Mr. Chase's petition to be licensed as a professional counselor in Virginia is an attempt to undermine the profession of counseling.  Simply put, he entered and completed a training program in psychology.  Psychology is a distinct profession separate and apart from counseling.  The psychology profession recognizes this, as they do not allow people with doctoral degrees in counseling or social work to receive licenses as psychologists.  Similarly, the social work profession does not allow those with degree in counseling or psychology to receive licensure as social workers.  I see no reason why the counseling profession should allow those with a degree in psychology or social work to receive a license as a counselor.

This is not an issue of CACREP vs. non-CACREP programs. It is an issue of Counseling as a distinct profession, and Psychology as a distinct profession.  Psychology and Counseling have distinct philosophical and practical differences, which are reflected in the curricular experiences each requires.

As for the argument that there are not enough training programs in Virginia preparing counselors, there are 12 CACREP accredited Counseling master’s programs in Virginia, and another six Counseling Masters programs that are not CACREP accredited across the Commonwealth, so there is no lack of opportunity to address the needs of students or of the public.  If Mr. Chase wanted to be licensed as a professional counselor, he should have enrolled in a program with a clear commitment to training counselors, not psychologists. 

It is unfortunate that psychologists do not license their graduates at the master's level.  I have empathy for the situation Mr. Chase finds himself in, but to rule in his favor would be to undermine all of the work the counseling field has been doing to unify the profession and establish a clear professional identity separate and apart from psychology.