I agree with everything you wrote here, EP, except that writing certifications are useless. I’m a medical textbook editor by trade, and hiring medical writers who will produce good work is hard. The availability of certifications at least let’s me know the person cares enough to pursue recognition for their contributions to their field. I have a couple writing certifications myself. (But, alas, maybe those certifications just help me scrawl my dogmatic bullshit more eloquently.)

Coincidentally, I’ve read the books you mentioned and many others like them in the course of my work, and you make an excellent point that simply reading about and understanding health issues (mental and physical) can help patients deal with them effectively.