Transcript Whatever happened to “protect the public?”: licensure for

Protecting the Public:
Licensure for Competency, not
Professional Identity
Dr. Charné Furcron, LPC, NCC, BC-DMT, BCC, ACS
Dr. Charné Furcron is Teaching Artist Trainer, Dance Therapist, and Director of
Outreach at Moving in the Spirit (MITS), a nonprofit, inner city dance program located in
Atlanta, Georgia. She has been actively involved with MITS for over twenty years and
currently manages program evaluation and participant outcome data collection and
analysis.
Additionally, Dr. Furcron is a registered and board certified dance movement
therapist, licensed professional counselor, board certified life coach, approved clinical
supervisor, and online adjunct professor at Liberty University, where she teaches graduate
courses in counseling and family studies. She maintains a private practice in expressive
arts therapy and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, working with children, adolescents,
adults, couples, small groups, and families. She has extensive experience in mental health
assessment, treating DSM-5 disorders, addiction treatment, youth development, program
development and evaluation, and conducting workshops on topics related to parenting,
conflict resolution, interpersonal dynamics, cultural tolerance, creative dance movement,
and counseling methodology.
Dr. Furcron holds a BFA in modern dance from Texas Christian University, MA in dance
therapy from Goucher College, MA in counseling from the Georgia School of Professional
Psychology, and EdD in counseling psychology from Argosy University, Sarasota.
For over thirty years, Dr. Furcron has been an integral member of the Metro Atlanta
arts and humanities community, engaging ethnically diverse populations as educator,
choreographer, therapist, clinical consultant, and mentor.
http://www.movinginthespirit.org
National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations (NCCATA)
The Coalition includes art therapy, dance/movement therapy,
drama therapy, music therapy, poetry therapy, and psychodrama
As trained professionals, creative arts therapists integrate human development,
visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, drama, music, and graphic arts with
models of counseling and psychotherapy. As an established mental health
modality, creative arts therapy is used with children, adolescents, adults, older
adults, groups, and families to improve and enhance physical, mental, and
emotional well-being. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved
in artistic self-expression can help people resolve conflicts and problems, improve
cognitive and/or social functioning, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior,
reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, enrich communication,
and muster the requisite insight necessary to achieve self-actualization.
Organizations devoted to creative arts therapy have been active in America for
over 50 years. At present, more than 15,000 creative arts therapist practice in the
U.S. and around the world.
So let’s start with the
idea of public
protection
David Kaplan (January 2015). Licensure reciprocity: A
critical public protection issue that needs action
(American Counseling Association)

Kaplan makes the case that portability of license is a public protection issue
because society increasingly needs more licensed counselors to serve: (1)
growing rural communities, (2) traditionally underserved clients, and (3)
transient clients that relocate frequently from state to state. Kaplan draws a
line from this directly to the solution of uniformity among states in all aspects
of counselor licensure, i.e., scope of practice, education, training, etc.

When it comes to rural and underserved clients, Kaplan does not address the
fact that applying uniform standards of education or training will negatively
impact non-CACREP programs that serve such clients.

The one common denominator states do seem to agree on is the NCE exam,
which could be a keystone of reciprocity since it is uniform and based on solid
statistical validation and test development.
http://ct.counseling.org/2012/01/licensure-reciprocity-a-critical-publicprotection-issue-that-needs-action/
Umbrella - licensure that examines education,
training, internships, references, and more—all with
an eye toward areas agreed upon as necessary for
the competent and ethical practice of counseling.
When licensure is based upon title of degree, accreditation by only
one governing body (e.g., CACREP), or any other exclusive or singular
standard, public protection via access to a competent counselor will
unquestionably suffer.
Which will we develop and support?
Umbrella - Licensure
Yellow - Profession
White – Licensing Board
Umbrella - Licensure
Yellow - Client/Public
White - Licensing Board
Lumadue, C.A., Munk, M., & Wooten, H.R. (2005). Inclusion of Alternative and
Complementary Therapies in CACREP Training Programs: A Survey. Journal of
Creativity in Mental Health, 1, 7-19.
Given a heightened focus within the mental health profession on creative,
complementary, and alternative practices, the authors surveyed CACREP programs
with respect to their inclusion of such approaches in counselor training. For the
purpose of this study, these approaches were designated as complementary and
alternative methods (CAM) and defined as those therapeutic practices that fall
outside of the established traditional realm of medical, psychiatric, and psychological
practice (e.g., hypnotherapy, breath work, meditation, Qigong, Reiki, thought field
therapy, etc.). Of sixty-two responding programs, 54% stated that they currently
include these approaches in course offerings. This article includes a discussion of
creativity, expressive arts, and energy psychology as they relate to complementary
and alternative therapies in mental health and medicine.
Many counseling clients benefit from
expressive therapies

