reading, and for your comments about, my column!
The issue of licensure you describe is complicated, evolving all the time, and differs by state.
In Massachusetts, where my practice was founded, the term “Mental Health Counseling” is regulated. However, other terms, such as “psychotherapy” and “counseling” have not always been regulated. Note: they might be now, but in my discussions with the board of licensure in the mid 2000s there were not regulated.
Hence, at that time persons could hang a shingle and provide services called “psychotherapy” or “counseling” and –depending on what they were actually doing—they might be working within the law. Truly, every time a term is regulated it seems someone comes up with a new title that’s note regulated. Consider “life coaching”, “mentorship”, “listening services”, “life consulting” or who knows what else.
It seems, you are having a similar experience, with someone providing services under the term “Hypnotherapy.”
However, regardless of the title one is using, they might still be in violation of laws for practicing medicine, or psychology / mental health services, without a license. It seems the person you’re citing is claiming to treat additions, depression, etc…. I’m not sure about your local laws, but it seems such claims might very well might cross the line in your state.
If you’re trying to practice in the same marketplace, I think that a good approach for you and other licensed mental health professionals (counselors, social workers, psychologists) is to emphasize your strengths to potential clients. This might include:
1 – Showing the difference in caliber of education and licensure you possess
2 – Being eligible to accept clients’ insurance (which unlicensed providers can’t do)
3 – Patient/Client Privilege — The legal protection of client privacy licensed counselors have, but others don’t.
Jeremy, I hope this helps!!
Sincerely,
Anthony
Dr. Anthony Centore
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Anthony Centore
And yes, they can now get malpractice insurance if theyre doing “energy psychology” and such. Search AMET, ACEP, or the EFT websites.
They’re going to need it! However, I cannot fathom why a insurance company would take on such apparently high risk coverage.
I am a Certified Life Coach and my focus is on issues resulting from childhood trauma or long-term domestic violence as well as addictions. It was my intention to become a therapist when I started school but when I found out that after getting two degrees in Psychology with a concentration on chemical dependency, I found out in this state that one couldn’t even apply to test for licensure until almost 2 years post-Masters degree. I did not want to wait another 4 years to practice so after looking at teaching or other opportunities for my passion to help others that have gone through what I have gone through, a friend who is a psychologist said I should be a Life Coach. I became certified and since I am extremely passionate about trauma-related issues since I lived with Complex-PTSD most of my life and self medicated most of those years. I was 16 years sober last May 28 and since I have been diagnosed by most of the labels in the DSM by different psychologists and psychiatrists. The doctor I have now diagnosed me as having ADHD and PTSD and since he handed me medication but didn’t even tell me what exactly ADHD was other than what most people that actually are on the side that it does exist, “one that can’t remember things or is late all the time”. I began to research it and found out exactly what it was and also my research brought to light the fact that no, I didn’t have PTSD, I had Complex-PTSD and had to explain that to my doctor. They won’t even put it in the DSM even though we all know there is a huge distinction between the two. I understand your frustrating that you paid so much money for those letters behind your name and I know that you have just as much passion for helping those that are hurting but I can say this without shame (now) that I probably have more life experience and personal education from research that I did on my own than most with the letters behind their name that will be paying student loans for the rest of their life. Again, I understand your position, but you also need to know that there are many professionals out there (I have had my share) that want to just diagnose symptoms instead of getting to the root of the problem so they can prescribe medication that the pharmaceutical companies need to maintain their fortunes and the government who gets kickbacks from those pharmaceutical companies. Don’t get me wrong, I am for medication as needed, I take it for my ADHD but I don’t take it for any other symptoms that I have learned the process using aspects of different modalities to begin my healing C-PTSD and I offer that to others. I don’t diagnose or label or delve back into past histories. As a coach, I start from where they are now and go forward and I find that the past creeps in during that process. The fact that 5.2 million Americans are living with PTSD, 70% of Americans have been through at least one traumatic event in their life, and 27% of those with PTSD commit suicide. I spent many days and nights in an AA meeting and they have “sponsors” who help the newly sober or trying to get sober by showing them how they did it and are technically doing the same thing as a coach. I probably would not have even responded except when you commented about how an insurance company would even want to provide insurance to a Life Coach’s business I just couldn’t go on without putting my thoughts into the conversation. A conversation that is a huge topic now. I’m not only a coach but also an advocate for trauma awareness and Trauma-Informed Care. If I can help someone learn how to end the hell of emotional flashbacks with C-PTSD then it is my mission and my passion. I am also certified in NLP and soon to be certified in CBT, I will start school soon to become a Hypnotherapist and am in the process of working out a way to get certified in somatic experiencing, created by Dr. Peter Lavine. I ask that you not discount how much compassion, education, experience, and love a Life Coach can have for their clients and the joy they experience when they have helped others. I understand there are many who like one said “just hang up a sign and call themselves a therapist” that are crooks and are hurting people but there are also a lot of credentialed highly University educated people that put up signs to practice and hurt people too. I admire your career so please don’t bash those groups of helping individuals who truly do it for honorable reasons.
