Is there anything that can be done to like stop her?
My brothers wife is a psychologist. I have discussed Sinead Hegarty with her many times. People in the professions are very concerned about what she’s doing and now this PDF booklet she’s selling. My sister in law studied psychology at queens for 4 years including her placement year. She sent me this:
“Claiming an unearned credential from an organization would be the basis for a fraud crime as falsely claiming qualifications in a regulated profession is a crime. This means, you can’t legally claim credentials (i.e. the title of psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed clinical social worker etc) that you don't have without expecting legal trouble.
Credentials are not required for many of the various counseling specialties. This is a dangerous area where con-artists like Sinead Hegarty can fall through the cracks. You will see these “counsellors” everywhere now, they do a 1hr online course or read a self help book and call themselves a counsellor. Anyone can say this (PLEASE NOTE: IT IS UP TO YOU, THE PATIENT, TO ASK IF YOUR COUNSELLOR IS LICENSED).
At the minute any report or complaint about Sinead Hegarty to a professional regulatory body wont affect her as she’s not qualified or actually a member so can’t actually be struck off.
What I don’t think Sinead Hegarty realises is she won’t ever be able to be a licenced practitioner now as her behaviour now would go against the required ethical standards of practice (ie fraudulently holding yourself out as a trained/licences counsellor and placing people at risk by providing unlicensed advice). She says things like “step into my counselling office” and writes books where she holds herself out as an professional expert where she is not. Her advice is often wrong, dangerous and the exact opposite of what a trained practitioner would give.
She would be struck off on a retrospective basis immediately”.
My brothers wife is a psychologist. I have discussed Sinead Hegarty with her many times. People in the professions are very concerned about what she’s doing and now this PDF booklet she’s selling. My sister in law studied psychology at queens for 4 years including her placement year. She sent me this:
“Claiming an unearned credential from an organization would be the basis for a fraud crime as falsely claiming qualifications in a regulated profession is a crime. This means, you can’t legally claim credentials (i.e. the title of psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed clinical social worker etc) that you don't have without expecting legal trouble.
Credentials are not required for many of the various counseling specialties. This is a dangerous area where con-artists like Sinead Hegarty can fall through the cracks. Any person can say they’re a counsellor. You will see these “counsellors” everywhere now because self help books are so prevalent, people read them and feel qualified to advise others. At the minute any report or complaint about her to a professional regulatory body wont affect her as she’s not qualified or actually a member so can’t actually be struck off.
What I don’t think Sinead Hegarty realises is she won’t ever be able to be a licenced practitioner now as her behaviour now would go against the required ethical standards of practice (ie fraudulently holding yourself out as a trained/licences counsellor and placing people at risk by providing unlicensed advice). She says things like “step into my counselling office” and writes books where she holds herself out as an professional expert where she is not. Her advice is often wrong, dangerous and the exact opposite of what a trained practitioner would give.
She would be struck off on a retrospective basis immediately”.
My own view is that if Sinead Hegarty wanted to be a psychologist she should have went back to university to study it. If that was really her passion she would have. It’s a calling in life, a vocation. Instead she gives random/wrong advice to young girls with zero culpability. She is playing with the mental health of vulnerable young girls and now they are paying her money for the privilege. It’s harrowing.
You asked what we can do. My sister in law said what we can do is continue to get the word out on Instagram that’s she’s not trained, licensed or qualified to give advice. Also we should let the various professional bodies (in the UK and Ireland) know about her as many times as we can, especially when she uses language to mislead people into believing she’s qualified or licensed. They can take action from there and involve the police where she is deemed to be committing fraud.
Her story earlier saying "Step into my counselling room" really boiled my piss - YOU ARENT A COUNSELLOR.
This is so dangerous. She is the epitome of a con artist.
so many influencers complain of bad backs - perhaps stop tilting your body so unnaturally and you’d be grand!
