I am writing to express my support for this petition. I graduated from an accredited MFT program here in Virginia in the spring of 2010 and have been shocked to hear the stories of my cohort’s experiences with obtaining residency during the past two years. We took the same classes, had similar internships, worked hard, and spent a lot of money and time earning a quality degree. We’ve pursued appropriate and meaningful jobs, lined up Board-approved supervisors to complete our residency, and yet we’ve each had drastically different response from the Board. Some have been positive, some have been confusing, and many have been discouraging.

 

I can say that everyone I’ve spoken or emailed with at the Board during this process has been very kind and respectful, which I greatly appreciate. But the overall lack of clarity in what to expect from the Board and the months-long waiting periods that exist between Board feedback has been confusing and frustrating. I graduated from my program in 2010 in love with this field and confident about my professional future. Today, my interactions with the Board during the past two years have significantly reduced the confidence that I personally have in the MFT license in the state of Virginia and the Board as a whole. I love this state, I love the work that I do with families in this state, and I respect the fact that the qualifications for licensure in Virginia require substantially more effort and experience compared with most other states. I trust that the Board is working hard to help licensed MFTs and MFT residents, and I don’t know where the breakdown is in the Board’s processes. I hope that the Board will consider this petition and support the future of the MFT field in the state of Virginia.