Counselors cheer passage of bill protecting their work

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's 10,000 counselors could continue to diagnose mental disorders and practice psychotherapy under a bill they say is needed to stop regulators from destroying their profession.

The measure won unanimous House approval on Tuesday and will be considered by a Senate committee as soon as next week. The vote came amid concerns over a state agency's proposed revision of rules governing licensed professional counselors.

"Probably a third of the mental health system would be shut down through this action," James Blundo, executive director of the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association and a supporter of the legislation, said Wednesday.

He said if the new regulations are adopted, "we wouldn't have much scope of practice left." The bill would essentially block regulators by codifying counselors' current practices into law.

The state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has been working to update what a spokesman called "very outdated" rules, primarily by moving provisions out of a section that defines what counselors do to the training and education portion of the regulations.

"Counselors will still be able to practice their profession under the new rules," said spokesman Jason Moon. "The current and new rules do not allow licensees to diagnose and use psychotherapy techniques because the statute does not allow this practice under the profession's scope."

Counselors, however, said they have been using counseling techniques and diagnosing problems for 31 years.

The new regulations, if adopted, would severely hurt their ability to practice because insurers need a diagnosis to reimburse claims, Blundo said. He said at least 150,000 Michigan residents are being served by counselors at a time when there already is a shortage of mental...