The Problem
Much of Terry Ganaway’s advertising has marketed his private practice, counseling, and license status. However, it is illegal for him to be in private practice without supervision as a Social Worker Intern. His wife, Lyn, isn’t licensed at all.
Additionally, the law requires that his advertising clearly state that he is an “intern”. Not one single Internet listing or print advertisement that I found includes the words “Social Worker Intern”. His own website doesn’t even state that.
I believe the public needs to be protected from people like this, especially in mental health.
The Ganawaycounseling.com Website
Since deciding he wanted a licensing board trial, Terry Ganaway has changed his website significantly.
You can see the current website at GanawayCounseling.com. Now it says “Individual and Relationship Coaching”, even though their domain name is obviously still “counseling”.
It was very different just a short time ago.
(All images on this page were taken in September 2013.)
On April 8, 2013, the Home page of their website said this:
And on April 11th, 2013, their About page said this:
“Lyn and Terry are Board Certified in clinical counseling.”
On June 12, 2012, their About page also specified “psychotherapy”.
And lastly, their old website stated they “accept most insurance plans”. I’m not sure how that’s possible when they aren’t even legally able to be in private practice.
Here’s the old ganawaycounseling.com website. Images were no longer available, just the Home page text. This image shows their website as it was on October 11, 2011.
Terry Ganaway’s Book Cover
This image is from his book cover. He wrote this book for his long-distance program doctorate from Westbrook University. He states he is in private practice with his wife, who is unlicensed. It is illegal for him to be in private practice as an intern.
Terry Ganaway’s Online Advertising
Here is where his advertising begins to get even more interesting. He has marketed pretty heavily for addiction counseling. It’s fairly easy to change your own website. It’s a little harder to change other people’s.
From Superpages:
In case the text is hard to see, it says, “Lyn & Terry Are Board Certified and Licensed in Clinical Counseling and Psychotherapy.”
Here, he is actually claiming to be a Drug Treatment and Alcohol Rehabilitation Program! From Drug-Abuse.org:
And again, he claims to be a Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center. From InterventionSpecialists.com:
From RehabCenter.net:
From Dual-Diagnosis-Drug-Rehab.com:
Images of Former Yellow Pages Ads Are Coming
He has been listed in the Yellow Pages under “Counselors-Licensed”, as well as “Marriage and Family Counselors” for years. The last line of his display ad in one of his former Yellow Pages ads read, “Lyn and Terry are Board Certified and licensed in clinical counseling and psychotherapy.” No. They aren’t. As of September 2013, Lyn wasn’t licensed at all and, to my knowledge, only has a bachelor’s degree. Another former Yellow Pages display ad stated, “fully licensed psychotherapist”.
Here is an article where he presented at a gambling conference. The main sentence of interest in the second-to-last paragraph is, “…Dr. Terry Ganaway, a therapist who specializes in gambling addiction in his private practice in North Palm Beach, Florida.” Once again, mention is made of his being in private practice, which is illegal as an intern.
This man has to take CEUs in ethics as part of his ongoing education to keep his intern license current. In my opinion, it is a flagrant disregard for the law.