What Happened at the LPC Board Meeting?
So, what happened at the LPC board meeting? In reference to the "fireworks" at the LPC board meeting on Friday Jan 30th 2025, here are my thoughts.
Misunderstanding or Unacceptable Objective?
What happened in all four licensing Boards this month, here in the state of Texas was profound. The Psychology Board, LMFT Board, SW Board and LPC Board fully supported the new language as it pertains to the "Cultural Diversity" CE rule regarding "competency".
This is the reworded rule passed by all 4 boards:
“...3 hours to ensure competency when providing services to a distinct population, defined as group of people who share a common attribute, trait, or defining characteristic of the licensee's choice.”
That leaves it up to you, the counselor, to determine which populations you wish to focus on in your practice, and the groups in which you choose to develop your competency.
Original Intent vs Practical Outworking
What happened was a result of an SHCC Committee report blaming the "workforce shortage" on counselors. Their solution was to recommend a rule to all TX Agencies which would ostensibly increase a counselor's overall cultural competency. This would somehow address the TX workforce shortage. That's not my interpretation of their recommendation, that is directly from their report.
The language in both the SHCC Report and the resulting BHEC rulebooks was very clear about what they were attempting to achieve. However, the uproar that ensued from the BHEC licensing base caused much division and forced a re-wording. BHEC saw it, and the boards and their members recognized it, as evidenced by the unanimous or near unanimous votes across all 4 boards. They voted for clarity.
What Happened at the LPC Board Meeting?
All four boards revised the original language this month into something that any rational mind should find satisfactory. The 3 hr requirement for competency within the primary populations you serve is still there, and no one is required to take ce courses about populations they will never serve. I don't particularly care that it's a requirement because I was going to take those courses that pertain to my specific target markets anyway.
Had the overwhelming votes in all four Boards not occurred, Abbott's EO of last Friday requiring the removal of DEI initiatives from ALL TEXAS AGENCIES, including BHEC, would most likely have addressed this anyway.
Remember BHEC has to abide by all state statutes. Not a non-jurisdictional entity such as ACA, TCA, CCTX or even our group, AMHP, for that matter.
The Path Forward
That this had to occur at all is very disappointing to me on so many levels, not the least of which is how our counseling community has become so divided in the past 10 years.
We've lost our critical thinking abilities. We've abandoned our science-based, peer-reviewed systems; they're badly compromised. It has become impossible to professionally discuss the merits of anything without resorting to "proof" based on social constructs, not science, where dialogue quickly devolves to pejoratives and unprofessional behavior.
I think things are moving in the right direction but we have a lot of work to do before the schism is healed. One step at a time.
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About the Author
Kathleen Mills is a fire-breathing, 33+ year veteran of the counseling world. People react in one of two ways when evil touches their lives: some retreat in fear, and some advance without pause to engage it. Kathleen falls firmly in the latter group. She owns and operates Life Tree Counseling in Frisco, TX, possesses a tireless work-ethic, and eagerly awaits your arrival into her growing army of warriors.