Thank you!
Leah
Certified Life Coach
Very true and well said. I’d rather be helped by someone that’s lived it than just someone that studied it.
Lori, you are very ignorant and disrespectful to all of us who has actually acquired a degree throughout MANY YEARS of graduate school. Is like saying…. I prefer to be treated by my neighbor who had also had cancer, than going to a doctor who is specialize in the field.
All these “under-title degree” people are there to devalue our career and they will NEVER be able to treat you in the, the same line of expertise and knowledge that can ONLY be acquired throughout graduate school. Inform yourself, before making a dumb decision!
The traditional way is not working. licensure is just another way to get money. none of the tradition social work have training in energy medical issues. PTSD no one has training and most of the time they don’t give you tools. I honestly think this site is great but got very disappointed in the counseling …I don’t want lsw or lpc I want medical energy practiioner. nice if they have Ph..D the thing is most people want drugs. if they had a family provider who already prescribes and then they start sessions with this. but the thing is those who are gifted in this field online or telehealth they do such amazing healing online and over the phone. they can read your energy fields and help you understand and have holistic background and if those who are doing medical marijuana should be dealing with energy workers.
and now some of them are creditialed to get paid by insurance. I really like this cause they provide benefits and pay well. and continue training. just wish they had energy medical practioners on here.
TMI; Showing loose boundaries. “I didn’t want to wait another 4 years to practice”. Yes, why waste time to get educated and then spend 2 years with a limited license while you are supervised and hone skills when you can just be passionate and jump right into helping people with complex trauma.
Bravo!!! Thank you for this well thought, beautifully said, heartfelt response. You do not need letters behind your name to use your gifts to help others. Yes, there is value from higher education, AND there is a ton of money and debt in it as well! Many of those with the letters behind their names ARE doing amazing work– and many also benefit from pretending their Westernized, university-dependent training is the only beneficial way to work with people who are having emotional challenges. (I recognize there might be a lot of personal resistance/cognitive dissonance were a certified professional to admit to their own competence to do this type of work BEFORE earning the degree, undergoing the often traumatic/stressful supervision hours at community mental health centers that is a common employment option for those working towards their licensure.)
Good news, we actually don’t have to make everything clinical. I do understand there is a beautiful movement, and has been for some time, to incorporate “alternative” forms of healing into clinical psychology. Yet those “alternative” means (i.e. EFT, shamanism, somatic experiencing, breathwork, to name a few) have been helping people long before Western psychology decided to do research on them to determine whether and how to incorporate them into professional clinical practice.
When it comes down to it, we all can have the capacity to help each other heal! It’s time to stop relying on degrees and certification programs as “proof” that someone has the skills to hold up a mirror, reflect emotions and beliefs, sit with pain, and encourage the transformation of others. No psychologist, EFT, psychiatrist, MD, LPC, MSW, MFT, LCSW, ED-S, REAT, ATR can do the work for you. No one can “treat additions [sic], depression” besides the client him- or herself. The life coach/counselor/psychiatrist is simply a space holder, a mirror, a catalyst. And it doesn’t take a degree to catalyze someone else’s own self-healing journey.
P.S. Leah, thanks for sharing about your personal journey. Lori, you might be interested to know that many helping professionals, including those who have worked hard for their LPC/MFT/MD have lots of personal experience with emotional and behavioral challenges. I do not want to discount the hard work that goes into gaining those credentials, AND I want to point out that they are absolutely not the only way to do the work of holding up a mirror and helping others work through their own emotions. Much love and peace!!
