I am in strong support of Jacqueline Biggs request to include Art Therapists as qualified supervisors for the first 100 hours of supervision for LPC residents in Virginia. As stated in many other comments, Art Therapy training and education are commensurate with that of the American Counseling Association standards.

Since graduating in 2010, I completed the hours necessary for achieving registration and board certification as an art therapist. I found it extremely valuable that those 100 hours of supervision were from multiple disciplines. I am currently a counseling resident with less than 100 hours supervised by one person with both credentials. This was the best decision for me, as I wanted to have a strong clinician able to guide me through talk therapy and art therapy challenges, despite already having art therapy credentialing. I am struggling to complete my necessary hours, as I have been employed part-time, non-permanent in a qualifying clinical position for the last eight months. I have essentially already completed the required hours for LPC licensure, but was unable to receive supervision from an LPC, or other qualifying professional for the first year after graduate school. If this amendment were in place when I graduated, I would be only months from completing my hours for licensure. I truly believe that if this were the case, I would be able to find and maintain consistent, permanent employment status. Please consider the amendment to Regulation C.3 18VAC-115-20-10, allowing the inclusion of Registered Art Therapists to the list of licensed supervisors for art therapists.