DUBIOUS AND BOGUS CREDENTIALS IN MENTAL-HEALTH PRACTICE

Within an ethics framework, this article explores mental health practi tioners' use of credentials that lack acceptable accreditation or auth ority. Increased competition among mental health care providers has el evated the importance of credentials for marketing professional servic es. Practitioners worried about economic survival, along with certain personality characteristics (e.g., sheer ego), are tempted to rely on credentials that lack proof of quality, thereby potentially jeopardizi ng professionalism. Specific assertions and recommendations are set fo rth in the interest of safeguarding consumers and promoting profession alism.