Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 9. Source pages: 10, 13.
In an effort to help engage those in the north part of the state and connect to the activities in Baton, the Red River Institute (RRI) began its April 4–5 Spring Conference with a panel discussion featuring Mary Alice Olsan, Executive Director of the LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) Board of Examiners, Dr. Tom Caffery, member of the Legislative Committee for Louisiana Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and Mark Reynaud, Chair of the Marriage & Family Therapy Advisory Committee. This, RRI Director Tom Moore, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), explained to the Times.
“This was a rare opportunity for licensees to spend a full hour and half with three individuals who are the most knowledgeable in the state regarding current regulatory and legislative issues,” he said. “Many topics were covered including the implications of current scope of practice legislation for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and the ‘why’s and wherefore’s’ of the mandatory collaboration restrictions placed on LPCs and LMFTs by Act 320 that was passed three years ago,” he said.
He explained that LPCs in the northern part of the state sometimes feel distanced from the activities in Baton Rouge. “Licensees up here in ‘the other Louisiana’ always value the opportunity to dialogue directly with the people that are making decisions that affect their ability to practice,” he said.
The conference hosted a full house for the event. The clinical portion of the program Saturday afternoon featured Dr. Tom Caffery from Southeastern Louisiana University and Mark Reynaud, MA, from Baton Rouge who presented on attachment theory in marital therapy and the Gottman approach to working with couples struggling with infidelity.
“Many licensees are still confused by LCA’s (Louisiana Counseling Association) sponsorship and support of Act 320, a law that placed restrictions on the practices of LPCs and LMFTs by imposing mandatory collaboration with medical practitioners,” he noted. “Our panel would have been a great way for LCA to answer some lingering questions and clear the air. I really hope we can set something up in the future for a representative of LCA to be with us.”
The mission statement of the Institute is to foster a healthy professional culture for all mental health professionals, Moore said. “The Witchdoctor’s Ball on Friday evening was a celebration of the art and science of talk therapy and a call to action to prevent the further medicalization of the mental health profession.”
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