The Chaos of Online Psychological 'Therapy' - Part 2: Who Controls Online 'Therapists'?

Amidst increased attention to mental health, numerous unlicensed "therapy services" are springing up. Meanwhile, legal regulations have not kept pace with the reality of this type of service.

People with mental health issues should go to the hospital for examination and counseling. (In the photo: Psychologist Hoang Quoc Lan providing psychological counseling to people at a hospital - Photo: BSCC)

Online psychological therapy services are increasingly flourishing on social media. Under the guise of "healing," many individuals who call themselves "psychologists," "energy masters," or "inner coaches" offer treatments lacking scientific basis but charge exorbitant fees, and even directly interfere with the mental health of their patients.

High risk of health effects

Dr. Tran Quang Trong, from the Clinical Psychology Department of Le Van Thinh Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), warns that patients seeking help from individuals who claim to be therapists but lack proper qualifications and professional certifications face many serious risks.

In terms of mental health, patients are susceptible to misdiagnosis and incorrect interventions, which not only prolongs and worsens the illness but can also lead to self-harm or even suicide if they suffer from disorders such as severe depression or anxiety disorders.

In terms of physical health, practices such as fasting, improper meditation, and consuming herbal remedies of unknown origin can easily lead to serious consequences, especially if the patient has underlying health conditions.

Furthermore, many people are also financially and emotionally abused when they are lured into disguised healing courses and groups with superstitious or spiritual multi-level marketing elements.

"Regression hypnosis, energy therapy... are currently being heavily promoted, but it's important to distinguish between their value as psychological support and their role as medical treatments. Meditation can help reduce stress if guided correctly."

"However, hypnotic regression or energy therapy lack sufficient scientific evidence and cannot replace treatment protocols in psychiatry and psychotherapy," Mr. Trong shared.

The danger is that patients miss the "golden opportunity" for conventional treatment, fall into dependence on extreme spiritual rituals, and may even develop cognitive disorders and delusions.

Therefore, when abnormal psychological symptoms appear, patients should seek help from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist at a specialized hospital or licensed clinic. Absolutely avoid self-diagnosis or self-treatment based on information from social media or from unqualified individuals.

Psychotherapy is not just about "talking to ease your mind."

Dr. Tran Minh Khuyen, a specialist in neuropsychiatry and psychotherapy at the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that in Vietnam, no doctor has been granted a professional practice code with the title "psychologist." None of those studying psychology, whether with a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree, can call themselves doctors.

To become a specialist doctor, one must first complete a full general medical program, including internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, otolaryngology, and other specialties. Only then can a doctor choose to specialize in a particular field, such as psychiatry.

However, a worrying reality is that many people who only have a bachelor's degree in social psychology or school psychology, without any medical training, are wearing white coats and claiming to be psychotherapists, causing serious confusion in the community.

"They can only provide counseling and support for everyday social or emotional conflicts. But when dealing with pathologies like severe depression, psychosis, or hallucinations, psychotherapy is ineffective. Treatment with medication must be prescribed by a psychiatrist," Dr. Khuyen shared.

In particular, many people nowadays lack medical expertise, merely offering moralistic advice and sharing personal experiences online, then claiming to be therapy experts, while they completely lack the knowledge to assess the severity of the illness.

Many people today are unaware of the boundary between psychological conflict and mental illness. For example, patients with severe depression, prolonged insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, and auditory hallucinations such as hearing voices urging them to commit suicide...

Without a diagnosis and prescription from a specialist, and only receiving "psychological therapy," patients may attempt suicide at any time.

According to Dr. Khuyen, in order to practice psychotherapy, in addition to studying psychology, one must further study clinical psychology, complete practical training at a psychiatric hospital under the supervision of a specialist, and possess a clear professional license.

Due to a lack of legal framework, the title "therapist" is being misused.

According to psychologist Nguyen Tran Phuoc, a master's degree holder, in reality, even if someone graduates with a bachelor's degree in psychology and then pursues a master's degree in clinical psychology, they still lack the necessary skills to provide psychological counseling or therapy.

To do that, the person needs professional supervision – at least a PhD in therapeutic psychology.

However, it is important to understand that an independent psychological counselor, meaning one not affiliated with an organization or hospital, will find it difficult to guarantee professional quality and accountability.

However, if they operate independently without a professional support network, they can easily fall into a state of spontaneity and become difficult to control. In reality, many recent graduates, or those with degrees from other fields, can still call themselves "psychotherapists," which is very dangerous given the lack of a clear legal framework to control the title and scope of practice.

Currently, Vietnam lacks specific laws regarding the practice of psychotherapy, leading to significant gaps in supervision, accreditation, and patient protection.

While awaiting a complete legal framework, experts and doctors advise people to remain vigilant, because psychology is a specialized field of medicine, not a self-proclaimed playground. Social media is not a place for healing, and healing should never be achieved through blind faith.

A professional license is required.

According to Article 26 of the 2023 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, the position of "clinical psychologist" requires a medical practice license. The required practical training period to qualify for this license is 9 months.

Furthermore, Government Decree 96 also specifies the conditions for granting practice licenses, including practicing at a medical facility with a suitable scope of professional activity and having a licensed practice supervisor.

The Law on Medical Examination and Treatment of 2023 also stipulates the authority to grant licenses for medical practice for the position of "clinical psychologist".

Specifically, the Ministry of Health issues licenses to practitioners working at medical facilities under its management. The specialized health agencies under the Provincial People's Committee issue licenses to practitioners working at medical facilities within the province's jurisdiction.

Individuals practicing clinical psychology counseling at medical facilities must possess a license issued by the competent authority.

What is a psychotherapist, and who is eligible for treatment?

In Vietnam, at the end of 2020, the Vietnamese Occupational Classification identified the job title of psychologist with descriptions of some key functions and duties, clearly distinguishing it from the profession of psychiatrist. To practice, psychotherapists must study at universities that meet rigorous educational and training standards.

Numerous online groups dedicated to mental disorders and the need for psychological therapy have formed, and each post features nearly a dozen "coaching" groups offering their services and claiming to have their own treatment methods. - Screenshot

Professor Vo Van Ban, president of the Vietnam Association of Psychotherapy, stated that clinical psychology is a field closely related to other health science disciplines, especially psychiatry. Clinical psychologists always work closely with psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care for patients.

According to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, there are 50 diseases and medical conditions that can be diagnosed and treated remotely (online). Among them are two mental health conditions: mental disorders and anxiety/depression disorders.

Telemedicine and support for telemedicine must be conducted within the scope of the practitioner's professional practice. Telemedicine must adhere to the list of diseases and medical conditions issued by the Minister of Health.

Medical practitioners are responsible for the results of their diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and prescriptions.

Therefore, only professionals with the correct expertise and within their scope of practice are allowed to provide remote medical care to patients, and this is only permitted for the two disease codes mentioned above.

CAM NUONG - DUONG LIEU

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bat-nhao-tri-lieu-tam-ly-online-ky-2-ai-kiem-soat-nha-tri-lieu-online-20250514224153525.htm