As a professor and trainer of mental health providers for over twenty years, I am writing in response to a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action in Virginia.  I oppose the Action due in part to how it will negatively impact the citizens of Virginia and stand as a negative example for other states in regard to licensing mental health providers.  Setting the requirement that students must graduate from a CACREP approved program will unnecessarily eliminate many outstanding mental health providers who graduate from reputable graduate programs in counseling.  The practice of approving only one accreditation body, CACREP, is equivalent to supporting a MONOPOLY.   

I strongly urge you to oppose any regulatory change in Virginia that would limit LPC licensure to graduates of master’s programs accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). There are other options related to accrediting counseling programs including the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) accrediting body. MPCAC not only meets but exceeds the CACREP standards.

The Commonwealth of Virginia needs more well trained mental health service providers, not less.  For the sake of the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia, please do not approve this change in regulation.  

Thank you for your consideration,

Jeanne Stanley, Ph.D.