How to check a counsellor or facility is registered and legitimate

You've found a counsellor or facility that sounds promising—they answer emails promptly, their website looks professional, and someone's recommended them. Before you commit time or money, you need to know whether they're actually qualified and operating legitimately. A few straightforward checks will tell you far more than marketing copy ever can.

Verify registration with the relevant professional body

In South Africa, counsellors and social workers must be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) or the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP), depending on their qualification and scope of practice. Ask the counsellor or facility for their registration number and take five minutes to search it yourself on the relevant council's online register. HPCSA registers clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, and some counsellors; SACSSP registers social workers, social auxiliary workers, and other social service professionals. A counsellor who hesitates to provide this number, or whose name doesn't appear when you search, is a red flag worth taking seriously.

Check too whether they hold current professional indemnity insurance—a sign they're part of the formal professional ecosystem and covered against complaints. You can ask to see proof of this directly. If they're operating a residential facility or day programme, enquire whether they're registered with the Department of Social Development or hold any accreditation from bodies like the South African Accreditation Authority for Rehabilitation Facilities (SAARF). Not all counsellors work in accredited settings, but facility-level accreditation gives you another layer of assurance that their operations have been inspected.

Talk to past clients and ask the right questions

Request contact details for two or three people who have completed the programme or worked with the counsellor—not cherry-picked testimonials, but actual references willing to take your call. When you speak to them, avoid vague questions like "Were you happy?" Instead, ask what specific changes they noticed, how long it took, whether the counsellor adapted the approach if the first strategy wasn't working, and whether they felt pressured into additional services or longer stays than they believed necessary. Ask too whether the counsellor maintained confidentiality and stayed within appropriate professional boundaries, and whether they were transparent about fees and any add-on costs upfront.

If the facility or counsellor cannot or will not provide references, that absence itself is meaningful. Legitimate practitioners build their reputation on outcomes and are willing to let past clients speak. Conversely, if references say they felt rushed through treatment, charged unexpectedly, or were discouraged from seeking second opinions, those are genuine warning signs.

Ask the counsellor directly about their training and approach. Where did they study? What qualification do they hold—diploma, degree, certificate? What's their personal experience with substance abuse recovery, if any, and how does that shape their practice? Transparency here matters. You're not looking for a life story, but a counsellor who is clear about their credentials and methods, and who respects your right to understand the evidence behind what they propose.

If possible, request a brief conversation before committing—a phone call or video chat to discuss your situation. A legitimate counsellor will use this time to understand your needs, not to hard-sell the programme or pressure you into immediate enrolment. They should also be willing to discuss what happens if you want a second opinion or if the fit doesn't feel right after a few sessions.

One final check: search online for any complaints or disciplinary records. HPCSA and SACSSP maintain records of upheld complaints, and a search of the counsellor's name alongside "complaint" or "disciplinary action" may surface legitimate concerns others have raised. This isn't foolproof, but it adds another data point.

Verifying credentials and references takes a few hours but protects you from wasted money, mismatched support, or worse—practitioners operating outside their competence. When you're ready to move forward with confidence, Strove's verified counsellors and facilities are vetted for registration and client feedback, saving you the detective work.