01
Why a directory listing isn't a check
Some of the best-known certifying bodies say so themselves:
- Somatic Experiencing International: “SEI has no oversight or authority over any Somatic Experiencing® students or practitioners” (SEI).
- The IFS Institute says it hasn't “independently verified any of the information provided by those listed” (IFS Institute).
- EMDRIA: “EMDRIA™ does not examine, determine, or warrant the competence of any EMDR therapist listed in this Directory” (EMDRIA).
02
Four things you can check yourself
- The certificate. Ask who issued it, then confirm it with that organization. The kinds-of-work guides name the main bodies for each kind of work.
- A state license, where one exists. In Arizona, therapists, counselors, social workers and addiction counselors are licensed by the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, and psychologists by the Board of Psychologist Examiners. What Is Talk Therapy? links to both free lookups.
- What their work doesn't include. Coaching, breathwork, energy work and several other kinds of work have no Arizona license. That isn't a problem in itself, but nobody in those fields should diagnose or treat a mental health condition (A.R.S. 32-3286). Cleveland Clinic's advice about coaches applies widely: “If a life coach claims they can heal you, walk away” (Cleveland Clinic).
- How they answer. Before anything physical, a practitioner should ask about your health. Pressure to book more, or being told your hesitation is “resistance”, is worth noticing. How to Know If It's the Wrong Fit has more.
03
What Project Gina does
Every listing on /verified shows what was checked, with whom, and the date. Nothing is ranked, and nobody pays for position. What we check lists exactly what we do and don't check.
Common questions
How do I know if a healer is real?
“Real” usually means two things: is their training what they say, and has anyone checked it? You can confirm the first with the body that certified them. The second is what a registry does.
Do healers need a license?
It depends on the work. In Arizona, therapy needs a state license. Coaching, breathwork and energy work don't have one.
What are red flags in a practitioner?
Claims to heal or diagnose from someone who isn't licensed to, pressure to buy more, and not asking about your health before physical work.