I am adamantly opposed to this petition.   Although I am not adding anything new to what has already been said, I want to reiterate that this proposal is unnecessary and an undue burden.  It is solely a marketing and competition issue and I believe the petitioner is simply trying to reduce competition for himself.  Residents in counseling have been well trained and are supervised by Board approved clinicians who have had been trained to supervise.  In addition, residents are required by Virginia law/statute, the regulations, and professional ethics to state their un-licensed status, explain what resident in counseling means, and give their supervisor’s information to the client.  I personally have had potential clients who have contacted me and expressed frustration because they were unable to find a clinician who was taking new clients or finding that the clinicians they had contacted never returned their calls or emails.  I also have had potential clients not chose me as their counselor because I am still working toward my LPC.  Lastly, advertising by a resident does not harm clients.  Clients will decide who is right for them, irrespective of advertisement.  In my view, prohibiting residents in counseling from “promoting or advertising their services independently to solicit business from the public” is unnecessary because residents actually provide a needed option to the public.