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
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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
Apparently, no one here believes in the freedom to contract. You all seem to think that “the public” isn’t smart eough to protect themselves but need the government to protect them. There is nothing more insulting than that. Occupational licenses and state granted monopolies are the opposite of freedom.
Thank God the academics and governing elitists protect We the Sheeple as well as they do. God only knows where I’d be left with just internet reviews and freedom to choose on my own.
For those who were disgruntled with their own counseling licensure practice, consider this: Do you think that it is better to reform an imperfect system or to throw it out completely? If you do have problems with a licensing board (and your complaints are relatively rare), a reasonable response is to work on improving that system. At the very least, it seems odd to say that it would be better for someone to see a “counselor” with little to no professional education or training versus seeing someone with at least 2-3 years of master’s level work in counseling plus at least 2 years and 2,000 hours of supervised training, as well as ongoing consultation with other professionals in the field, legal/ethical/competency accountability, and regular ongoing professional education and training in the field. There is no reason to jump from that group of highly trained professionals to seeing someone with zero accountability, training, or education.
I have seen for nearly thirty years so many folks coming out of various schools with Masters Degrees, regardless of any training, they are put into local clinics, other entities and not trained by “seasoned professionals” working in the “scope” of their “expertise and training”. Licensing used to mean something to strive for as the “I did it”. But as time changes, systems fail, many pass the exam, get licensed despite “true supervision”, finding anyone licensed at the set to sign off and then there you have it. Just because you have the degree, get the paper and license… not mean you have the actual skill set to do the work. Many have turned away from the bureaucracy of licensing for this very reason, how many clients die of drug overdoses who see on substance abuse trained and experienced “counselors/therapists/social workers”?? Too Many!!! I was trained with Harvard Psychiatry, Psychology and in the Non Profit, training, experience, continuing education, balance of colleagues and knowing one’s own limits and strengths is what may be most important. There are so many wonderfully skilled, passionate folks working in counseling, psychiatry, psychotherapy,coaching and the like.
In reply to your post. I gave received my Masters in Addiction Counseling. But I almost didn’t because during my internship which was a requirement to complete to obtain my degree had it not been for my program instructor and fellow classmates encouraging me to get what I needed and get on with business of helping people myself I would have left my intern site layer out of school a semester to seek a better site. I came out knowing no more than what I came in with and it broke my spirit to see trained and licensed counsel the consumer as they did. I felt like I was in one big ego tube. Now that I have my masters every agency will hire that licensed counselor first because it’s all about securing the money from insurances. Accountability I understand….training for licensure…I. most cases that’s a joke. It appears everyone is best at beating rather than living the system. Because of this renewed and even worse epidemic concerning opioid use I have made the decision to get a space hang a sign an offer donation fed assessment and treatment to the sick and suffering addict and truly help these people. I come with a plethora of experience in that area being a recovering addict myself for 21 years and I found one of the most competent online schools in my field that offered more than enough and the most they offered was practicing ethics and honesty. I’m going forwarx
Donna,
Thank you so much for your insightful comments. And not to be mean, but so often those within the psychology field are not so concerned with the public welfare, but with their reputation as psychology professionals and/or keeping qualified people out of the field who do not have a license, but are educated, missed the deadline for LPC examine, inability to pay for the exam, or opted out for others reasons (politics, choosing an independent path, shunning bureaucracy, etc.). To try and stop “helpers” from aiding and assisting others with or without a license, but qualified non-the-less is not good.
Should they have the right to decide that for themselves?
I am interested in Life Coaching, as I don’t want to become a Licensed Social Worker, where you are serving those with drug addictions or mental illnesses, in which you should be experienced in these areas and that is why you become a LCSW, becoming trained in these specific areas. I believe it’s two years of working in an area?
I am thinking about a Graduate’s degree in Educational Psychology? I have a B.S in Health Services, and am currently completing a Minor in Psych. I consider myself a positive, motivating person that truly just wants to help someone better themselves in all areas of personal fulfillment. I find there to be no harm in Life Coaching, as long as you are a professional, abiding by confidentially and empathy…which all go a long with what a social worker is entitled to provide.
