A high school-educated chef, after paying for short-term social training, registering a psychological counseling agency, and borrowing two “National Level 2 Psychological Counselor” certificates to join an industry association, transformed into a “psychological counselor” charging 1,200 yuan per hour. This is a true story in Shanghai, where the fake counselor, Sun, claimed over 20 years of experience in resolving adolescent issues and boosting exam scores by 30-60 points. In reality, he sexually assaulted teenagers during counseling sessions and was eventually imprisoned.
Fake Titles and Fabricated Credentials
The case, documented by the Minhang District People’s Procuratorate, involved 12-year-old Xiaomei (pseudonym), whose mother paid 26,400 yuan for 10 sessions starting in September 2020. Sun, unqualified, provided counseling to 14 minors. A 13-year-old victim, Xiaotian (pseudonym), described how Sun used “stress relief” and “hypnosis” as excuses to slap her buttocks, touch her body, and kiss her during “therapy.” Three other victims developed severe behavioral and psychological issues post-counseling.
Xiaotian’s mother, Ms. Wu, recalled the trauma: her daughter suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, but Sun denied wrongdoing, calling his actions “normal practice.” “Fighting for justice was agonizing. I couldn’t refute his claims without prosecutors’ and police officers’ help,” she said. Sun was sentenced to 16 months in prison for child molestation after authorities gathered evidence, including expert testimony and victim accounts.
Ms. Wu found Sun’s agency on platforms like Dianping, attracted by its “numerous positive reviews” and office decorations—plaques claiming “government partner,” “Shanghai Mental Health Service member unit,” and “academy-appointed consultant.” These titles, she later discovered, were all fake. Sun also barred parents from attending sessions, citing “privacy,” and evaded questions about results with vague assurances like, “Your child is improving; keep going.”
No National Standards for Counseling Agencies
The incident highlights a broader crisis: China lacks unified standards for psychological counseling agencies. Since 2017, when the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security removed psychological counselors from the national vocational qualification catalog, no state-issued certification exists. Practitioners now obtain certificates through third-party training, with some institutions issuing diplomas for a fee.
Registering a counseling agency is alarmingly easy. In Shanghai, applicants need only submit ID, rental contracts, and property documents to secure a business license. Nationwide, “psychological counseling services” fall under general business categories, requiring no special approval. This loophole allows unqualified individuals like Sun to operate—he even borrowed certificates to join Shanghai’s Mental Health Service Industry Association, bypassing oversight.
Calls for Stricter Regulation
The case has spurred action. Shanghai prosecutors filed public interest lawsuits against fraudulent agencies, fining Sun’s agency 200,000 yuan and ordering it to halt false advertising. The industry association has since tightened membership rules, enforcing mandatory reporting and stricter background checks.
National political advisors have also weighed in. Liu Yan, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, proposed stricter entry criteria for practitioners—vetting professional skills, ethics, and mental health—and publicizing agency performance to create a “survival of the fittest”. She urged harsh penalties for overreach, false advertising, and misleading practices.
Sun Xiaoning, an assistant researcher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Psychology School, advises parents to verify counselors’ qualifications: check their training in adolescent issues, client hours, and supervision records. “A legitimate initial session will include an ‘informed consent’ discussion with parents, outlining clear goals. Parents should always be involved, one way or another,” she emphasized.
As teen mental health issues rise—linked to academic and employment pressures—unregulated counseling services pose grave risks. For families, distinguishing credible agencies remains a daunting challenge. Without urgent, unified regulation, more vulnerable youth could fall prey to predators hiding behind the guise of “psychological help.”
Related topics:
Autism in Adults Tied to Higher Mental Health Hospitalization Rates
Students Accuse Universities of Failing on Mental Health: Who Bears the Blame?
