被多少人当成救命稻草的职业，正在经历大规模“塌房”

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges and risks within the psychological counseling industry in China, highlighting the lack of regulation, the prevalence of unqualified practitioners, and the emotional toll on clients seeking help [5][18][21]. Group 1: Industry Overview - The psychological counseling market in China is projected to reach 15.8 billion yuan by 2024, with an annual growth rate of 23% [6]. - There are over 135,000 psychological counseling-related enterprises in China, with major platforms like 壹心理 having over a million monthly active users [19]. - The number of licensed psychological counselors has increased significantly since the establishment of the profession in 2001, but the removal of national certification in 2017 has led to a "no-license era" [6][22]. Group 2: Client Experiences and Complaints - A report indicates that the formal complaint rate in psychological counseling is 0.17%, meaning 1.7 complaints per 1,000 counseling relationships [5]. - Many clients report negative experiences, including unprofessional behavior from counselors, such as ending relationships abruptly or failing to provide adequate support [5][21]. - The emotional impact on clients can be severe, with some feeling more distressed after sessions, leading to a loss of trust in the counseling process [15][40]. Group 3: Ethical Concerns and Risks - The lack of a scientific evaluation system for practitioners raises concerns about the qualifications of many counselors, with 62.7% having less than three years of experience [22]. - Ethical guidelines exist, but enforcement is weak, leading to situations where clients feel their autonomy is undermined or their experiences invalidated [21][38]. - High-profile cases of misconduct, including sexual abuse by counselors, highlight the potential dangers clients face in the absence of proper oversight [22][25]. Group 4: Challenges in Seeking Redress - Clients often find it difficult to seek redress for grievances due to the subjective nature of counseling outcomes and the lack of clear quality standards [38]. - Legal avenues for complaints are often lengthy and costly, discouraging clients from pursuing justice [36][38]. - The emotional and financial burden of seeking new counseling after a negative experience can lead to further trauma for clients [37][40].