License, No License?
I don't usually quote P. T. Barnum, but today I must. Not "have to," mind you, but must because I've, once again, run into a situation that warrants it for the public good.
On my recent trip, I met many people from all over the world and many of them are in or are entering the mental health field on an advanced-degree level. This is where good old P. T. of circus fame comes in. Remember he said, "There's a sucker born every minute?" He had another one, too, and it was, "Every crowd has a silver lining." Well, some people are taking that to the bank, or plan to and it will be at the expense of those who don't carefully screen service providers as well as the local laws that permit such actions.
While seated at breakfast, I listened as one person bubbled about how, not being able to get licensed as a psychologist in a particular state, this individual, nevertheless, would practice because hypnosis was a fertile field just waiting for the unlicensed. I don't know what the laws are in every state regarding hypnosis and who may be qualified to practice it, but this person seemed to know this particular state would let anyone have carte blanche. Yes, no national exam, no necessary licensing, no supervision, no required continuing educations credits, nothing. All they needed was office space and a sign out front and there they were, in practice.
It was a way to get around something that is the thorny problem of calling yourself a "psychotherapist" or claiming to do "therapy" because this person would just offer hypnosis and "it will just go wherever it goes." I suspect that means that it may just enter the area of therapy, but it wasn't the hypnotist's problem, was it? No, it was the client or consumer or whatever you called this "mark" as they do in the crime world.
Am I using that term "crime" too freely? I don't think so because, as I see it, this is a direct attempt to commit fraud in terms of services. Insurance companies don't allow themselves to become "marks" and they avoid anything that isn't qualified for payment. Shouldn't you do the same?
Related Topics: What Hypnosis Does to the Brain, How to Find A Therapist
Technorati Tags: therapist, screening, license
On my recent trip, I met many people from all over the world and many of them are in or are entering the mental health field on an advanced-degree level. This is where good old P. T. of circus fame comes in. Remember he said, "There's a sucker born every minute?" He had another one, too, and it was, "Every crowd has a silver lining." Well, some people are taking that to the bank, or plan to and it will be at the expense of those who don't carefully screen service providers as well as the local laws that permit such actions.
While seated at breakfast, I listened as one person bubbled about how, not being able to get licensed as a psychologist in a particular state, this individual, nevertheless, would practice because hypnosis was a fertile field just waiting for the unlicensed. I don't know what the laws are in every state regarding hypnosis and who may be qualified to practice it, but this person seemed to know this particular state would let anyone have carte blanche. Yes, no national exam, no necessary licensing, no supervision, no required continuing educations credits, nothing. All they needed was office space and a sign out front and there they were, in practice.
It was a way to get around something that is the thorny problem of calling yourself a "psychotherapist" or claiming to do "therapy" because this person would just offer hypnosis and "it will just go wherever it goes." I suspect that means that it may just enter the area of therapy, but it wasn't the hypnotist's problem, was it? No, it was the client or consumer or whatever you called this "mark" as they do in the crime world.
Am I using that term "crime" too freely? I don't think so because, as I see it, this is a direct attempt to commit fraud in terms of services. Insurance companies don't allow themselves to become "marks" and they avoid anything that isn't qualified for payment. Shouldn't you do the same?
Related Topics: What Hypnosis Does to the Brain, How to Find A Therapist
Technorati Tags: therapist, screening, license
7 Comments:
An interesting concept you have in this posting. From Hollywood to just about every aspect of the media, the word "hypnosis" has been treated as some kind of magical human controlling device. Using common sense, I know that is not true. I am interested in knowing what hypnosis is really about. Can you give us, the readers of your blog, some good websites or reading materials on the subject. Thanks.
I don't have any websites that I can recommend, but you can go to my website (www.drfarrell.net) and look at the self-help page to download the document on state licensing boards.
The board in your state should have information on certification or licensure of persons practicing hypnosis. This would be the first thing I'd do.
Remember, too, that just because someone belongs to an association doesn't mean it's nationally recognized and seen as credible. Some associations allow you to pay a fee and you get a certificate and voila, you're a member with all the "rights and privileges," whatever that means.
Again, caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). Hypnosis isn't the magic bullet people would like to believe it is.
What difference does it make? No matter what the qualifications, education, experience, licensing, number of letters after the name, you can still end up with a "therapist" who is a schmuck. It is all trial and error as far as I'm concerned. There is no way to tell what you are getting into until you are into it when it comes to therapy or medical care.
The person you met at your breakfast sounds like a kind of predator and I think she ought to be stopped before she does harm; she doesn't seem to comprehend what therapy is about and it's no wonder she can't get licencsed, although you don't say why she can't. I hope someone tells her she can make more money doing hypnosis for entertainment so she will go that direction and leave those who need help out of her unprofessional reach.
