providing BetterHelp for grief, without the licenses
December 4, 2022 6:13 PM Subscribe
Are there reputable sources like betterhelp.com for an experienced provider to extend online care to people seeking bereavement counseling or spiritual direction—without the credentials that site requires?
Friend is leaving behind many years in full-time hospice roles and part-time grief support to focus full time on building her private practice. She's one of those naturally intuitive people who truly has found her calling in this gentle work, and I'd love for her to succeed in this transition.
I'd suggested a look at betterhelp before realizing every opportunity they have is a variation of certified social worker, therapist or counselor. She does not have the required licenses to provide services there. Obviously it makes great sense that the LCSW, LMFT, LMHP, LPCs and so on do to a great extent vet the online provider, so I wonder if she's out of luck.
She has an MA in psychology and has served as a bereavement counselor, spiritual director and interfaith minister. For 15+ years she provided spiritual care and bereavement support in hospital, hospice and private practice settings. For someone with this experience, including group facilitation and chaplaincy training, leading classes in grief and loss, deep listening skills and ministry for the dying, are there reputable online opportunities to serve such needs? Especially helpful if you can share firsthand experience.
Friend is leaving behind many years in full-time hospice roles and part-time grief support to focus full time on building her private practice. She's one of those naturally intuitive people who truly has found her calling in this gentle work, and I'd love for her to succeed in this transition.
I'd suggested a look at betterhelp before realizing every opportunity they have is a variation of certified social worker, therapist or counselor. She does not have the required licenses to provide services there. Obviously it makes great sense that the LCSW, LMFT, LMHP, LPCs and so on do to a great extent vet the online provider, so I wonder if she's out of luck.
She has an MA in psychology and has served as a bereavement counselor, spiritual director and interfaith minister. For 15+ years she provided spiritual care and bereavement support in hospital, hospice and private practice settings. For someone with this experience, including group facilitation and chaplaincy training, leading classes in grief and loss, deep listening skills and ministry for the dying, are there reputable online opportunities to serve such needs? Especially helpful if you can share firsthand experience.
I somehow screened out your first paragraph -- sorry! In penance, you might try looking through the options in Best online grief counseling.
I will say, in general, from the therapist side I've not heard any good things about these types of services, so it may not be the greatest use of energy. Providing online services and marketing herself through groups most likely to use them (churches or spiritual groups; hospices; funeral homes; etc.) might help more, especially if she has existing relationships there.
posted by lapis at 9:56 AM on December 5, 2022
I will say, in general, from the therapist side I've not heard any good things about these types of services, so it may not be the greatest use of energy. Providing online services and marketing herself through groups most likely to use them (churches or spiritual groups; hospices; funeral homes; etc.) might help more, especially if she has existing relationships there.
posted by lapis at 9:56 AM on December 5, 2022
I've been doing a lot of research lately about becoming an end-of-life doula. Your friend likely knows far more about this career path than I do having been in it for several years, but my understanding is that the vast majority of service this like are offered by people who work independently as part of their own business.
This means that your friend could definitely offer such services online, but I'm not aware of anything like Better Help (which, for legal reasons, relies heavily on certification and licensure, which does not exist in this field) that she could "plug into" for business-related expenses, recruitment, etc.
posted by anotheraccount at 6:24 AM on December 6, 2022
This means that your friend could definitely offer such services online, but I'm not aware of anything like Better Help (which, for legal reasons, relies heavily on certification and licensure, which does not exist in this field) that she could "plug into" for business-related expenses, recruitment, etc.
posted by anotheraccount at 6:24 AM on December 6, 2022
When you say "private practice," can you specify what she's planning on practicing? Because there actually are legal issues with holding yourself out as any kind of counselor without any certifications in a lot of jurisdiction. It's the reason you see so many people advertising their services as "life coaches" or "mentors," because those are words you're allowed to use to describe what you offer without a license. But even then, some of those folks run into trouble because they can't get malpractice insurance for the actual services they're providing, or because the relevant licensing department cracks down.
All of which is to say, it would be easier for us to help figure out what services your friend might be able to legally provide online if you can be a little more specific about how she's organizing her IRL practice legally.
posted by decathecting at 4:20 PM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
All of which is to say, it would be easier for us to help figure out what services your friend might be able to legally provide online if you can be a little more specific about how she's organizing her IRL practice legally.
posted by decathecting at 4:20 PM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
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It's generally illegal to provide (or say you're providing) psychotherapy without a license, so it'll probably be most helpful if she can key into what she is providing.
posted by lapis at 9:47 AM on December 5, 2022