A Matter of Trust! The Academic Paradigm
Recently, I had a surprise about the use of post-nominals. First off, what are they, and what do they mean? Post-nominal initials or titles indicate this individual holds qualification or accreditation. They mean that the individual using them has been awarded an academic title for their achievements.
However, there may be several reasons why an individual would falsely claim post-nominals they have not actually gained, particularly if this is a recurring issue.
The phenomenon of misusing post-nominal letters typically stems from three distinct motivations:
Insecurity: Some individuals feel compelled to exaggerate their credentials, believing they must inflate their achievements to gain recognition or respect from others.
Ignorance: Individuals fail to understand the true significance of post-nominal letters, using them incorrectly without realising the consequences of their actions.
Deception: Individuals deliberately adopt or alter unearned post-nominal letters to project a false aura of expertise, specifically intending to deceive those in their immediate circle
Regardless of the reason, — it is important to remember— that misrepresenting herself by using post-nominals that have not been earned can be offensive and misleading, that do not accurately reflect her credentials.
Standards governing the postnominal designation 'MA' (Master of Arts) strictly require the full completion of the programme. To use this title, an individual must complete all coursework, pass all final assessments, and have the degree officially conferred by the institution
At present, if an individual is still completing the practical component of their studies—specifically as a practicum student—they may list their status on their CV or professional profile as a "current student working towards an MA", an "MA student in...", or an "MA candidate". When interacting with clients, the correct title to use is "Practicum Trainee". Practitioners must always inform clients or patients that they are students working under clinical supervision.
Offering services as a master's student without explicitly disclosing trainee status is both unethical and unlawful. Such misrepresentation creates serious ethical and legal liabilities; clients have a strict right to know their exact qualifications, and concealing trainee status misleads the public.
What they absolutely cannot do is prematurely slap those post-nominal letters (MA) next to their name as if they have already crossed the finish line. You cannot use or append the MA Master of Arts) designation until the degree has been formally awarded and conferred by the university upon graduation.
Using a post-nominal qualification before it has been legally granted is a serious ethical breach and, in many jurisdictions or professional contexts, can constitute fraud or misrepresentation. It's generally considered offensive to use post-nominals that you have not earned or to use post-nominals that are not recognised by relevant institutions. It misleads employers, clients, and the public into believing a person holds a credential they have not yet earned. Of course, this is hardly her first foray into the thrilling world of academic deception; we have, after all, witnessed this exact performance before.
Stephanie (Steph) French Bullock, appears vague about what she is actually studying, or perhaps she simply lacks the capacity to grasp the difference between two separate master's programmes. She struggles to figure out their true career path. A student must not confuse a master's degree in Counseling and Psychology with a master's degree in Counseling Psychology—or vice versa—since both titles describe their field of study.
This past March she grandly announced that she had embarked in 2023 on an MA in Counselling and Psychology, proudly claiming she had already completed her ‘practicum placement’. Fast forward to August, and she has miraculously migrated to an entirely different degree: an MA in Counselling Psychology. She had previously paraded herself as holding this degree qualification, only to later quietly amend the claim. She was offering services as a master's practicum student without disclosing her trainee status, which is unethical and unlawful. Misrepresentation creates serious ethical and legal problems because clients have a right to know their provider's qualifications, and hiding trainee status misleads the public.
An MA in Counselling Psychology and an MA in Counselling and Psychology represent, of course, two distinct qualifications leading to completely different professions. Yet, somehow, she is already serving as a ‘practicum student’ there, too. Fabricating credentials and playing dress-up with higher education—🫡 eventually, you realise her stories are full of plot holes and missing timelines. Still, appears fiction is a genre she knows well.
In the UK a “counselling psychologist” (clinical) and a “counsellor, and a psychologist” (counsellor ) have different training, legal regulations, and scopes of practice.
An MA in Counselling Psychology generally focuses on blending therapeutic techniques with psychological assessment, research, and diagnosis, often preparing students for licensed, deeper mental health work. Conversely, an MA in Counselling (or Counselling and Psychology) is often more focused on immediate, client-centred talk therapy and skill-building for counselling roles.
MA in Counselling and Psychology versus an MA in Counselling Psychology is mostly a semantic distinction in course titling by some universities. Neither master's degree alone allows you or anyone else to register as a protected "Counselling Psychologist" with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which strictly requires an approved professional doctorate or equivalent portfolio route accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
A student enrolled in an MA in Counselling Psychology or an MA in Counselling and Psychology works as a practicum student. This means they complete supervised clinical practice, or a placement, as part of a master's degree.
Practicum students are usually unpaid because placements form part of an academic curriculum, offering supervised experience for academic credit. They are strictly prohibited from generating revenue from clients. Without finishing the final degree requirements, dissertation, and graduation, they cannot legally or ethically practice as independent licensed therapists or establish and operate a private clinical psychotherapy business.
Note: In the UK, if you are a student on a practice placement, accepting a cash gift or money from a client constitutes a severe professional and ethical violation.
Consequently, engaging in cash transactions with vulnerable clients is completely unacceptable. There are serious consequences for students who violate these rules.
So, a new situation arises here..
