Our Position on the Workforce Shortage
A common-sense analysis of available numbers leads us to conclude that there is no mental healthcare workforce shortage in TX (LPC and LMFT's). The "workforce shortage" is not about the number of clinicians or their geographic placement, but is almost entirely about access to current providers. It's largely about a client's ability to self-pay, and access providers through corporate chokepoints which are the primary determinant for access and counselor pay structure.
- A thriving economy should increase discretionary income and improve the self-pay climate.
- The removal of blocking issues in the academic portion of the New Counselor Supply Chain will result in a natural ebb and flow in the annual supply of new counselors, based on free market conditions.
- The removal of corporate access restrictions (chokepoints) through the advent of a Free Medical Market will increase the pool of available therapists and reduce or eliminate current access issues.
These are the issues we should be addressing to alleviate the "workforce shortage" access issues.
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.
