MH Counselling - does this sound dodgy?

[Orchid18]

Someone has set up a Facebook page called ‘Mental welling being ‘ offering ‘Free 30 minute "get to know you" appointment, to get to know each other and how Talking Therapies can help you overcome or cope with stress, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, and other psychological problems.’ Almost 100 people have liked the page.

There are no details of who this person is so I commented on the post asking who they are and what there qualifications they have. They replied ‘hi thanks for contacting me I am a qualified mental health nurse with over 20 years experience in the field. I am also qualified in CBT, and NLP therapies. If you would like more information please PM me.’

I still don’t know if this person is male or female and wouldn’t be comfortable messaging someone who I don’t know from Adam. I really don’t think it’s appropriate to be touting for business in this way. Am I being over cautious?

If you're interested I'd maybe ask for more details (without providing any personal information). I've seen a few people advertise services on social media, but usually they do identify themselves with it.

How would you usually go about finding a practitioner? It sounds to me like this is their way of advertising their services instead of, or in addition to, a website. I don’t really see a difference if that’s on Facebook instead of Google?

A free 30 minute chat sounds standard too, most therapists would offer this before expecting a client to sign up for sessions. The relationship between client and therapist is very important, so this introductory chat is a way of seeing if you’d be a good fit to work together.

Of course, usual considerations around checking qualifications etc apply.

Thanks for your replies. I just feel uncomfortable that I’d be messaging a person who hasn’t given their name, yet knows mine, who probably lives in my local area. If I knew that the person was Jane Bloggs or Fred Smith I think I’d feel happier. I live overseas, if I was in UK I’d ask my GP for a recommendation.

Yeah I'd want to know their name and what bodies they're registered with before even contacting them. Your personal information (name and contact details) combined with the fact you're contacting a therapist is potentially sensitive information, and I wouldn't want to give that to someone without knowing they're BACP/HCPC/UKCP/whatever registered.

If I were you I'd ask which counselling body they are a member of and their details so that you can check. Once you've seen that they are registered with an approved body I'd ask for their website details so you can read reviews.

Unless I have a personal recommendation or the above, I wouldn't give any personal details or become a client

Buyer beware. “Counsellor” is not a protected title in the UK.

@Kittyshopping

Buyer beware. “Counsellor” is not a protected title in the UK.

I was going to say this.

Thanks for this advice. Glad to know I’m not being paranoid!

If I were you I'd ask which counselling body they are a member of and their details so that you can check.

This! A million times over.

Sounds dodgy as hell