Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Psychology
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Psychology [18 VAC 125 ‑ 20]
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4/30/16  4:07 pm
Commenter: John A. Mason, Psy.D.

Opposition to proposed regulatory change
 

As a clinical psychologist with a strong commitment to serving the public and protection of public interest, I appreciate the opportunity to comment on this proposed change in the regulations for psychologists. There is no standard of practice for subjecting patients to pre- and post-treatment assessment, nor is one needed. The current practice of diagnostic interviewing is a well established, empirically supported, and validated means of assessing for the need of treatment and the presenting problems of patients entering care. Formal assessment is usually reserved for more complex and complicated cases where the additional cost is warranted by the additional information obtained. Subjecting patients to needless and costly assessment is an undue burden, a barrier to care, and would do nothing to improve the quality of care already available from duly licensed clinical psychologists.

 

CommentID: 49744