The result of psychotherapists' rhetoric speaks for itself. Generally speaking, they do not appear to be. Fictions are invented. They're personal and social constructions. Facts are discovered.
Psychotherapists claim that licensure ensures quality control of psychotherapeutic service.
Psychotherapists claim that licensure protects clients from bad therapists. The fact is that psychotherapists not their clients, are protected by licensure. Psychotherapists claim that licensure protects the confidentiality of the psychotherapeutic relationship. Psychotherapists claim that licensure ensures accurate diagnosis and treatment of disease conditions with medicines. The fact is that psychotherapists are not medical doctors.