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Whose conscience matters?
When can a therapist decide their own morals and values outweigh those of their clients? The AAMFT has kindly made my article on conscience clause laws in mental health the cover story for the...
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Wisconsin legislature supports mental health — just not therapy
One of the more disturbing trends I’ve seen in the mental health landscape lately is policymakers voicing support for mental health care, but not actually providing funding for anything but medication...
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Why therapists can’t prevent violence
Those most in need of inpatient mental health care often can’t get it. Last week in Isla Vista, California, Elliot Rodger killed six people before taking his own life. His family says he was seeing...
View ArticleHow to win an argument with a reparative therapy supporter
Their arguments can be quickly and summarily dismantled. Update: James Guay interviewed me on this piece, as part of his ongoing video series. Watch the video here, and see the original article below....
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Supreme Court refuses reparative therapy case, allowing California ban to...
Other states are now more likely to follow suit. The Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear arguments in the court cases challenging California’s ban on reparative therapy for minors. The decision...
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Blue Shield of California loses non-profit status
The LA Times is reporting that Blue Shield, the state’s third-largest health insurer, has been stripped of its state non-profit status. State officials have not commented on the reasons for the...
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The first interstate compact for counselor license reciprocity
I’ve talked a fair amount in this blog about the need for better license portability across states. True license reciprocity, where one state automatically recognizes another state’s licensure, is...
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What Indiana’s religious freedom law means for therapists
Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed into law by Governor Mike Pence last week, has raised a great deal of controversy. In the psychotherapy community, the law could have an immediate...
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Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act would ban conversion therapy nationally
Following successful bans of conversion therapy for minors in California, Oregon, Illinois, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, US Representative Ted Lieu — who authored California’s ban when he...
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Why you should read Saving Psychotherapy, in two charts
My new book, Saving Psychotherapy, will be officially released September 22 [Update: Here it is!]. An edited excerpt about licensing exams is available here. Another excerpt focused on student debt...
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How this year’s religious freedom bills would impact therapists
Several states are considering religious freedom bills that would directly impact therapist training and licensure, and clients’ ability to access appropriate mental health care. As has been the trend...
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Proposed Massachusetts law would give therapists collective bargaining
The so-called “gig economy” — best exemplified by ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft — has brought political attention to the plight of workers who are hired as independent contractors rather...
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Updated: The ACA should move its 2017 conference out of Tennessee
Updated May 10, 2016: They’re moving the conference. A written statement from President Thelma Duffey is here, and a video from CEO Richard Yep further explaining the decision is here. Updated April...
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ACA moves its 2017 conference out of Tennessee
Following its unsuccessful opposition to Tennessee’s HB1840, which allows counselors to discriminate against clients based on personal belief, the American Counseling Association announced today it is...
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MFTs lose diagnosis fight at Texas Supreme Court
Ten days ago, the Texas Supreme Court refused a petition for rehearing from marriage and family therapists (MFTs) seeking to preserve their ability to independently diagnose mental illness. The refusal...
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License portability: Where the professions stand
Since the qualifications for each of the psychotherapy professions is largely consistent across state lines, it makes sense for the professions to do what they can to make it easier to take your...
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NLRB: Private university teaching and research assistants can unionize
The National Labor Relations Board declared this week that student assistants at private universities are employees and have the right to unionize. The decision overturned a 2004 precedent. It will...
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California to change Counselor and MFT intern title to “associate”
Under a bill signed into law last week by Governor Jerry Brown, counselors (PCCs) and marriage and family therapists (MFTs) in California who have completed their graduate degrees but are not yet...
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Texas Supreme Court to hear appeal on MFT diagnosis
Earlier this year, the Texas Supreme Court refused to hear a case about marriage and family therapists’ (MFTs’) ability to independently diagnose mental illness. While MFTs are trained in diagnosis, a...
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How President Trump will impact US mental health care
Donald Trump was elected President of the United States yesterday in what has been labeled a stunning upset. While much of the broader social discussion today will focus on how Trump’s victory...
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