An MA in Counselling typically takes 2 years full-time or 3 years part-time and practicum requires a minimum of 100 to 150 supervised total clock hours (with roughly 40/50 hours of direct face-to-face client contact).
Practicum hours provide real work and do not grant degrees without these hours. Whether you look at a counsellor or psychologist path, supervision keeps clients safe.
However, if she started a master's in 2023 as she claimed, yet remains a placement student in 2026, there is a discrepancy. A student on an MA in counselling or psychotherapy typically undertakes a placement for about 12 to 18 months. This generally begins in the second year of a two-year programme and finishes before graduation. Clinical work usually wraps up a few months before the final dissertation is submitted, concluding between May and August of the final year—which would be 2025 for a 2023 cohort.
While this suggests she did not complete a standard full-time, two-year route—given that she did not graduate in 2025. She is likely undertaking a part-time programme, experienced a formal interruption of studies, or has faced delays in accumulating her required clinical hours.
For a three-year part-time master's programme spanning from 2023 to September 2026—a situation in which she might have found herself—logic dictates a distinct chronology —a different timeline seems to be the norm for her.
Practicum Timeline Start Date: Her practical or clinical placement (practicum) status typically begins in her second or final year (around 2024- 2025)
Finish Date: Normally concludes right before or concurrently with her final taught coursework winding down in May or June 2026, prior to the final dissertation submission window.
Key Milestones Coursework Phase: September 2023 - June 2026 (Taught modules and practical hours completed).
Practicum Period: Active during the clinical placement modules, she should complete her supervision and logbooks by June 2026. Managing the dissertation alongside a practicum required strict time management.
Practicum status ends: When you finish your required placement hours and coursework and start writing your master's dissertation —separate research stage — you are no longer a practicum student during that time.
However, she stated in March—and reiterated in August—that she is a practicum student. In reality, that phase concluded in June 2026, giving way to the dissertation stage, which extends until August or September 2026.
To balance intense academic writing with your daily placement hours, it is essential to establish a clear schedule. You should communicate openly with your placement supervisor regarding your workload, and break your dissertation down into manageable daily tasks to ensure you meet your deadline. Consequently, from June to September 2026, you will be fully committed to your layout and unable to take any holidays.
Status change: The university changes your status once you pass your classes and finish your field hours. You become a thesis or dissertation writer.
Dissertation Period: June 2026 - August/ September 2026 (Writing and final hand-in, usually requiring active or writing-up student registration status).
The August Anomaly: That being said, it is a minor administrative miracle how she was masquerading as a placement student well into August. For how long does she plan to extend her practicum student status?
Priority Realignment: Holidays versus academia. Perhaps she miraculously managed to finish her dissertation early, in time to whisk a companion away for a holiday in Mallorca.
The Sporting Distraction: This junket was naturally followed by a fortnight in Scotland for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in July and the beginning of August.
The Normal Student Approach: If ordinary mortals had to submit a dissertation between June 2026 August/September 2026, they would typically immerse themselves in their studies to finish the bloody thing. They'll earn their status through hard work and study. Yet it seems this doesn't apply to her.
The Non-Ideal Reality: Her approach to master's - postgraduate study is, to put it mildly, highly unconventional, and she hardly projects an aura of academic trustworthiness.
March 2026: Claimed active practicum status (aligned with active placement period).
June 2026: Official end of the clinical placement and logbook category.
August 2026: Re-asserted practicum status, overlooking the current dissertation writing period (August–September 2026).
Perhaps, she’s at a 4-year, part-time master’s programme 2023-2027. Who knows? She might not even know herself, given her constant shifts in her specialisation. 🤷
People who inflate digital presence and constant bio changes often signal insecurity rather than genuine achievement because an incomplete education program offers no formal qualification. Ultimately, by acting the part of a professional without putting in the actual work, damages the reputation of the sector.
@ poughkeepsielass - Your observation is correct. Actions can be universally unethical, yet vary in their legality depending on the jurisdiction. In Ireland, the approach is very similar to that of the UK or the United States. In an academic context, "unethical but not unlawful" refers to behaviour that violates moral or professional codes but does not break the law, (immoral or unprofessional, but legal):
-Committing minor academic self-plagiarism does not breach copyright law if you retain the rights to your work.
-Cheating or lying about trivial matters that cause no actionable tort or contractual breach.
-Breaching a university honour code or academic integrity policy is generally an internal rule violation rather than a criminal offence.
A Master’s (MA) practicum student breaching codes is a severe ethical and contractual violation within the institution. It is typically handled through internal administrative and professional disciplinary processes.
However, if an investigation proves that someone's claims are untrue and they lied their way through their career, they could potentially face charges of fraud. Fraud is strictly unlawful.
@marinamarina2011 -Without doubt, the facade of a cultured, sophisticated, profound, and self-aware woman is far beyond SH; he wouldn't have the first clue how to handle a creature like that. Small wonder, then, that SH and his circle bought into the illusion hook, line, and sinker. She desperately tries to project this high-minded persona, but reality tells a rather different story. There is a vast gulf between the image and the truth—a nuance SH completely failed to perceive. Or perhaps he did catch a glimpse, but now simply has to accept, given that he was, after all, the willing victim who fell for her little game 🤦
