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
I don’t understand why this lapse exists. As another said here, s/he doesn’t (and isn’t allowed to) practice law or medicine without a license. The professions deal with the most important aspects of the lives of people & those who practice them are required to complete strenuous course work and often hands-on training before sitting for rigorous examinations which also require course work to be adequately prepared. They are also regulated in the practice of their profession – with serious consequences for grievous errors. The Professions deal with, your life, your soul, your liberty, your money and, that which makes the enjoyment, gratification & other aspects which derive from such fundamental areas of life being well-ordered, the treatment of the mind.
I submit this area is especially vulnerable to dangerous ideas & practices perhaps because, like religion, the results are often not as concrete as may appear in the results of a legal, medical or business problem. I think even more training, testing, continuing education & observation by peers is necessary in these more subjective fields where it may be easier for the untrained, arrogant &/or unscrupulous “practitioner ” to cause untold harm to one who is most likely in a more vulnerable state than usual & who has shared his/her trust, confidences, fears & more to one whose dangerous hubris may not be apparent to them or others.
I came to this years old article, & I’m grateful that it is still open for comments (if it doesn’t close before I finish this dissertation – smile) because I couldn’t believe such a thing was true – in England. I was confident – despite the fact that this source is from the U. S. – that this issue was confined to England. Talk about arrogance! This issue is significant in “A Sight for Sore Eyes” by Ruth Rendell which compelled me to leave that compelling book to research this issue because the “practitioner” is causing so much damage to a child that I was in tears. I don’t think this is a spoiler because it is so obvious that she’s damaging the child. I’m finally, out!
Very well stated. I wish more therapists felt like you do.
I moved here 2 years ago from the UK. I have a Certificate in counseling and a Postgraduate Diploma In Counseling (Masters Level.7). I am 55 and cannot spend another three years working toward CA’S 3,000 hours requirement. I am currently working in a residential Rehab facility as a DSP. May I remind folks that a Counselor is what I am, not what I do. So I currently give my skills away while earning $13.00 per hour. I sang professionally for 22 years, again I AM a singer it is what I am.
I am going to offer myself as some sort of Coach so that I can offer integrative therapies to those who wish to explore, heal or change.
Can I at least list my counseling qualifications on : my Card. Web site advertisements? I have at least a dozen other certificates from either accredited or Government recognized agencies in the UK, can I mention these? I welcome feedback,hints and reasonable advice. Lastly, I have been advised that I could get a certificate in Drug and Alcohol counseling and practice that way. Having spent the last two years in that arena, where the word Counselor is used by almost anyone with more than an hour of sobriety, I can think of nothing worse.
I am taking a course in hypnosis and they stress that we can not use the words “therapy , patients etc. ” I am in new york and the course is through the ngh