Hello Gene:
I am Paula Haynes. I recently stumbled across your website which refers to advocating for LPC's and LMFT's to have medicaid reimbursement for their services. Yes! I would like to support this effort. I am not licensed yet. But I hope to be. I would be a LMHC in the state of Florida. Social workers have it.. they lobbied for it. NOW we need to stand together to get what we deserve!
I support your efforts.
Paula Haynes, MA.
pch98@yahoo.com
Gene,
Feel free to post the letter on your website. I am an MFT trainee who will graduate in May so the issue does concern me. I heard about the website either from the COUNSGRADS listserv or the MH newsletter.
I definitely plan on contacting my local congressman as well.
Kim Rusher
MFT Trainee at San Francisco State University
I am interested in engaging this struggle. I work in Tennessee. Organizing and getting political is the ONLY way the counseling professions can establish credibility, power, and PLACE in the therapeutic continuum. Let me hear from you.
Thanks,
Bill Fargo, LPC/MHSP
william.fargo@gte.net
WHAT A PAGE!! Thanks for a very enjoyable evening. I took one of the IQ tests, paid for the results, and read many of the other links. The background is maroon satin pillows on my screen. I found this site from Mental Health Resources site. I am an LPC, LMFT in Texas for the past 19 years. I experienced the difficulties with 3rd party payment that others are be having now, but I do not run into this now, except with BC/BS. I did have the same frustrations a few years ago, but was not aware, until I read this, that the political movement in my state had been so effective. I will fight with BC/BS some more now that I know I have some muscle behind me. Thanks for educating me. The congressional addresses are particularly helpful to have in such a convenient form.
(Name withheld by request)
>From: kim rusher
>
>>I am writing in regard to the existing legislation that promotes discrimination against LPC's and LMFT's in favor of MSW's.
Currently Medicare only provides reimbursement for psychological services rendered by MSW's. This does not make logical sense as LPC's and LMFT's almost always have more clinical training than MSW's- their graduate programs
require more coursework, and often more hands-on experience in counseling and individual psychology. The laws need to change so that individuals have freedom of choice and can select the mental health provider they really want to see, not merely the one who has been suppported by their insurance company.
Hi.
The LCSW lobby is powerful. We only have ourselves to blame for not matching their efforts. By the way, I have not yet found a sci. or alt. newsgroup for LPC's or LMFT's. Further evidence of our professions not being taken seriously? I'll do what I can to correct this. Any ideas?
Take good care,
Don Carson, M.Ed., LPC
Hi--
I recently received my license as a mental health counselor in Florida,LMHC, which would translate as a LPC elsewhere. Here in Florida it appears that LCSW (social workers) have the edge also. Recently I got a call from someone who was looking fro a LCSW and could not consider a LMHC because of the way his grant was written.
What is needed is a class action suit agains providers and agencies that descriminate against us.
This would require a huge effort and organization.
Don Vozzola
I just accessed your website on TFT after reading your post about it on the EMDR listeserve. After reading your helpful explanation of TFT, I happened to click on the "End Discrimination" page. I am an LPC (we just recently got licensure for LPC's in Kansas after years of battle) and I was very happy to find that there are others who want to end the Social Worker monopoly with insurance companies.
In any case, thanks for your website!
Jaque Schmidt, M.S., L.P.C.
Hi Gene--
I am a counselor working on my NCC who has very luckily tripped into a federal job as a domestic violence counselor (Family Advocacy Program Clinical Case Manager) - only because I happen to be at a location where no one was available but me, and I happen to have quite a bit of experience working with families, due primarily to volunteer work that I have done.
I just attended the Army's FAST course, and was appalled to find that many of the recently hired MSWs doing the same job as me, were less qualified that me in many ways; did not know how to use the DSM IV, had no experience whatsoever with the military (I am previous military), had not had much, if any real training, in mental health. Worst of all, I will always have to
have my supervisor sign off on my work, because I can NEVER become a level II provider without an MSW or PhD.
I think it is criminal and also foolish,
to turn away people who are better suited and have better training in mental health issues than social workers. Counselors deserve much better
recognition!!!
