Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Counseling
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling [18 VAC 115 ‑ 20]
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3/22/24  12:45 pm
Commenter: Paul, LPC

In opposition toward this amendment
 

It is not apparent how this amendment is to the benefit of the counseling profession. This change would allow individuals who have not had the same educational preparation (such as those outlined by CACREP standards), who do not adhere to the same Code of Ethics, who share a different professional identity, and are governed by a different board to supervise emerging counselors during a period where they receive some of their earliest and most practical experiences. Their supervision should be done by experienced counselors as that is what residents-in-counseling are preparing to be.

If the concern is a lack of LPC supervisors for residents-in-counseling, this amendment only seems to further desensitize individuals from pursuing a career in supervision through counseling as they could now do that as an LCSW.

The observable fact that comments on the parallel petition regarding LPCs to be allowed to supervise social workers (linked below) express near universal opposition should provide further evidence that LCSWs see themselves as distinct from LPCs, and that this change serves to benefit LCSW supervisors at the expense of the counseling profession.
https://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/Comments.cfm?petitionid=402

CommentID: 222337