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Woman masquerading as a therapist?

9 replies

clearveil · 06/11/2025 16:12

There is this woman I have known since we were teenagers and she has always been weird. She has form for being something of a fantasist as well as stalker type behaviour and has had police involvement for this. I remember people would beg me not to giver her their number as she once she had it she would harass people relentlessly, leave endless messages on their answering machines and so on. She could do very odd things like send people random things in the post like a singular welly boot.

She was also clever and knew how to access the deleted histories on peoples PC back in the day and would do this if she happened to be in your house and on a few occasions when she found something she deemed inappropriate she would tell everyone, leading to more than a few scenes.

She has form for faking her way into careers such as previously claiming to be an investigative journalist and actually getting a gig with a major UK broadcaster for a while, until they found out her CV was a fabrication.

I have now seen her pop up online doing interviews and podcasts claiming to be a therapist who is currently studying for possibly 2 PhDs. On the various shows she has claimed to specialised in treating Porn addiction, Professional Trauma, Drug addiction and adhd and autisim. She is in the UK but these podcasts are US based.

On one of the pages there was a link to her website where you could apparently buy her self study therapy programmes or book online sessions with her but even though they were apparently live a few weeks ago the website is now down.

I can't find her registered anywhere either as a therapist or as a PhD student and usually PhD students are quite visible online.

I am not in regular contact with her now but last time I saw her she was not working. She did have a horrible accident a few years ago which wasn't her fault and she did get a lot of money in compensation. She is also divorced and still has two young children so she still has support from her ex husband.

It is possible she has done some online course in therapy and I know the regulations around who can claim to be a "therapist" is a bit sketchy in the UK so perhaps she has done a course like that and set herself up but I wouldn't be surprised if she is claiming to be more qualified and experienced than she is. On one podcast she claimed to have been a therapist for many, many years which I know for a fact isn't true.

I guess I don't know, perhaps she isn't doing anything really wrong just being a bit of a fantasist again. I suppose I just think its weird and problematic. The thing is she is really clever and probably could do something to a high level but I suspect her own pathologies would make any career problematic in the long run.

I suppose I should just call her and see if she needs to have a chat or something?

OP posts:
Interpink · 06/11/2025 16:16

They walk among us. I worked with one like this, years ago. She was absolutely looped, total fantasist. I think SHE believed what she was telling people even though it was plainly nonsense and she had such confidence that she talked herself into all sorts of situations. And would fixate about people and things.

Interpink · 06/11/2025 16:17

OP run a mile. Fast. Leave trouble alone.

fatphalange · 06/11/2025 16:21

Why on earth would you consider that?
Anyone can be a therapist. It does attract a certain type and the non regulation of it and the perceived grandiose title of ‘therapist’ certainly doesn’t help.

clearveil · 06/11/2025 16:26

fatphalange · 06/11/2025 16:21

Why on earth would you consider that?
Anyone can be a therapist. It does attract a certain type and the non regulation of it and the perceived grandiose title of ‘therapist’ certainly doesn’t help.

I suppose I know her and know what she's done in the past, she's saying things on one podcast that she works exclusively with traumatised police and emergency service workers and I am sure if the police use therapists they will be top tier and very experienced so that tells me right away that she's lying.

I agree that the fact that anyone can say they are a therapist is problematic.

OP posts:
clearveil · 06/11/2025 16:26

Interpink · 06/11/2025 16:17

OP run a mile. Fast. Leave trouble alone.

You are probably right, I suppose I just feel a bit for her and worry she's unwell.

OP posts:
clearveil · 06/11/2025 16:27

Interpink · 06/11/2025 16:16

They walk among us. I worked with one like this, years ago. She was absolutely looped, total fantasist. I think SHE believed what she was telling people even though it was plainly nonsense and she had such confidence that she talked herself into all sorts of situations. And would fixate about people and things.

Yes that is exactly it, she is probably totally convinced by her fantasy and so able to convince others, she has in the past.

OP posts:
DiscoBob · 06/11/2025 16:29

'Therapist' is just a word. You don't need qualifications or anything to allege you are one.

CaminoPlanner · 06/11/2025 16:40

I wouldn't contact her. I know someone similar. She has some charm and is clever but also loopy and has form for obsessively hassling and stalking people.

If you are worried she might be tricking people into parting with money for her help when she is under-qualified, can you contact the relevant regulatory bodies for therapists and forward them her online details. And maybe also post a message on her site under a pseudonym if need be, asking what qualifications she has and stating that people should be wary of undertaking therapy for complex issues like trauma or neurologically diverse issues like ADHD and autism unless the therapist is a fully qualified counsellor with a reputable regulatory body.

clearveil · 06/11/2025 16:49

@CaminoPlanner I'm wondering if someone has already done this as her website is now down. She claimed on the podcast to have clients but that could just be fantasy as well. I suspect that the online courses were being sold and someone might have said something to make her take them down.

All very strange.

OP posts:
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