Greetings. I am writing to oppose the Board of Counseling’s continued efforts to restrict Virginia counselor licensure to graduates of programs accredited by CACREP, despite official withdrawal of the proposal last Fall. So why is this important to me as a graduate college professor in New York? I am a professor for a mental health master's program at the University at Buffalo so it is on behalf of my students that I am writing to you today. There are plenty who will write to you opposing these efforts who will speak to the importance of inclusive licensure process where the emphasis is on accrediation (as it should be) rather than one accrediting body. I agree with those points wholeheartedly. It is essential to my students, who are not from a CACREP accredited program to have the ablity to apply for licensure in all 50 states. And that is the point that I want to emphasize. 

There is much need in our various communities across this country, especially in states with large rural populations, to have enough licensed professionals to meet the needs. There are many mental health disparities that need to be addressed and many populations that are under-served. Between high rates of depression and suicidality and high levels of addiction with opioid and other drugs, there is so much work to do and we need all hands on deck. For that reason it is vital that we reduce the systems and structures that will slow down or limit the ability of individuals to get licensed. 

I urge you to support the withdrawl of the proposal and support inclusive licensure for Virginia. I am happy to speak with you further about this if you so wish.

Amy L. Reynolds