Article archive / October 1, 2010
Originally published: . Volume 2, No. 2. Source pages: 1, 4.
The “Behavioral Health Professional Working Group,” met on September 16th, 2010 at the Bienville Building (Department of Health and Hospitals). Members continued a discussion of the similarities and differences in aspects of the participants’ professions.
The group was created by a Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 100) and includes psychologists and counselors. The resolution, passed in June this year, requested members to work together in a collaborative way to “Develop language for legislation to clarify the licensed professional counselor scope of practice …” along with other objectives.
Co-chair Mike Gootee, Governmental Relations Chair from the Louisiana Counseling Association, presided over the agenda.
Drs. Joe Comaty and Tony Young, chair and vice chair of the Psychology Board, and Drs. Jessica Brown and Darla Burnett, representing the Louisiana Psychological Association, attended the meeting.
Representing the Louisiana Professional Counselors Board of Examiners were Drs. Gloria Bockrath and June Williams. Cindy Nardini attended, representing the Louisiana Counselors Association. Jacqueline Shellington from the state board for social work and Dr. Robert Marier from the medical board also were in attendance.
The agenda included a review of social work practice regulations by Jacqueline Shellington. She explained “multi- level licensure is generally standard across most states.” She reviewed the core competencies for those in social work and answered a number of questions from participants.
Dr. Robert Marier explained the requirements for physicians to practice, certification and training, and the movement toward a “maintenance competency model.” He discussed board certification in psychiatry and noted that physicians can treat mental illness. However he said, “We take a dim view of people who practice outside of their competency.”
The meeting continued with a “scope of practice comparison.” Participants provided handouts to help compare and contrast the different disciplines and regulations.
Dr. Comaty gave a history of the psychology licensing law first passed in 1964. He explained that at that time psychologists could not diagnose without consultation with a physician. He noted that it wasn’t until 1976 that this requirement was removed.
Mike Gootee said, “That seems to explain why psychology sees it the way they do.” And, “This is what your profession of psychology has established, and we have two professions here that view it differently.” Dr. Marier stated that it was how the legislature views the matter that would be the deciding factor.
Cindy Nardini commented toward the end of the meeting, “We were very close to the meat of the matter a while ago.” She suggested that the group may have avoided the main issue and said, “I hope we can take that up next time.”
In addition to developing certain language, the Senate asked the group to “Identify the common and distinct practice activities of the two professions and develop new collaborative practice methods … ” And also to make recommendations to expand public access to behavioral health services in the state.
Behavioral Health Working Group at their 9/16 meeting.
Top: Michael Gootee (L) co-chair of the Working Group, and Dr. Robert Marier, Executive Director of medical board discuss regulations. Bottom: Dr. Jessica Brown (L) and Dr. Joe Comaty listen to Jacqueline Shellington from the social work board describe regulations and standards for her professional group.
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