Laura you are very wrong, this is not a gift to others honey, this is YEARS UPON YEARS of SCHOOLING and SACRIFICES, something that many people like you don’t understand! If anyone should practice treating people with mental health, should ONLY be PROFESSIONALS that has gone to school and are either working toward a license or has acquired their license, period. Anyone else should be arrested and prosecuted because they can create more damage than good. So, in getting professional counseling ALWAYS look for someone who has gone to school and that has the right credentials to do so!
But Laura, in your ignorance, let me tell you that to practice you must know how the brain works among many other issues and concerns that the general public “LIKE YOU” IGNORE! So, sweety get your IGNORANCE ASIDE and in looking for help, seek help from someone who is a TRUE PROFESSIONAL than just anyone who claims to practice the field WITHOUT PROPER CREDENTIALS.
If I need heart surgery, I am not going to ask my heart surgeon if he has HAD heart surgery. I am going to ask him his education and training to DO heart surgery.
As someone with a lot of lived experience in loss and trauma and a clinical degree, it is my clinical degree that allowed me to understand that my personal experience in many cases was a HINDRANCE to my work with clients. It provides a wonderful point of empathy and connection. It is what drew me to the field. But it is always what limits us in understanding treatment. There is a tendency to think “what helped me” is important, when of course it isn’t. Often what those rely on lived experience know is only what helped them. They prioritize that and disregarrd the rest. In fact, they often don’t know what they don’t know, which is scariest. I was very well trained with an undergraducate degree with certifications after for coaching and case management, and when I went on to get a postgraducate degree and actually learned neuroscience and neuropsychology and clinical practice approaches, I was horried to realize the places where coaches and many with lived experience asre so well intention, but in actuality doing so much more harm than good. I read a great post somewhere that I can’t find now, but will come back and post if I can turn it up, about a life coach who became a therapist. She went back to reflext on her time and social network as a coach and observed that there was a deep level of narcissism involved in the field – the idea that one’s personal experience alone is significant and meaningful enough that it has imparted wisdom that extends beyond the self, without doing any professional learning. Her point was not that experience doesn’t have it’s place, but that it takes a terrifying level of self-involvement to think it extends to anything meaningful beyond yourself.
The problem with this arguement, with those who are still coaches, is that until one goes on for further education, they don’t know what they don’t know. I certainly didn’t.
Yes….. Love this and to the “real therapist” Yes, I would rather go to the man who has had cancer for advice, rather than a doctor that just wants money and doesn’t understand what it’s truly like. You, the “real therapist” seem to have a lot of work left to do on yourself. You’re just mad that someone is better than you with less time put in, or is it the wrong time you put in. Sounds like you have no idea what your are doing and want the privilege over the need. Please be in it for the right reason, yes, I have my masters in psychology.
Hi Leah
I totally agree with you on this.
I have a master’s degree in Psychology and I am extremely passionate about counseling the underprivileged. I have helped several people who cannot afford mental health care and l feel great being able to assist them. Please email me I would love to expand on your discussion. Thanks
All talk
Thank you for posting this!
“personal education from research that I did on my own” That’s a huge red flag.
No one doubts your compassion, but compassion alone doesn’t make you qualified to truly understand and treat psychological problems. The trouble with the internet era is that it’s given everyone the feeling that they have wisdom and skills that they actually don’t. I see it every day in various message boards, laypeople and ‘coaches’ tossing around concepts as if they were experts, and making assertions that are categorically untrue. It’s for good reason that formal education from regionally accredited schools is required in every professional license category. Who do I want as my heart surgeon: Someone who ‘taught themselves’ by reading random books and articles or someone who went through 7 years of formal schooling and also had to practice their skills under the observation of supervisors until they proved they were competent?
The fact that you believe you are, in your own words, *more qualified* than _most_ practitioners with a degree reveals that you probably also lack the requisite self-awareness that being a clinician requires. No one here is bashing coaches; what they’re doing is advocating for the protection of clients, who are people in a very vulnerable position.
Being a shoulder to lean on and an ear to hear do not require degrees nor insurance. Can listening to someone’s problem be harmful? I suppose only if they convince you their reality is more real 😉
ME NEITHER! IT IS COMPLETELY DISRESPECTFUL TO HAVE PEOPLE PRACTICING JUST BECAUSE, IT IS NOT FAIR TO ALL OF US WHO HAS GO YEARS UPON YEARS OF SCHOOLING! IF I HAVE TO COMMITTED MYSELF TO PRACTICE WITH A PROPER DEGREE, SO SHOULD EVERYONE ELSE! OTHERWISE, THEY SHOULD BE ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED, PERIOD!
