A few weeks ago, the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association posted a plea on its Facebook page indicating that the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) was proposing updates to the licensing rules governing licensed professional counselors. the rules would narrow licensed professional counselors’ scope of practice and would eliminate the ability of counselors to assess and diagnose mental health issues, as well as use psychotherapy techniques.

LPCs have been licensed to assess, diagnose, and provide treatment for mental health since 1989. LPCs are trained in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health when obtaining their graduate degrees. LARA requires LPCs to show documentation that they have completed graduate classes in assessment, diagnosis, and counseling techniques as a requirement for the LPC license. LPCs have to complete a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour clinical internship as part of their degree. After graduation, they have to obtain 3,000 hours of post-graduate counseling while under the supervision of a fully licensed professional counselor. Additionally, LPCs have to take an exam before they can obtain an unrestricted license as an LPC.

The consequences of the proposed rule changes by LARA would create a mental health crisis in northern Michigan, as well as around the state.

There is already a shortage of mental health providers in Northeast Michigan. The main organizations who provide outpatient mental health services in our area are constantly searching for mental health providers. The elimination of LPCs in the area could throw the region into a public mental health emergency.

In my practice alone, approximately 300 patients would be without mental health treatment.

I don’t have exact numbers for any place other than my practice in Northeast Michigan, but I would project a few thousand individuals would be without mental health treatment if the rule changes were made.

If LARA’s proposed rules go in to effect, the low estimate is that 150,000 patients would be without proper mental health treatment. It is estimated that 10,000 LPCs would lose their jobs and their ability to provide mental health treatment in Michigan — 10,000 professionals with overwhelming student loans would suddenly be without income.

The far-reaching consequences of LARA’s proposed changes would trickle into the areas of public health, employment, and Michigan’s economy.

There is a solution that would be mutually beneficial to both LARA and LPCs: A bill was introduced by state Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis in spring 2019 — HB4325. It clearly defines a licensed professional counselor’s scope of practice to include the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health issues so there is no room for misinterpretation of an LPC’s scope of practice.

On Tuesday, the bill was unanimously voted out of the House Ways and Means Committee and presented on the House of Representatives floor the same day! HB4325 passed with 108 representatives in favor, zero opposed, and two absent.

HB4325 is now in the Senate and scheduled to be heard by the Senate Health Committee on Thursday.

If HB 4325 passes the Senate and is signed by the governor before LARA’s proposed rule changes go into effect, it will prevent any interruption in the mental health treatment of at least 150,000 people. The state of Michigan already has a shortage of mental health providers. I hope our legislators do the right thing and pass this bill expeditiously.

Rachel Achatz is a licensed professional counselor with a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in 2011. She has worked in a variety of settings and is currently the practice director of Charis Counseling Services of Northeast Michigan, PLLC and employs four other LLPC/LLPCs, as well as two LLMSW/LMSWs.