My ideas as far as long term goals, is becoming an Academic Adviser and a Life Coach. In order to become an Adviser, you need experience and a Masters Degree. I would be willing to get Certified in a Life Coaching area, but it is not inexpensive, so that makes me wonder why it is not highly accepted since some individuals do get the proper training, but then feel apprehensive. I think life coaching can take on many forms, depending on what a person wants to focus on…as I love art therapy, music therapy, anything that involves helping with anxiety, stress, over eating, or self-confidence issues.
I mean, it makes sense why people want to coach without getting a license due to the price tag, but I do believe there are people capable of providing good life coaching skills with their experiences in work & life, their education, ( specific coursework) and not necessarily all the laws & ethics that have to go a long with Licensing. I guess in this area, you have to market yourself and prove to others that you are willing and able to be a good life coach, and then you may be successful. But, I have no idea how life coaches are paid, or who hires them. I just think it’s a positive field and I believe I would be the perfect candidate for life coaching. I do think it takes the right person, as does social work.
I will keep my eyes open in the life coaching arena…I am optimistic and truly want to make a difference in people’s lives.
Hi, Tammy, this reply is kind of late, so you likely have already moved forward with your goals, and I wish you luck! However, I think it is important to point out that Masters level social work clinicians address FAR more than addiction and mental health. An excellent book is “101 Careers in Social Work” edited by Mary Kiernan-Stern, Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi.
An MSW is a degree that allows you enormous latitude and flexibility in what you can do, it is one of the most well-respected degrees professionally, and it is licensed in 50 states and most countries. The benefit of a masters of social work degree is that you are trained to help individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in a wide array of ways.
Educational psychology is not a clinical degree – our Ed Psych department here in Albuquerque doesn’t want people looking to do clinical work with individual people.
And this isn’t a judgement but what I’ve learned from a close family member who has been in life coaching or at least trying to break into it for years is that it is more of a business: – find your niche and market to it; many life coaches help people only with one area of difficulty that they themselves have had trouble with and overcome. It is really challenging to get people to pay you for life coaching. And contrary to what you may think – there can be harm in life coaching, especially if a life coach gets a client who has a personality disorder or a mental illness that the coach is not trained to work with. There was an article out recently on the harm done by coaches in corporations when working with people with personality disorders. Sorry, I don’t have the reference handy.
Most people would prefer to see a masters level clinician that either their insurance or their Medicaid will pay for. Furthermore, as a masters level clinician you are trained to help ind/families/groups/organizations/communities with a wide array of problems that you yourself have not experienced. Life experience and experience overcoming difficulties is a tremendous asset to any clinician. But we don’t have to have experienced every problem in order to help others with it.
I was reading your reply and couldn’t help but think to myself why hasn’t the coaching field been regulated. Regulation what a term, licensed what a term. I am a counselor as well and see the necessity for licensing and regulation; but when it becomes thing more concerning the paper than the skills I have to wonder. I have found especially in my community people can be conflicted about seeing a counselor or therapist this occurs when cultural differences are involved. I work a lot with families and youth, fortunately in my case I understand the cultural differences in my community. Finding a niche in coaching can be confusing as well, with all the “coaches” around you never can tell where your going in the field. ICF is one program that “accredits” coaching programs. It reminds me of CACREP for counselors, and APA for psychologist. You need a license and a whole bunch of certifications to do your job and the sad part is these non licensed counselors, therapists and coaches mentioned in the article that he speaks of are not necessarily untrained or uneducated. True they won’t be able to provide a way for you to use your insurance, but can you honestly say that a non licensed counselor won’t be able to confer with others that are trained in the field? Not really, as there are quite a few in my area alone that are trained lay counselors in the churches, facilitators in drug and alcohol programs. I guess it would be better to encourage a person to try coaching to see where it takes them as well as looking at some of the other venues that are out there. College my not be for everyone in this case.
Salve regina has a graduate certificate in the expressive arts.. I took it..can’t say enough positives about the college
Graduate program, you took it – to take a graduate program you must have an undergraduate degree which you cannot get if you can’t write & punctuate properly.
What’s your point anyway?