No one said you have to go, that is an excuse. Take responsibility for your actions. The girls Laura and Leah never spoke un-kind, but it is appalling when one reads the so-called professionals call these women disrespectful, ignorant, wrong, and even dumb.
Your commitment has nothing to do with arresting and prosecuting a person out of contempt. It is no-one fault for your choices.
I only ask if this is perhaps an inferior complex because one would assume Psychologist’s having all that time in school plus license to practise might have worked on transcendence.
Either way, at least admit to yourself that no one is perfect. Psychology is not flawless. If not perfect then it is more harm to try and shut down all other practices. People are not stupid. They choose who they want to help them based on what their needs are.
If they choose you great, if not, have you no shame?
Hallelujah – yes, Amanda – thank you! – can’t believe the nastiness of some of the comments on here. Seek education and degrees first because of what you will learn, and only secondarily because of licensing doors that get opened. People with degrees and licenses will always be at a professional and economic advantage. Be humble and be kind, people. I’m an MD, by the way, so I know all about putting in time, sweat, and tears. I work in primary care. I don’t think anyone can claim with a straight face that the licensed professional world has things handled just fine. The world needs all the help we can get.
Amanda, Laura, and Leah…
Like others on this thread, I hold an MS in Mental Health Counseling. Big deal, tho, if I am so inflexible that I discount others who clearly have the passion to help others. As long as people don’t lie and say they are licensed when they are not, there is no law that says they can’t help others. And even get paid for it!
Being able to bill insurance isn’t everything. Personally I prefer to not bill insurance. It’s a matter of patient privacy. Even though we have laws built-in to protect our medical history, once the data is in an insurance company’s database, the client has no idea what they may end up doing with it. Just a fact.
And I also wanted to touch on your thoughts about currently licensed therapists having inferiority complexes…It’s really not that simple. Over the last 10 to 15 years there has been a movement in the mental health fields to uplift and validate this profession.
Overall, you will find us therapists/counselors a great bunch of folk. We have worked exceptionally hard to obtain our education and the many thousands of hours that go into licensing. Consider that we have something to protect, and this is why some of us may come off sounding threatened.
Each one of us is valid and everyone of us can help others licensed or not. If a life coach can help a person get through major obstacles and over blocks in their lives by setting goals and doing worksheets, well that is one less miserable in the world. That is a beautiful thing.
This is interesting. All the so-called “professionals” on here losing their marbles, and even using demeaning language like “sweetie”. Makes me think some of you skipped the Carl Jung Shadow Self Integration portion of psychology. Maybe you’re triggered that you spent years in schooling and are in huge debt? Maybe you feel insecure in your practice and ability to help others, so you feel threatened by someone you think has less clinical and educational experience? All I can say is, I wouldn’t let any of you treat me based on what I’m seeing here. This is a public forum and none of you are acting like professional mental health workers.
A lot of have the same education and probaly more than you. I license is just another way at be allowed to practice like when you register your business with the secretary of state. It is in purpose to fund the state to practice. Like when you open up a bar and grill you have to get a license to sell liquor. but if you are online practicing and doing telehealth. and have the credentials did the internship and such. why should you have to get a license in every state you deal with. If you get the right protection of disclaimer. You are just as. explain then why when government setup the crisis line and alcohol lines and pain drug addicts lines most of them are volunteers even the suicide lines. so explain that/ They are not licensed.
This is was posted below from a licensed mental health professional:
Do you support them name calling? Did they learn to express themselves from the I while earning their therapy degree? “I feel disrespected by you” rather than calling me disrespectful? (I use myself because I agree with and practice as Lori does.)
Did they forget? Why did they forget? Is it because they are emotional about what was shared? If so, why are they emotional?
I work among clinicians. The best way for me to help clinicians understand what I do is to practice with them what I do. As exhibited as above. Learning happens everywhere.
“Yes, Jeff, I like what you do and will pay you more than other Peers for what you do as long as you are supervised by a licensed clinician.” Really?
A license doesn’t mean the person isn’t causing harm. Nor does it mean a person without your kind of license is causing it.
