INCOMPETENT SHRINKS GIVING BAD ADVICE: PSYCHOLOGISTS

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Incompetent shrinks giving bad advice: Psychologists

Triwik Kurniasari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The association of psychologists has warned Jakartans to be careful in selecting competent and professional psychologists because many practitioners in the city are not properly qualified.

Head of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Psychologists Association (Himpsi Jaya), Lukman Sarosa Sriamin, said incompetent psychologists could make false claims that could worsen patients' condition.

NOTE: SRIAMIN IS A WELL RESPECTED PSYCHOLOGIST.

"You should do some research first before choosing a psychologist to avoid selecting a bogus one. Many people fail to realize the importance of conducting background research," Lukman told The Jakarta Post recently.

Unqualified psychologists may have graduated from a psychology school, but did not necessarily have a permit to practice, he said.

"In some cases, they don't have a background in psychology at all. The worst part is, if he or she speaks to the media. People are then lead to believe they are competent," he said.

"I have noticed more than 10 bogus psychologists across Jakarta. This doesn't include bureaus offering the service," he said.

To get a permit to practice from Himpsi, hopeful Psychologists must hold a masters degree in psychology as a minimum requirement. This Himpsi permit is valid for five years and allows psychologists to practice across Indonesia.

Himpsi-accredited psychologists would introduce themselves to their patients, and would show their ID and permit.

"You should ask if a psychologist doesn't do this to begin with. It is also important to ask which institution the psychologist graduated at. This is a common question," he said.

"You should be suspicious if he or she refuses to reveal his or her background. If you are in this situation, you can call the Himpsi office to confirm whether the practice has a permit," he said.

Fabiola Pricilla Setiawan, a licensed child psychologist, said it would be safer for patients to choose a psychologists who were working under governmental institutions.

NOTE: SETIAWAN IS A WELL RESPECTED CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST.

"It is important to have a competent, credible and trustworthy psychologist," Fabiola said.

"For example, In the wrong hands, a child who has symptoms of depression could deteriorate into acute depression," she said.

Himpsi Jaya now has 3,587 members, 1,825 of whom are licensed psychologists.

The organization, however, is powerless in facing unqualified psychologists.

"There is no law or decree about this. We cannot report them to police or punish them just because they are not Himpsi-accredited. We hope the government will introduce laws to regulate this," Lukman said.

Several patients claimed they had tried to gather information before going to a psychologist.

One such patient, Wahyu, said she had asked friends and relatives for their recommendations because she did not know where to go.

"Once I got the psychologist's name, I checked it on the Internet to make sure she was suitable," Wahyu said.

"When I decided to visit her, I did not ask for her permit because she is quite a popular psychologist," Wahyu said.

Nana said she was careful when choosing a child psychologist for her 2-year-old baby boy.

"I only took suggestions from doctors and relatives because it's about my son's growth. I didn't want to make the wrong decision," she said.

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