The AMHP Blog Post Archive

  A common-sense analysis of available population and licensee numbers leads us to conclude that there is no mental healthcare workforce shortage in TX (LPC and LMFT’s). The current perceived “shortage” stems from two major thought platforms. First, the odd manner in which the citizen:counselor ratios are calculated by the state guarantees a weak platform of logic from which to proceed. This system needs a close examination and possible overhaul. Second, the real “shortage” is not about the overall number of practicing clinicians, but appears to be almost entirely about access to current, and development of future providers in a number of different micro-economic applications. These scenarios include but are not limited to: An uninsured client’s ability to self-pay. A thriving…

Free speech, including “religious freedom”, is guaranteed protection from Federal government interference by the first amendment. Religious Freedom includes religious beliefs and associated speech in the practice of one’s religion and spiritual beliefs. Our individual beliefs are protected from harm by other citizens through a concept called, “Conscience Protections”. The Founding Fathers believed that ones’ beliefs have property rights and are subject to the same protections as tangible property. An assault resulting in provable damages by one citizen against another’s religious beliefs is called a “moral injury” and may be pursued through our court system under protections provided by the RFRA laws at both the Federal and some State levels. We believe that each individual has the right to self-determination…

At AMHP we totally support the traditional professional approach to understanding and taking into account a client’s specific racial and cultural considerations. We need to be sensitive to the specific issues of the individual on all points. This does not mean, however, that we should be required to affirm a mental illness as normal nor do we consider delusional conditions or sexual preferences to be legitimate cultural categories. At AMHP we are firmly in support of a properly trained counselor’s grasp on cultural understanding through professional discussion techniques (academia, are you listening?). We are NOT in favor of forcing 100% of licensed professionals who have already been trained in this area to take 3 hrs (12.5% of their required hours)…