After Apples came Androids. After Fords came Volkswagens. After Psychologists came Clinical Social Workers. After Clinical Social Workers came Peers. After Peers came people who just want to connect and feel empowered with People who can skillfully facilitate this.
I mind my own business, both professional and personal not because I don’t care what happens to others but because I that’s the only thing I can control.
Why do you feel the need to control what I do? Are you worried about my causing harm to others? If so, why don’t you get to know what I do rather than rather than working toward legislation to control people like me?
If I didn’t know better I’d allow myself to feel divided by your viewpoint. I’m done with that. What do we have in common? Don’t know? Are people like me important enough to ask and find out? I think you are so …
From what I’ve shared, what do you want to know more about?
Oh, here is the post that prompted me to reply:
A real therapist on July 10, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Lori, you are very ignorant and disrespectful to all of us who has actually acquired a degree throughout MANY YEARS of graduate school. Is like saying…. I prefer to be treated by my neighbor who had also had cancer, than going to a doctor who is specialize in the field.
All these “under-title degree” people are there to devalue our career and they will NEVER be able to treat you in the, the same line of expertise and knowledge that can ONLY be acquired throughout graduate school. Inform yourself, before making a dumb decision!
This is a great reply to those using aggressive language. Thank you.
We now have a new crop, EFT practitioners. It seems that there is a training/certification which allow and accept (read: encourage) non-professionals to practice openly. They purport to treat ptsd, chemical dependency, anxiety, depression, and other dsm diagnoses (emphasizing trauma). They are taught to practice without degrees. There are many licensed professionals who openly support non-professionals to practice with acute and chronic clientele. I am in a training seminar as i write this with a psychiatrist, who is known for reporting practitioners for his perception of them violating scope of practice, and he is supporting this activity. Licensure and education rules and statutes are terribly enforced nationwide. While i believe this is a useful tool and approach, i am deeply concerned about non-trained non-professionals doing this. I dont practice law or medicine without a license…
And I thank you for that! I’d like to know the upside for educated, licensed practitioners?
The upside for educated, licensed practitioners is being able to provide evidenced based interventions such as CBT, EMDR, etc. This includes addressing childhood trauma, possibly triggering old emotions/experiences and assisting client with resolving those issues. I understand that Life Coaches start with what can we do moving forward, but the past always comes back until it is addressed and treated.
Surely you don’t need a license to evaluate evidence?
Please DELETE this comment
Hello Howard,
I live in NYC and nobody can practice on mental health patients pretending to be who they’re not without licensure. I believe in education too but we all don’t have to be rude to those who prefer to have someone pray over them. Just a note to those people… .professionals do this job because of drive and passion. Experience sometimes come from direct or indirect encounters with mental health issues.
Hi, here is the deal, in NY, it’s 1500 hours, California has the highest standards in almost everything educational, and the license is 3k hours. That’s quite a difference. It is unpaid, and most practices don’t want to give you more than 10 hours a week. I have garnered 1k children hours, then was in an accident and was planning on moving back to NY. Does anyone else know if these hours can be transferred from state to state? Also, I have also studied, ferociously, another 12k hours, in scientific research, while recovering from my injury, so, I would not jump to conclusions so quickly about people practicing under faster licenses. My therapist said that the Ph.D program, was just fancier letters herself. Every person is unique and there are tons of crap therapists who have completed the full enchilada. I am interested in helping women over come injuries, as that is what I have survived, so, it would be very niche and I only know of one therapist doing this, and she costs a fortune and is lousy and has done nothing to raise awareness about these man-made diseases that put women in the ground. I looked into life coaching and could not stand the way they spoke, etc I am one of the few students who passed the neuropsych test Ph.D eval course in my cohort. I watched the life coach video and it was so remedial, that I could not take it. I am not sure what my other avenues are, as like I said, I am hoping to move back to NY, and don’t want my 1k hours to go to waste. Any advice? Thanks
real therapist on July 10, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Lori, you are very ignorant and disrespectful to all of us who has actually acquired a degree throughout MANY YEARS of graduate school. Is like saying…. I prefer to be treated by my neighbor who had also had cancer, than going to a doctor who is specialize in the field.
All these “under-title degree” people are there to devalue our career and they will NEVER be able to treat you in the, the same line of expertise and knowledge that can ONLY be acquired throughout graduate school. Inform yourself, before making a dumb decision!
