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The National Council of Psychotherapists

is one of the longest established societies of its type in the United Kingdom, being formed in 1971 following the “Foster Report” on the statutory registration of psychotherapists.

A tongue in cheek look at our profession

The plethora of qualifications and designatory letters after many a hypnotherapists name can be a cause of some confusion to members of the public and indeed, other healthcare professionals. Even should the reader know what the various letters mean, in some cases they may not mean what they imply! Some highly qualified therapists simply get by with their Dip Hyp and leave it at that.

For example, how many hypnotherapists are now called Doctor by virtue of a PHD? And is it a genuine PHD or a case of Pile it Higher and Deeper?

I recently read that a complaint had been laid against a spiritualist that they were misleading people by using an inappropriate qualification, a PhD of questionable origin. The complainant argued their case that this was misleading because it gave the impression that the advertiser was more qualified than they actually were. Give them their dues, the advertiser wrote a letter for publication to apologise and explained their part of the story. The argument was settled amicably and the qualification was not to be used in any future advertising. In our own profession we've seen some people embarrassed when their claimed PhDs were traced back to spurious organisations. What kind of organisations are we talking about here? Well, according to my email inbox today I myself have today personally qualified for several University degrees (unspecified), two PhDs and a doctorate in divinity. Of course as I've lived for so long, have had so many life experiences, am able to read my email and therefore presumably able to send payment, I 'qualify'!!! These qualifications would sound impressive to someone who didn't know where they originated. But would they be relevant or even an honest representation of qualifications I've actually earned?

In the spring of 2005 I was in communication with a colleague, who, told me that his title was now Doctor, and could I amend my records accordingly? Being the inquisitive type, I did some research and found that although my colleague may well be entitled to the title by virtue of the PhD that he had 'earned', the source of the PhD did not inspire confidence. A 'University' that awards degrees and PhDs for 'life experience' of the kind that spam offers around the Internet ad infinitum, and whose emails I delete on a daily basis is not a source that is credible to me or to most people.

Otherwise know as diploma mills, these 'Universities' sole criteria for awarding any of their qualifications is that the recipient be alive and capable of paying for it.

In short, it is the kind of PhD that anyone can acquire as long as the fees can be paid. Should the public consider that these kinds of qualifications are confidence inspiring and mean superior knowledge?

Well, they don't inspire me in the slightest, and having been involved in this field for a fair number of years I do believe that I know what I'm talking about. Maybe it's a sad reflection on market forces. A hypnotherapist sees the competition across the road now has seventeen sets of initials after his name. Where can I find another three to get ahead again???

I'll have to start printing my letterhead in landscape format to get them all on!!!"

In comparison a dear friend of mine has just been granted her PhD - after 4 years of hard study and a year writing a thesis which was then presented before the rigorous scrutiny of a board of examiners.

To most people a PhD after a person's name usually means something and speaks for itself. A PhD from Oxford or Cambridge can't be compared to one from a degree mill.
So are we asking the right question? Might it not be better to ask 'what kind of person has the qualifications?' rather that 'what qualifications does the person have?' What good is it to a client if an expensively and well qualified therapists is also inept and obtains poor results?

In the same street you may find a very competent but on the face of it, poorly qualified therapist who through personality, life and personal experience and knowledge is probably the best person in the world to help someone with their particular problem.

So, how far do we want to go? - In the early days everyone had their Dip Hyp and went about their business quite happily. Today we have master hypnotists, advanced hypnotherapists, reverends and now a whole profusion of PhDs and so many more 'job titles' its hard to keep up!

Where will it all end?

Note: Not all degree programs are offered by traditional universities. There are a number of excellent non-traditional universities offering flexible learning paths to a degree. The validity of the degree obtained in this way will depend on the reputation of the awarding body. The non-traditional degree route can be very worthwhile as its much more flexible than through a traditional university, and can offer degrees in subjects not otherwise available. Non-traditional universities should not be confused with degree mills!

Copyright Michael O'Sullivan 2009 - all rights reserved

www.health-concern.com

Amended version previously published in Fidelity, the Journal of The National Council for Psychotherapists (Spring 2006 Edition)