Social media is truly a remarkable way of reaching out to others to offer support. With so much negativity around, there is still a fair amount of goodness around us from people who are compassionate and wanting to reach out to those that are perhaps, less fortunate than others.
I have seen on several occasions good hearted people reaching out to the general public offering counselling services via social media and/or personal websites, albeit not having the necessary qualifications and registration with professional statutory bodies. Those individuals have either done a short course in counselling and/or life coaching, between a few days and a few months. These individuals may be lay counsellors and/or life coaches who want to give back time and an empathic ear for someone to share their sorrows. Problem is, these lay counsellors and/or life coaches have not had the intensive training required to deal with emotional and psychiatric issues such as traumas, depression, anxiety and other serious mental illnesses and other serious human challenges.
These lay counsellors and life coaches advertise on social media and the internet, offering their “counselling services” for a fee or for free. They don’t understand that with the best of intentions to help others, serious damage can be done to the misinformed individual desperate for an empathic person to listen to them.
In South Africa, mental health practitioners fall into the following categories:
HPCSA Registered Counsellors: The individual completes a 4 years honours degree at a reputable university which offers a BPsych equivalent degree, and have the necessary training to offer short term counselling. They are required to do an internship of 6 months, working with real people, with real issues. Short term counselling may be from 1 to 10 sessions and it is not in their scope of practice to diagnose the client. Counsellors work with individuals, families and groups of people. HPCSA egristration and license is mandatory to practice. Should they open their own private practices, they are required to be registered with BHF (Board of Health Funders), as a private practitioner, be given a private practice number and they may claim from medical aid on the client’s behalf or, the client will be able to get reimbursed by their medical aid should they be a member of a medical aid.
Non Registered Counselors: The individual studies and completes either a 3 year psychology undergrad degree or completes a purely academic 4 year psychology honours degree. The may or may not complete a 100 hour internship and they may or may not register with a non statutory body such as ASCHP or CC4C. They are not eligible to register with HPCSA nor BHF and their services are not claimable from medical aid. They are required to refer their client to either a social worker or a psychologist for more intensive treatment.
Psychologists (Counseling/Clinical/Educational/ Neuro: Have a minimum of 6 years university training at Masters level. Psychologists are required to do an internship with real people with serious psychological disorders or other neuro developmental issues. They are allowed to diagnose mental and personality disorders and refer to a psychiatrist to be medicated accordingly and continue short term counselling or long term psychotherapy with the individual. Psychologists work with individuals, families and groups. HPCSA Registration and license mandatory to practice. Should they open their own private practices, they are required to be registered with BHF (Board of Health Funders), as a private practitioner, be given a private practice number and they may claim from medical aid on the client’s behalf or, the client will be able to get reimbursed by their medical aid should they be a member of a medical aid.
Psychiatrists: Are qualified medical doctors (6 years intensive training and 2 years internship at a hospital) whom have chosen to specialise in psychiatry, it will take a further 4 years studying in their specialisation. These specialists are allowed to diagnose any psychological and personality disorders, prescribe medication and hospitalise the individual where necessary. HPCSA Registration and license mandatory to practice.
Social Workers: Social Workers have to study for a minimum of 4 years at university (Honours level). Social Workers are required to have two majors ie. 1st Major is Social Work, 2nd Major is psychology/communications/anthropology/sociology/criminology. Social workers are trained to do short term counselling and long term therapy. Social Workers who major in psychology share similar scope of practice as counsellors and clinical/ counseling psychologist but are not allowed to diagnose psychological and personality disorders and dispense medication. Social workers work with individuals, groups and communities in private practice, schools, corporate organisations, not profit organisations, prisons, government, schools, hospitals. SACSSP Registration and license mandatory to practice.
Lay Counsellors: Lay counsellors are individuals who want to donate their time for the benefit of their community. The individual has done a short course to learn basic counselling skills. They do not get paid for their services and are required to be supervised by a qualified social worker or psychologist.
Life Coaches: Individuals completes a short course which ranges between a minimum of 3 to 18 months. Life coaches are not counselors, social workers or psychologists unless they have completed a honours degree in psychology and/or social work. It is not in the scope of practice of life coaches to conduct counseling, psychotherapy and/or psychometric testing. They are not equipped to deal with any emotional and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, trauma, neuro divergence, borderline personality disorder, bi polar disorder, schizophrenia etc.
ANY LAY COUNSELLOR OR LIFE COACH WHO ADVERTISE THEMSELVES BEING QUALIFIED TO COUNSEL OR DO PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH THEIR CLIENTS AND DEAL WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES MUST BE REPORTED TO THE HPCSA OR SACSSP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION
Ingrid is a psychotherapist and social worker in private practice with special interest in clinical work & Somatic Therapies. She is an EMDR, Brainspotting, TIR practitioner, Hypnotherapist, & is registered with SACSSP. She is also a dance and signing student. To find out more how she can assist & book an appointment, email Ingrid@inneressence.co.za. Sessions are claimable from medical insurance. Please visit her website on http://www.inneressence.co.za.
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