04/03/2026
Speaking on behalf of clients who are trying to do the right thing by seeking support for their mental ill health, there are important questions that must be asked.
Is the therapist I am about to see suitably qualified?
What happens if something goes wrong?
What is their attitude to risk?
Are there proper regulations, safeguards, and checks in place to protect me?
These are not cynical questions, they are responsible ones that you need to ask.
Consider it this way.
A man down the road from you is always tinkering with cars on his driveway. His prices are cheaper than the authorised and regulated garage. You’ve heard that a few people have used him without issue, so you decide to give him a try.
He replaces a few parts. You collect the car later that day and drive away. Shortly afterwards, warning lights begin flashing on the dashboard. You return to him, but he smiles and insists the problem has nothing to do with his work.
You then take the car to an authorised garage, only to discover that the work was not carried out correctly. The repairs will now cost significantly more. Your car will be off the road for longer. Your insurance may even be compromised.
The initial saving has become a much greater loss.
Now imagine that instead of a vehicle, it is your mental health. Your trauma. Your vulnerability. Your trust.
When therapy goes wrong, the consequences are not just financial. They can deepen distress, reinforce shame, and create an added moral injury. The harm that comes from being let down by someone you entrusted with your care.
To quote Gabor Maté “There is great value in truth”.
We may not always like it, but it is ours to face and work through. Transparency about qualifications, regulation, and accountability is not an attack on professionals in this critical and much needed space, it’s about safeguarding the client that may not know the difference.
When you seek help at your most vulnerable, you deserve competence, honesty, and protection not just reassurance. For my family in the military community, I say it’s like having a very good set of orders and intel brief before going out on the ground. There should be very little surprises, and if there are any, there’s very good tried and tested SOP’s in place to deal with them.
Have a great rest of your week! 🥰