Sounds more bitter than professional, maybe a self check on your own thoughts and answering before you are quick to throw an insult may help. I did attend school for many years and realized my own experiences have helped people find what they need. Sometimes you DO just need someone who’s “been through some things” to help you and that’s from growing up in a neighborhood where you may or may not find that beacon of hope. It’s somewhat true that a lot of this starts in the home or who you are around, crabs in a bucket for example. Maybe you have the education but simply learned nothing.
I did like this:
Do you support them name calling? Did they learn to express themselves from the I while earning their therapy degree? “I feel disrespected by you” rather than calling me disrespectful? (I use myself because I agree with and practice as Lori does.)
Did they forget? Why did they forget? Is it because they are emotional about what was shared? If so, why are they emotional?
I work among clinicians. The best way for me to help clinicians understand what I do is to practice with them what I do. As exhibited as above. Learning happens everywhere.
“Yes, Jeff, I like what you do and will pay you more than other Peers for what you do as long as you are supervised by a licensed clinician.” Really?
A license doesn’t mean the person isn’t causing harm. Nor does it mean a person without your kind of license is causing it.
Why because I too work with clinicians and have heard many say maybe he/she just needs to work it out on their own and they will just offer support or critic as necessary, after all your client is merely paying for an ear to listen and that my friends is actually free.
Howard well said
Puleeze….. Seems that the degree herd is triggered. Live and let live. Perhaps there was no time in the rush to get your degrees to do personal work which is evidenced by the anger, rudeness, and jealousy here on this thread. You are as good as the personal work you have done. Education is important to a certain degree, but personal work, training, etc., is just a valuable if not more so. AND it is not the same as a friend having heart surgery and then being able to practice as a cardiologist.
I have a Masters degree from Columbia and what I learned there doesn’t even compare to some of the outside training I have done, and the inner work I still do. If you are triggered by this, than beware of the triggers that will happen with your clients if you don’t start doing your personal work!
In addition to what Anthony said…
There’s also the issue of malpractice insurance. Unlicensed counselors typically do not qualify for malpractice coverage. In the event they are have to defend against a lawsuit resulting from their lack of experience and training, they will not have legal or financial protection.
On the other end of all this I have just moved from the UK, having been a professional counselor for nearly 20 years, with lots of experiences and qualifications but are unable to practice here. I would love to find a way to use my skills here, but not sure how.
I have also moved from the UK where I was practicing as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. I would love to know if you have made any progress on being able to practice and how you achieved it. It’s terribly frustrating!
Dear Ms. Mann, you having been trained in the U.K. makes you more than qualified to practice in the United States. It’s a matter of money (they want you to spend tuition in an American University) and attrition (they make it hard for outsiders to obtain their licenses, so American grads would have more work). I have been an Ordained Byzantine Catholic Clergy for over 20 years. I graduated from Seminary, I have a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. I earned my Certificate of Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling (CASAC) in New York State. I received my MAC or Master Addiction Counseling certification from NAADAC. I completed another 150+ hours with the American College of Addictionology & Compulsive Disorders and became a Board-Certified Addictionologist. I then completed another 150 + hours, an exam and another 300 clinic hours with The American College of Addictionology & Compulsive Disorders and became a Diplomate of the College. I finally completed another Ph.D. in Neuropsychology and a certificate in Neurophysiology. I was told long ago, that the universities were I obtained my Ph.D.’s (although accredited ?). But their Psychology programs had not achieve APA accreditation . So I simply provide Counseling as a Licensed Clergy!! I am a Pastoral Addiction Counselor and I do have the training and education to prove it!! I have my malpractice insurance and I participate as a provider in two or three insurance companies.
My point is, if you have the training and you are super qualified (as I believe that I am) and have attended world known universities of prestige and practice in an ethical and moral manner? I do not believe that any state can say “No” to you (at least if that State Board of Licensing has any morality!). By the way, I am also a Hypnotist and a “Board-Certified Hypnotist”. It took me a 13 month course to receive my training (full-time) and 100 hours of supervision. I do not use it, because I rather use other methods? Although, it is very documented that Hypnotherapy is extremely advantageous for Addiction Disorders. The Journal of Addictionology and The Journal of Addiction Biology has tons of empirically based studies.
Well dont move to Florida, because a simple DUI will ruin you for life. Licensure us a scam for money and puts fear into people via intimidation and fines.
