I strongly oppose the CACREP only regulation. I am an alumnus of the Clinical Psychology Masters program at Radford University and I graduated in 2009. The changes that occurred in 2009- when the Virginia Board of Counseling’s criteria for determining LPC-eligibility changed, was a significant factor that contributed to me leaving the state and seeking employment elsewhere. At the time it did not make sense for me to stay in a state where my employment prospects were so indefinite due to the increased restrictions regarding LPC licensure.

This regulatory change will NOT help protect the public in Virginia nor would it work to ensure client welfare. This change would effectively force clinical and counseling psychology programs, programs that rain qualified mental health professionals, to close down. There continues to be a major shortage of mental health professionals in Virgiana, particualrly many rural regions are especially underserved, Virginia cannot afford to adopt regulations that further limit the number of qualified mental health professionals in Virginia.

John McCullagh