I oppose this new legislation.

I have already been impacted in my career due to the CACREP policy changes that are already in effect with the Board of Counseling.  My application to initiate supervision was denied based on this and I have dealt with fears of increasing marginalization in my field of choice ever since.  I work alongside of licensed individuals and do precisely the same work but I cannot advocate for better pay based on my situation.  If I were to consider leaving my current employment situation, I would have difficulty finding a new position because Medicaid only reimburses for licensed or licensure-eligible individuals.

I have given brief consideration to taking a new degree but that would require an investment (and debt) of thousands of dollars for what amounts to exactly the same degree.  In my clinical program at Radford, I took many of the same classes with the counseling program students-who are allowed to apply for licensure!  We have exactly the same training when it comes to core curriculum.

I am a qualified professional in my field.  I have more than 15 years of experience working in a variety of different settings-most of which in non-profit or public service sectors.  Likely, others in my position have done the same.  The state is undermining it’s own agenda by pursuing this policy in light of the vital importance of the use of Medicaid funding.  We have been dealing with an openly acknowledge mental health crisis in this country where an alarming number of our mentally ill end up being treated in the criminal justice system as opposed to other, more appropriate,  environments.  We also have a serious shortage of mental health beds available for use in mental health crisis situations.  Do we want to add to this crisis by bottle-necking the amount of mental health service providers as well?

This seems like a short sighted notion in light of all of the veterans returning from deployment-to this state-who need mental services because they are coping with the aftereffects of what they have been through to serve this country.   I urge all who are considering this legislation to weigh all of these matters before taking a position.