Seriously, Clare? A simple DUI will ruin other peoples’ lives too. I have no sympathy for those who get caught under the influence. It should ruin you for life.
shut up ” DAVE”… your clearly in the wrong field with your judgemental attitude. Real people make mistakes. You should definitely NOT be in a position of counselling, therapy, etc. Maybe look into being a police officer, prosecutor, or maybe even a journalist, but definitely not someone who is in the field of “helping” people.
Honey, I got my M.S. in counseling in the State of Tennessee and when I move to the State of Florida, I had to go back to graduate school to take a few more classes, having finishing my Master Degree in the U.S. So, you coming from the UK and want to practice without getting the proper school training I think is absolutely crazy, regardless of your experience done in the UK. If I have to go by the rules and do it the right way, so you should and everyone else! And whoever practice just because have gotten a degree somewhere in this world should be arrested and charge, no exceptions!
I sincerely hope you are never falsely accused of a crime.
Its obviously all about money. Someone with an M.A. in one state should be able to practice in another without having to take more classes its ludicrous. Someone from another country should also be able to practice however maybe. take an exam to prove that they know what they are doing and of course all their credentials from that country checked out This
YES ANONYMOUS!!! Someone has FINALLY said it!!! Because, this is EXACTLY what has happened to me. I also studied in the State of Tennessee, moving to Orlando Florida restricted me from practicing until I took five more classes at the graduate level. I am 100% with you my dear, if WE were restricted to practice counseling with an M.S. done in the United States, SO SHOULD EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAD GOTTEN THEIR DEGREE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, BUT THE U.S.! Hopefully you read my post and so does everyone else. IF we had to go by the rules, SO SHOULD THEY, PERIOD!
And I HATE to see people practicing without college background or proper license, THEY SHOULD BE ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED!
HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU TELL SOMEONE ELSE WHAT THEY SHOULD OR SHOULDN’T BE! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE MISSY? You wanna start something? READ MY NAME: Rev. Dr. AJ Eakin, Msc.D., Ph.D., D.Div.
I agree with David! He knows what he’s doing. You don’t. You should look into being a criminal defense lawyer who protects child molesters because if you can justify DUIs by saying that everyone makes mistakes then you are saying is “nobodies perfect.”
What if a person was sober but just as negligent? Don’t have to be under the influence to make mistakes. So what about people who are just carelessly reckless? What excuse have you to justify their rights to risk the lives of others?
NOBODY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WILL EVER GET BEHIND THE WHEEL! If they are responsible they will make every effort to at best, sleep it off while parked. But the minute that key goes into the ignition.., EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS from that moment on…, that driver is 100% responsible for. PERIOD!
CHECK YOURSELF!
Evita, I studied in the State of Tennessee USA and when I moved to Florida I had to contact the FLORIDA BOARD and find out what I had to do to comply with the requirements of this state. I ended up having to take FIVE MORE CLASSES AT THE GRADUATE LEVEL to conform Florida regulations. I also had lots of experience working in Tennessee, but meant nothing here. My advice to you is to contact the BOARD in which state you live and comply with such regulations. Twenty years of experience is great, but it means bananas here and you having a degree overseas, I don’t know! You might have to go back and redo your career again or take a few classes, I don’t know; all I know is that I had to comply with Florida regulations having studied in the United States of America. If many of us have to comply with rules, so should everyone else! Don’t you think?!
scott not true as long as you are credentialed with NPI which verification to be paid by certain insurances. nutrition and even fitness professionals which include therapy are. some have degrees in psychology and many other social sciences. I honestly think the traditional schooling when you probally have had is just not working anymore. we need more energy medicine counselors and professionals. the kids today are called crystal kids. the tradional does not work anymore. most of the time these services never give you tools just listen pick their nose. they have no answers .. you don’t want to dredge up the past you need to cut the cord. the problem with your education is you ask ” what is wrong with you” and lets fix it. It is time to ask what is right with you now lets promote it. My motto there are 54 divisions in psychology. There are tons of historical resources I can give you when it comes to this. Anthony Robbins is not licensed…. Billy Gragham wasn’t licensed Dr John Gray venus and mars. never licensed. in fact is PhD was unaccredited. he studied in the science of creative intelligence.later got honary. but he is a memver of the ACA. in part his work cause I know someone who did internship years back and he even took her suggestion for a later book.