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 have stumbled across this post in research of becoming a counselor. I am actually not surprised at the comments I have read. If I can find someone around here Coaching I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity. I’m going to look into that right away in fact. I personally have been to certified counselors three times in my life. I was fourteen when I had my first experience. My mother was abusive. My counselor told my mother what I said. I learned real quickly to only give approved responses. Second experience I was 22 with an abusive husband pregnant with my third child and lost my sister the counselor refused me because I couldn’t/wouldn’t tell my husband. Just recently I chose to try once more online. When my insurance got dropped so did I. No sorry, no explanation just done. So my experiences were not the best. However, I know that not all are negative so I keep searching. My daughter died leaving behind two beautiful girls. One began living with me immediately after. She became very sick physically and dealing with losing her mother. and father wouldn’t/couldn’t handle the responsibility. I put her in counseling in the beginning and when they found I was not legally her guardian (dad would not go that route.)they would not see her. So I found another counselor for the first time he cared he helped but sadly the state stepped in and he too had to deny. I even sought Counceling from the church. Now she is thirteen back with her dad and depressed even more. My hands feel handcuffed to my back. Today she and I were talking and she said to me. Wow your life was worse than mine. And i replied to her. I had a really tough life but that doesn’t make your life or your problems any less valuable. Nor should ever make you think that you are not just as important to Be helped as anyone else. But because of my experience I could understand what she was feeling because I had been there. At that moment I realized my empathy, My compassion, my understanding because of my experience and the ability to accept my life and others lives are just as important yet different I could help her and possibly many more. But the age gap stopped me for a moment to realize I need some training on language barriers and how different today’s children are. The problem is she needs help now. I am 52 years old and time is of the greatest importance. As well as finance. So if I can accomplish becoming a life coach or any other way I can help her and her little sister and others. Then by Gods help I will.
Why are there many people commenting assuming it’s one or the other? I’m a certified (yes, certified) hypnotherapist who encourages those (depending on the issue) I work with to do traditional forms of therapy in conjunction to hypnotherapy. Some agree, whereas some have had such horrendous experiences with MFT’s, Psychologists etc, so it’s an absolute “no.” And just because a lawyer passes the bar exam, doesn’t mean they’re a GOOD lawyer! I’m sure you’ve all had people in your classes where you felt they were not emotionally qualified (no matter how many tests they passed) to be a therapist. Speaking of bad therapists, I would definitely want to know the “real therapists” who responded to Lori with such vitriol because I would never wish for anyone to be therapeutically helped by them in a supposed non-judgmental, therapeutic environment. imagine if a client came in saying they wanted to be a “life coach”!!!! Wow! They’re clearly reactionary, judgmental, and ignorant in assuming everyone is a danger to clients unless its a licensed professional. Look at yourselves! Not everyone with a hypnotherapy certification took an online weekend course.
Just curious.. why should it matter if he is offering those services as long as the people who are receiving his services aren’t complaining. If you are skeptical about his or anyone’s abilities then why not schedule a session and see for yourself? As long people aren’t being hurt or scammed it shouldn’t matter. Are you jealous of every person who is doing your job without having to obtain a degree? Why be mad at others creativity? I’m pretty sure he has all of his clients sign a waiver, which means they are fully aware of what he is and what he isn’t. Leave it up to the people to decide where to spend their money. I would be more concerned if someone was claiming to be a dentist, surgeon, or medical doctor and never went to medical school. Anything else isn’t a big deal, there is enough money to go around.. if your business is declining it isn’t due to others practicing without a license and taking your clients.