Ethically, it is essential to allow Virginia Residents in Counseling to bill directly for services rendered as the exchange of money (and open dialogue about the same) between client and counselor is an integral aspect of healthy, effective psychotherapy. Residents should be given the opportunity to engage in all aspects of professional counseling practice while under supervision, working with their supervisor to resolve any problematic aspects of client care. Singling out the exchange of money as the only integral part of psychotherapy that Residents cannot take the lead on inhibits their professional growth as Residents and is at worst detrimental to clients (creating confusion regarding payment) and at best completely irrelevant to client welfare (having a supervisor accept a client’s money does not improve client wellbeing). This limit on Residents is arbitrary and does not enhance their professional development nor safeguard clients. As Virginia supervision and other Residency requirements (e.g. clearly indicating their status as Resident in Counseling to clients and on all written documentation) are still in place for Residents regardless of whether they accept direct payment, client wellbeing is still at the forefront of the spirit of Residency guidelines; this proposed update to Residency guidelines will afford Residents the right to practice as the ethical and competent masters level clinicians they are.