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At the end of last week, the Senate approved an important and resonant law aimed at banning the activities of so-called “coaches,” “trainers,” “psychologists,” and other fraudsters who do not have the necessary qualifications but actively promote their services through social media. They offer personal growth courses, motivational training, and many other pseudo-services, endangering not only people’s trust in real medicine but also their psychological well-being.
As noted by the Director of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Cardiology, Senator Khurshid Fazilov, the situation with low-quality psychological and motivational services has become extremely serious. According to him, today, many self-proclaimed “psychologists” and “coaches” are actively using social engineering to attract clients, offering quick solutions to complex problems. However, they lack both professional skills and the qualifications needed to provide real help.
“Today, the number of fake psychologists and trainers has increased,” emphasized Khurshid Fazilov. “They mostly find clients through social networks and various enticing ads. But not all of those offering their ‘services’ are professionals. This poses a serious threat to society.”
One of the main problems caused by such pseudo-specialists is the potential to cause significant harm to their clients. Incorrect advice and methods may not only fail to solve the problem but could also worsen the situation, leading to the breakdown of family relationships and social ties. In response to this, the new law introduces clear criteria, according to which only qualified specialists with the appropriate education will be able to provide psychological and motivational assistance to the population.
What does the new law imply?
- Strict qualifications — According to the new law, only individuals with higher education in the field of psychology will have the right to engage in psychological assistance activities. Individuals with other educational backgrounds will be able to engage in this activity only after completing retraining courses and obtaining the necessary certification. The law defines the circle of subjects who can provide psychological assistance (this can be psychologists working in government bodies or other organizations, as well as legal entities or individual entrepreneurs engaged in this activity on a private basis).
- Qualification verification — For psychologists working in private practice, obtaining a qualification certificate from a specialized public association registered in Uzbekistan will be required. This will ensure stricter control over the quality of the services provided.
- Consumer protection — The law is aimed at protecting the population from low-quality services and fake specialists who take advantage of people’s trust. As Khurshid Fazilov pointed out, it is necessary not only to protect the population from fraudsters but also to support the activities of real professionals by improving their work and providing them with more opportunities for development.
- Penalties for pseudo-coaches — The law introduces administrative liability for the provision of psychological assistance by individuals who do not have the right to do so.
The Importance of the New Law
Given the growing popularity of coaching and personal growth training, the Senate’s approval of the new law has become an important step toward protecting citizens from the harmful influence of fake specialists. Social networks and various online platforms have become the primary channels for promoting the services of such “experts,” creating a serious problem for society. The law not only limits the activities of unqualified individuals but also helps bring order to the field of psychological assistance.
In addition, the document provides for the Ministry of Health to develop standards for providing psychological assistance, which will become mandatory for all specialists in this field. This guarantees the high quality of services and protects consumers from potential errors and abuses.
The adoption of this law is a step toward creating a system where professional help will become available to everyone in need, and fraudsters pursuing selfish goals will no longer be able to harm people who trust them with their health and well-being.
The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article