Non-verbal and inhibited expression

Different learning and expression styles acknowledged and appropriate
referrals made to counselors who hold expressive therapy credentials

Diversity of training provides more choice and greater accessibility for the
broadest range of clients
Let’s try something…..
Credentials and Licensure Versus Public
Protection
Creative arts therapists only seek access when their
training and experience meet existing state
licensing standards, and they should not be denied
based solely upon the name of their degree or other
factors not relevant to public protection.
Creative arts therapist accept that scrutiny
of (1) academic coursework, (2) practicum
and internship assignments, (3) supervision,
and (4) credentials are essential components
of the licensure process
Multiple Degrees, Unique Training, and
Varying Credentials: A Common Occurrence
What about counselors that hold multiple
credentials or possess extensive post graduate
training? Does everyone have to pledge
allegiance to or embrace only one professional
identify? If so, why? Does it help our profession
or our clients for us to do this?
Creative Arts Therapist / Licensed Mental Health
Professional

A recent membership survey conducted by the American Art Therapy Association
found that roughly 30% of responding art therapists hold LPC (licensed
professional counselor), LMHC (licensed mental health counselor), or some other
state license in conjunction with ATR-BC (board certified art therapist).

Furthermore, a 2013 survey of American Dance Therapy Association members
found that of 814 respondents, 205 reported holding a state granted counseling
license earned using only their master’s level dance movement therapy (DMT)
degree (in some states, DMTs had to complete additional coursework). Also,
some survey respondents were approved for state licensure as an addendum to
holding some other graduate degree (e.g., master’s or doctorate in counseling)
beyond a master’s in DMT.

Because designation as creative arts therapist requires a master’s degree, a
growing number of art therapy programs have aligned with counselor education
programs, integrating counselor education coursework to assist students in
acquiring the skills and credentials necessary to better serve clients.
Creative Therapy Practitioners Hold Counselor
Credential

Difficult to count LPCs, as many hold multiple academic credentials, at varying levels
of educational preparation; however, the majority hold LPC, LMHC, or LCSW (licensed
clinical social worker).

“We have about 20 LPCs in NADTA (North American Drama Therapy Association). It’s
information that people voluntarily add to their profile, so it’s somewhat difficult to
be sure about the exact number.” Nadya Trytan, President NADTA

“…perhaps 80% of our members have some type of state granted license to go along
with their psychodrama credential. Since at present there are no graduate degree
programs in psychodrama, most of our members do it as post graduate work. There are
many LCSWs, LMHCs, LMFTs, LPCs, and psychologists that hold the psychodrama
credential.” Heidi Landis, American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama
Competing Agendas
AASCB
NBCC
CACREP
State
Licensing Board
Final paragraph of AASCB mission:
“Accepting competent counselors in the arena of
professional practice rather than excluding individuals
based on arbitrary or unreasonable criteria is a goal of the
Association. While acknowledging that an appropriate
educational and experiential foundation is necessary for
professional counselors, diversity of training, focus of
practice, and theoretical orientation is recognized as a
major strength of the profession.”
American Association of State Counseling Boards
Source: http://www.aascb.org/aws/AASCB/pt/sp/about
Recent email from NBCC announcing their
endorsement of CACREP starting in 2022
“NBCC was established to specifically help the counseling profession. Again we
see organizations advocating for limitations and exclusivity — not taking into
account the needs of consumers or addressing the fact that nationwide only about
half of all counselor education programs are CACREP approved. States need to look
more broadly and understand that NBCC and CACREP are all about their members
and the counseling profession...at NCCATA we realize licensure is to protect the
public and only seek recognition of acceptable education as defined by state
boards, hopefully not set by the very professions they seek to regulate…”
“…This policy change applies to certification applications received by NBCC
after January 1, 2022. After this date, applicants must document completion of a
master’s or doctoral degree from a program accredited by CACREP — the Council for
Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs.”
CACREP Mission / Core Values
Mission