From: qa (zephat@swbell.net)
To: lmft@geocities.com
Your analysis of the situation is quite correct. The lobby for MSW's is extensive and well-equipped. My sixteen year career as an LPC has been marked by several incidents in which my competence has been demonstrated repeatedly to my employer, yet my job was curtailed or terminated by rules that came from places like JCHOA or Medicare.
I am very frustrated by my profession's lack of response or ability to take action. Please let me know what efforts are already under way to help change this situation, and what I can do to help.
Thanks,
Dear Gene-
I am a mental health worker for a home health agency and I have worked for an MSW in FLA (he supervises me) for about 5 years now. I visited your website and I have to tell you that I can't agree with you more about the problems associated with LPC vs. MSW. It is sad that we would have to pit ourselves against one another.
I mean there are just too many choices for agencies that make it
ridiculously inconsistent:
1) if they have a medical or hospital backing, they will often hire Psych nurses. This to me is outrageous! Psych RN's have more jobs than psychiatrists now! And they have more professional regard in the medical field definitely than LPC/LMFT's.
I can't even tell you how much I think labeling a PsychRN a psychotherapist is a joke. (I have worked with so many Psych nurses, and some of them have the diplomacy and tactfulness of Sadaam Houssein). I recently read an evaluation by a PsychRN which stated that the female patient had inappropriate grieving. This patient's husband of 40+ years had just died the month before. I, knowing this patient, couldn't believe she was writing that!
2) People are getting CAP's and no master degrees and easily becoming practicioners, though that has changed in FLA recently.
3) MSW's are hired, and no LCSW is required in FLA for most mental health agencies. I know cases of people who have been working for 20 + years with no licensing at all.
4) LCSW's are often LMFT's so really they are not going to do any lobbying for LPC's.
Having worked with many MSW's and LPC's, I know there are not too many LPC's who are interested in rocking the boat. They can often find work in mental health agencies without having to worry about it. For a couple of years I have been on the brink of attending grad school, and I will finally start this fall in a MS program (Human Services) that leads to LMHC license. It was a hard decision, given that I know the frustrations shared by LPC's. I have often thought that an MSW is the improper training for counseling, but the people who license on the
state level are often don't know a lot about the schooling involved.
And the public doesn't know the difference between somone who calls himself a therapist with an MSW or LPC/LMFT. So MSW's win again in the public eye. A big problem is that new grads aren't encouraged to go to a program that they know won't be recognized by an insurance company. I mean, an MSW really looks like the way to go, folks! Think about it, you even get more experience as an MSW because you can get work easier!
My eventual goal is and always has been a PhD or PsyD, so MSW, practical as it may seem, does not appeal me because it is a dead end schooling wise (what does a DSW do besides teach?)
Also I have been trying to get information about the PhD in organizational psychology and if you know anything about that, what can you tell me? I have been searching for ways to pay for a PhD.
Sincerely,
Name withheld by request
I totally agree with you on this matter. However, in MO, ACA (MO) IS working on this matter, and ACA has been too, to the best of my knowledge. But we haven't gotten very far to this point. In MO, LPC's are supposed to be insurance reim-
bursible, but it's a hassle to get the reimbursement. I currently have a bill in process. It will be interesting
to see if I get paid this time!
Hi Gene,
Marilyn Schrimmel
I wholeheartedly support your mission to stop the discriminatory practices of insurance companies and governmental agencies against Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists. This is a manifest result of powerful lobbying produced by the organized efforts of those who stand to gain.
Social workers are not specifically educated and trained in psychology, counseling and therapy programs. The focus of their training is on management of social issues. Conversely, LPC's and LMFT's come from psychology and sociology backgrounds and are subsequently educated and intensely trained in mental health counseling.
I have written to my congressmen and local governmental agencies and I encourage everyone who reads this message to do likewise. I further submit that you take additional measures to spread information about this problem and its resolution, and to encourage the participation of colleagues and friends to join the campaign to stop this unfair discrimination.
