In a time, where mental health is critical and many lives are being lost civilian and military due to lacking mental health care, my concern to get myself and other LPCs recognized and acknowledged as Licensed Independent Practitioners who should be equally considered for positions as Social Workers and Psychologists for the betterment of America's Mental Health. However, we are not given this same recognition by OPM, who do not have a specific classification for LPCs, DoD, who restrict us to Substance Abuse despite our extensive training in empirically based psychological/counseling theory and practice, and other federal agencies due to outdated CFR (Code of Federal Regulations).
Why is this important?
I am concerned with the lack of recognition of Licensed Professional Counselor as Licensed Independent Practitioner. The Federal government only acknowledges Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Psychologist as being able to provide mental health services, especially to military.