The mission of CACREP is to promote the professional competence of counselor
practitioners through the development of preparation standards, the
encouragement of excellence in program development, and the accreditation of
professional preparation programs.
Core Values
In 2002, CACREP unveiled its Statement of Core Values:
 advance the counseling profession through quality and excellence in counselor
education;

ensure a fair, consistent, and ethical decision-making process;

serve as a responsible leader in protecting the public;

promote practices that reflect openness to growth, change, and collaboration;
and,

create and strengthen standards that reflect the needs of society, respect the
diversity of instructional approaches and strategies, and encourage program
improvement and best practices.
Recent Trends
“As practicing mental health counselors and board members
of the Maryland and Massachusetts chapters of the American
Mental Health Counselors Association, we have watched
recent developments with increasing alarm. Our practices
and livelihoods are under serious threat, and the public
faces greatly reduced access to care, by growing efforts to
restrict the practice of mental health counseling to those
who attended only CACREP approved graduate programs.”
Source: http://ct.counseling.org/2013/07/what-you-dontknow-could-hurt-your-practice-and-your-clients
More Disturbing Trends…
Once the grace period expires, counselors and practitioners from programs not
approved by CACREP will be removed from the TRICARE provider network, even if
duly licensed. Also, after December 2014, counselors and practitioners from programs
not approved by CACREP will be prohibited from join the TRICARE network.
The CACREP only rule will disqualify several thousand currently licensed
practitioners. For example, a 2011 American Counseling Association study found that
only 13 percent of licensed mental health counselors in New York State graduated
from a program approved by CACREP. Also, because only 32 percent of graduate
counseling programs and 11 percent of mental health counselor programs in the U.S.
are CACREP accredited, tens-of-thousands of current enrolled students will be
excluded. Of 32 graduate programs that train mental health counselors in
Massachusetts and Maryland, only one in each state is CACREP accredited.
Sources: (1) http://ct.counseling.org/2013/07/what-you-dont-know-could-hurt-your-practiceand-your-clients/ (2) Remley, T.P., & Herlihy, B.P. (2010). Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues
in Counseling (4th ed.) Pearson.
From 2014 Jill Ritchie AASCB Presentation…

…CACREP does not represent the full range of programs that are training
competent and license eligible counselors; therefore, CACREP should not be the
sole pathway to counselor legitimacy...

Of 19 programs in Massachusetts that train students to become licensed mental
health counselors, only one is CACREP accredited (one additional school is in the
process of pursing CACREP accreditation). Increasingly, master’s level programs
are exploring alternative paths to accreditation, i.e., Masters in Psychology and
Counseling Accreditation Council.

…while a worthy champion of counseling standards, CACREP is largely a regional
phenomenon that does not represent the majority of counseling programs across
the country.
As Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji noted, we must view our
profession from an ecological construct; that is, as full
partners and stakeholders with all mental health
providers, working together in concert to create
collaborative alliances with all disciplines and
practitioners. We must unite in our commitment to
promote the well-being of our clients, and not seek to
further divide and splinter our profession.
American Association of State Counseling Boards
27th Annual Conference – San Diego, CA
January 8-10, 2014
Counselor Identity and Accreditation: Inclusion and Right to Work
Richard Hann, LCPC
Jill Ritchie, LMHC
“AASCB remains dedicated to a continuing and open relationship with
organizations and entities representing counselors regulated by its
member boards, as well as associations representing the counseling
profession.”
As a licensed counselor and creative arts therapist, I readily acknowledge
the benefit of possessing expertise in multiple therapeutic modalities.
Therefore, since the biopsychosocial assessment principally dictates the
type on intervention or treatment to be employed, having at my disposal
an assortment of tools and techniques is certainly a plus for my clients.
In conclusion, licensed professional counselors and creative arts
therapists are in the beginning stages of initiating a much needed
dialogue regarding how different disciplines can effectively work
together so as to provide the public with greater access to
psychotherapists who are appropriately prepared academically, properly
trained and supervised, competent, and systematically governed by state
and national regulatory bodies.
For Post Presentation information:
National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies
Associations — http://www.nccata.org
American Association of State Counseling Boards —
http://www.aascb.org