It is in this momentum that I am proud to report the addition of a link to this site on my own COUNSELING GRADS CENTER site. Together we stand....! You know how it ends. Do your part.
Marilyn S.
Hi! I just stumbled on to your website. What a super job you've done with such passion!
My name is Kimberly Hatley LPC LMFT. I am the current president of Texas Mental Health Counselors Association, which is a Division of Texas Counseling Association. Are you in Texas somewhere? Or Oklahoma?
The urgency of your legislative concerns for TX. counselors is JUST what we're dealing with in TMHCA this year, with our Legislative Awareness Committee. Check out our website at www.tmhca.org and give me some feedback, too!
We have a Lobby Day planned in Austin for Feb. 9th with TCA. I'm happy to share some info on our activities, if you're interested. I'm near Dallas in private practice. Hope to hear from you! Kim
Hi, Gene--
Please visit my website at www.susquehanna-institute.com and let me know how we can link and help one another...We are still fighting the licensure wars in PA.
Ed Beck
Dr. Edward S. Beck 717-545-5500
Subject: LMFT & LPC Discrimination
Thank you for giving voice to this subject. As an LPC and a counselor educator I believe it is time counseling professionals began to unite focus some time, attention, and money to this issue.
Robert Mapes
I just wanted to say I believe that you have developed a site that is very relevant to those of us attempting to gain licensure in California. The list of requirements for an MFCC license are more demanding than those of a licensed psychologist or a social worker.
I am in graduate school half way through my Master of Science in Human Services degree program and when I am finished next June I would be better off continuing on for my Ph.D. in Human Services or Psychology rather than do the hours for MFCC licensure.
I am a Substance Abuse Treatment Professional and have twenty years experience in this field, however, the way things are now that experience is worthless as far as licensure is concerned.
You may check out my web site at:
http://geocities.datacellar.net/CollegePark/Classroom/1429/
or e-mail me at the address on this message or at:
marita_lawler@hotmail.com
Keep up your fight and if I may be of some help please send me a message.
Marita A. Lawler
Sir,
I am astonished and disheartened to note Substance Abuse Counselors are not included in the discrimination of we "lower eschelon" counselors.....do you realize to be certified in the State of California, we must complete 4,000 hours internship!? To be certified as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, internship hours are 6,000! Tell ME about discrimination!
Elizabeth Ryan
Return to the home page by clicking on the End Discrimination
link, or by using your Back button.
To reach the American Counseling Associationhome page, from its
government affairs page, trim the gr/govaff.htm from the
end of its address, and then click on what's left (which is
counseling.org).
© 1997 genedoug @ prodigy.net
>To: lmft@geocities.com
>Date: Thursday, January 14, 1999 3:19 PM
>Subject: discrimination against LPC's and LMFT's>br>
>
I am an LPC in Georgia, (lic. # 2782). I found your petition for fair treatment of mental health professionals in the sci.psychology.psychotherapy newsgroup. Perhaps I can assist the petition with fellow members of The Licensed Professional Counselor's Assoc. of Georgia.
Student Life & Counseling Center
Emporia State University
Graham A. Maxey, M.Div., M.A., L.P.C.
(Texas)
Thanks. Let's stick together!
caroljgmcc@janics.com
I visited your site and I would like to join in the fight. I have a website (at the address below) called the COUNSELING GRADS CENTER. It has message boards and relevant links. I would be happy to post a message or even cross-link with your page.
COUNSELING GRADS CENTER
marilyns@adelphia.net
Couseling Grads
COUNSELING GRADS CENTER
COUNSELING GRADS
BeckAssociates@Susquehanna-Institute.com
Susquehanna Institute 717-545-5858fax
East Shore Medical Center
2405 Linglestown Road
www.susquehannainstitute.com
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9429
" Sometimes you're the windshield....sometimes you're the bug...."
Mike Langley
Gene--
BScHS, ICADC, NCCDC, NCCJS, CCADC, CRPS
Substance Abuse counselor
Links to other sites on the Web
End Discrimination (Home Page)
ACA: Champus reimbursement
ACA: Medicare reimbursement
Get your own Free Home Page