Regulations of psychologists needs to happen

There’s something deeply worrying about people posing as experts to help vulnerable people who turn out to be nothing of the sort.

It’s the kind of insidious act perpetrated by people who themselves must have issues. People who pose as nutritionists - often confused as dieticians - and psychologists are so concerning.

You don’t need a qualification to call yourself a nutritionist so always be wary of people who use that title. Dieticians on the other hand, do have qualifications and are legitimate experts we should listen to. The whole area of food and dieting is fraught with difficulties while also being very important. It is even stranger that anyone can pose as a psychologist in Ireland. Anyone can pose as psychologists in the private sector without breaching any laws. It is not a protected title here.

This week ‘RTÉ Investigates’ had a programme called ‘Ireland's Unregulated Psychologists’.

Thousands of children are on long waiting lists for supports from the HSE for serious conditions like autism and ADHD. They need a diagnosis to even join a queue.

So many families try to get a diagnosis in the private sector but no qualifications are needed to work in the private sector due to a lack of regulation. Families are vulnerable and desperate and at their wits end. And there are people without qualifications who are ready to exploit this.

Adam Harris, CEO of As I Am said: “It's really shocking, the vulnerability families are experiencing, the pressure families are under. And then to think that there'd be somebody who would take advantage of that, who would present themselves in a way that is not correct.”

‘RTÉ Investigates’ showed the plight of families and children on waiting lists for supports who need help. Many have to wait for a year or more to get a diagnosis with which they can start their treatment journey. Then, they are often put on further waiting lists to access the supports and therapies they need.

In around 24 hours, an RTÉ journalists set himself up as a psychologist. He wasn’t doing anything illegal. He was able to buy a degree and PhD online for a few hundred dollars, complete with awards and grades.

CORU is a state body which was tasked with regulating psychologists in 2007. Now, there are still no regulations and no registration system for psychologists in place.

The Psychological Society of Ireland told ‘RTÉ Investigates’: “The PSI continues to call for the statutory registration of psychologists in the Republic of Ireland and has offered to assist CORU in any way possible in its goal with regard to statutory registration. The PSI’s position is that it is imperative that the title of ‘psychologist’ becomes a legally protected title without any further delay as this will offer optimum protection of the wider public.”

This needs to change immediately.

‘Ireland's Unregulated Psychologists’ is on the RTE Player.