Gatekeeping may be defined as the activity of trying to control who receives particular resources, power, or opportunities, and who does not. For instance, a nightclub bouncer controls who is and isn’t allowed entrance into an establishment.
In the field of mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively, “mental health”), psychotherapists remain subject to gatekeeping measures in regard to credentials. Concerning credentialing, one source states:
Credentialing is the practice of evidencing suitability for engaging in a profession or for employability through documentation of demonstrated competency or experience, completion of education or training, or other criteria as specified by a credentialing authority.
The documentation provided by the authority is known as “credentials”, and may be in the form of a license, certificate of competency, diploma, teaching credential, board certification, or a similar document.
Credentialism refers to the practice of relying on credentials to prove the suitability of a professional person or a skilled employee to be assigned the responsibilities of professional engagement or employment.
Demonstrating my access through the proverbial gate of credentialism, I’ve earned a Master of Arts in Counseling degree (2011), Master of Science in Social Work degree (2014), and licenses as a Licensed Professional Counselor (2021) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (2021).
Additionally, I’ve received focused training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (2020), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT; 2021), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (2023), and as a Certified Personality Disorder Treatment Provider (2023).
With my degrees licensure, and certifications, I’m granted access through the gates of mental health care provision. Without these keys, my status solely as a life coach – which isn’t currently a regulated industry in the United States – wouldn’t allow me access to provide mental health services as I currently do.
In any case, through the perspective of my small ‘l’ libertarian values, I don’t appreciate gatekeeping. Essentially, this form of power and control of one group (e.g., government) over another group (e.g., mental health practitioners) can stifle access to mental health care.
Although I understand that the idea of protection regarding the public from potentially fraudulent actors is perceivably a proper step toward safety, on principle I reject authoritarian action in regard to safetyism. All the same, I abide by the requirements to practice in my field.
One stands amazed at how some legislators have zero education, training, or experience in regard to the mental health fields to which they exert gatekeeping measures, though apparently retain power and control enough to demand practices to which others should, must, or ought to adhere.
Even within my chosen field, well-educated and power-hungry gatekeepers espouse rhetoric that controls access to resources, power, and opportunities. Regarding this matter, I’m reminded of my time in graduate school for social work.
A number of university faculty repeated tiresome discourse related to the mental health field and those who practiced within it. “You can’t be a therapist unless you’re in or have been in therapy,” I heard from a number of educators.
This erected gate within the halls of academia related to a demand for psychotherapists to receive treatment or management of mental health in order to provide similar health-focused services to clients. Of course, I dismissed such nonsense along with most of what I was taught in that setting.
In a literal sense, I don’t have to be or have been in therapy in order to practice mental health care. Case in point, I’m a professional REBT practitioner who’s not in and has never received ongoing psychotherapeutic services beyond initial assessments for other forms of gatekeeping (e.g., security clearance occupations).
Thus, while I generally reject gatekeeping which limits access to resources, power, and opportunity, I’ve earned keys to arbitrary gates so that I may help people in their times of need. My behavior in this regard represents tolerance and acceptance of annoying power grabs masquerading as protection of the public.
Perhaps you, too, have been subject to authoritarian structures of control though you’ve upset yourself with irrational beliefs about the situation. Would you like to learn about self-help keys which may be used to unlock the gates behind which you’ve trapped yourself through self-disturbance?
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Freepik. (n.d.). Sided view young girl talking to therapist [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/sided-view-young-girl-talking-therapist_37516554.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=0&uuid=c0ed65fe-bcac-4308-8240-76709952614c
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, May 18). Irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, May 26). Principles. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/principles
Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2024, April 1). Safetyism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/safetyism
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2024, June 5). Self-help. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-help
Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought
Hollings, D. (2023, February 16). Tna. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/tna
Hollings, D. (2024, June 19). Treatment vs. management. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/treatment-vs-management
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Gatekeeper. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatekeeper
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