I support Residents in Counseling having the ability to directly bill for counseling services. I recently moved from out of state, where Residents had this right. In VA, residents can currently bill indirectly under their supervisors. This results in drastic pay differences between provisionally licensed clinicians in VA vs other states, as companies take advantage of the fact that residents need them to bill. The only benefit offered is illusion of added client care. Residents will be consulting with supervisors about clients whether or not they can bill directly, and this supervision includes session documentation. With supervision of client care occurring in either scenario (and in greater amounts when compared to others states), limiting Residents ability to directly bill for client services serves only to gatekeep Residents and encourage licensure/business development in outside states. With the counseling compact nearing completion, it would be easy, and financially, it would make more sense to be licensed and running a business in an outside state where Residents can bill directly (I know people already doing this)! This only hurts the many clients needing services in VA. Help prospective clients in VA maintain access to skilled clinicians who want to receive deserved reimbursement and personal freedom in their practice.