The mental health field has exploded in the last 15 years or so, since Medicare and insurance companies and the general public
have opened their minds to the fact that getting mental/behavioral health care is a way of taking care of yourself, not an indication of defectiveness. I think there are many others out there that are just like the woman you describe.
~Tasker
Dr.Farrell,
I am reading your book How to
Be Your Own Therapist. My question is or maybe you could point me in the right direction is when to seek a new therapist? If one has been going to therapy for say a app. 10 months and it is just chit chat at 90 dollars an hour is it time to say good byeI have insurance or I probably wouldn't have gone anyway-maybe a few time). Maybe there is a book out there on that topic. I am sure I fall in the need assistance category with depression,anxiety and personality issues. So far I've gotten on meds,but my personality issues are not being addressed. I like and trust this therapist,but I have a very difficult time being assertive so to tell her "heh I'm not getting anywhere here or even I want a new therapist would be extremely anxiety ridden for me and started over with another therapist is depressing to think about.. Can you help me here? What should a therapy session concist of each time? What's the measure in therapy? And so on. My therapist is a Licensed Clinical
Social Worker and hasn't been practicing very long. I think I was her first patient.
That is my point with psychiatry, if the old saying goes, "You are you own best doctor, then how can any psychiatry field be respectable? All these doctors needs to do is to tell and push their patients to grow up and take responsibility for self. Most people in the United States of America does not do this. The results are pschosis and other mental burn out from multable bad decisions.
Nothing is going to help these individuals unless they want to be helped. What I have read and understood, the doctors in psychiatry does not present the proper solutions. If that is the case, then they are taking advantage of these patients. What is the issue it the money that these doctors are taking from their patients.
Everyone including myself has problems. I suffer just like everyone else. I have bad days in all levels. It is amazing that people in other countries have it at least millions times worse and they do not fall apart like we do in the USA. As I have stated in one of my comments in your blog postings is has to do with how one thinks.
When I have a very bad hair day, I suffer emotionally and other means if it fits the meanss of suffering. What I do is pick myself up and go forward. As the old bumper sticker says, "Shit happens." Life has no promise. Things bad will happen. I do not go to a doctor or anyone else other then the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer. Even in prayer, I do not ask to have the thorn removed, but help in going through the issue that I am facing.
What I am trying to state here is that most people in the United States of America wants a quick fix solution. This is not reality. Only way to live life is through discipline and mannerism. People a long time ago use to live in an aristocratic manner. I have heard people use to dress proper with a necktie during lunch.
Our attitude as a whole is the reason for our psychotic behavior, not bad things happening to us. It is the bad things that does happen in our lives that can strengthen our resolve. I have learn more things in life from bullies and other individuals then from a friend that is kind.
There are other types of pschosis that are caused by biological means. Some women that goes through their monthly periods can be a real hell of a fight, while others women have no problems at all. Men have their biological hiccups that can effect their mental lifestyle. Medicine does help these individuals, but when it comes to one-on-one treatment in counseling does not work unless the doctor tells the patient to grow up.
To my way of thinking when I hear psychiatrist on the news or where ever, say I will harm myself if I think or act a certain way is against the Constitution of the United States of America. They are taking responsibilities for my way of life. There is an old saying, "I think therefore I am." What I do or think may not be the best for someone else, but it is up to that individual to make their own decision.
When so called educated doctors or whomever, tells everyone that they must or should do this or that is fraud. They have no right to say this. There is another old saying, "You are your own worse enemy." This can also be, "You are your own best friend if you think and make the right decisions."
Sky high, seek peace,
Brandon Bowers
Part of going to any therapist should include building up that person's ability to stand up to authority figures--the therapist included. How do you pick one? As a few of you have noted, it's not easy, but there should be an understanding and it should be that there is a plan of action with goals and re-evaluations along the way.
If the goals aren't being met, or aren't even stated and all you're doing is "chit-chat" for $90, you can do that with a friend for free. Put it to your therapist and, if you suspect this person isn't experienced, ask that, too. It's a step in the right direction.
True, no quick fixes here, but how could there be if you are truly trying to change your life and the way you approach it? It takes commitment, practice and refining and that involves a lot of hard work--especially when you don't want to do it, like standing up to your therapist.
I'm responding as a 'certified hypnotist' by the National Guild of Hypnotist (www.ngh.net).
I intentially don't call myself a hypnotherapist because I'm not a therapist. Hypnosis can be used for many things - relaxation, changing habits, getting rid of phobias, helping people remember things, managing pain and nausea, and entertainment - without involving psychotherapy.
Hypnosis is simply guided meditation.
Hypnosis is not magic, it is not a cure all (in fact, as a practioner, I don't think it is a cure anything). It is simply a tool. But like any tool, it's effectiveness if limited by the person operating the tool.
Everything Dr. Farrell says in the comment above applies to a hypnotist as well as a therapist. You need to be committed to the process. But if you are committed and you are going to a hypnotist for stress management and it's not getting any better after a session or two, try something else.
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