September 4, 2018
Elaine J. Yeatts
Senior Policy Analyst
Department of Health Professions
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23233
Dear Ms. Yeatts,
We are writing to you from the Department of Clinical Psychology on behalf of Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California.
This letter is to express our strong opposition to the current regulations in Virginia that restrict counseling residents’ supervisors to people who hold an active Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) license and to urge a return to more inclusive supervision requirements that include licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. This is an issue that affects not only your state but also other states where such legislation may be introduced to the profound detriment of counselor education. In addition, it significantly limits graduate students’ access to high quality Master’s programs, and prohibits some of the most underserved from receiving much needed mental health services through graduate programs.
We also strongly 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. This issue, too, has national implications, limiting graduate students from receiving diverse training from well qualified faculty while, also, significantly burdening select academic institutions.
The proposed Virginia restriction that would limit licensure to graduates of programs accredited by CACREP and restrictions of graduates’ supervisors to LPCs and LMFTs are not by any means “necessary for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare or for the economical performance of important governmental functions.” Opposition to these restrictions is vital to maintain a path for licensure and service in Virginia for the national (and international) majority of students, alumni, and faculty in counseling programs that are not affiliated with CACREP.
Please contact us if we can be of further support in opposing this regulation, given the detrimental impact on counselor education not only in Virginia but also in the nation.
Sincerely,
Willow Pearson
Willow Pearson, PsyD, LMFT, MT-BC
Director of Clinical Training & Assistant Professor
Department of Clinical Psychology
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY29436)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT50993)
Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC 05773)
650 264 9975
Helen Marlo
Helen Marlo, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Clinical Psychology
Professor
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY15318)
650 579 4499
Notre Dame de Namur University
Department of Clinical Psychology
1500 Ralston Ave. Belmont, CA 94002