Did you know that even if you hold a doctorate in psychology you are not a psychologist unless you have passed a licensing exam? Did you know that it is illegal to use the term “psychologist” without being licensed? Did you know that people are not allowed to conduct evaluations, make a diagnosis, or provide psychotherapy without a license?

Apparently, Dr. Phil doesn’t know this himself. “America’s Psychologist,” isn’t, in fact, a psychologist, as a colleague of mine wrote on his blog. Maybe that’s why he seems so over his head at times with his television guests.

I happened to see an episode of Dr. Phil that sickened me. It was about an out-of-control teenage son and his equally out-of-control mom. Dr. Phil actually had his wife come out of the audience and sit with the son to hold his hand while she told the mother that she never yelled at her sons. No psychologist would ever do such a thing! Then Dr. Phil told the mom that she was “psychotic” on national television. Meanwhile, Robin petted the boy’s hand and stared daggers at the mother. Makes for good TV, I suppose, but a terrible representation of what happens in therapy.

Please, if you are looking for a therapist verify that the person is licensed. You can go to the Board of Psychology website to check psychologists, and to the BBSE to check marriage & family therapists and social workers. Psychiatrists are, of course, medical doctors, but people are least likely to pass themselves off as medical doctors.

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