Real Licensed Counselors Must Get Parental Consent to Treat a Minor - Why Don't "School Counselors"?
State education departments are unqualified to certify and regulate "mental health workers" - and why would we want them to?
There’s a reason why “school” counselors have “school” in the title - they are, quite literally, confined to doing whatever they do to kids at school.
They aren’t allowed to practice independently - which requires a “license” from a state agency with statutory authority to regulate a profession. In Arizona, that agency is the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE). Other states have similar sounding licensing boards - each with the same duty: the regulation of mental health services to protect the public from unqualified practitioners and provide minimal standards of professional conduct that are codified into law - any violation of which will subject them to discipline such as fines, censure, suspension, or revocation of their license.
But for schools - where we send our children, with their developing brains, bodies, and bundles of maturating hormones - the most vulnerable population of humans - and certainly, most precious to us?
Nope. What “school” counselors do in schools would be illegal in any other context.
“School” counselors and social workers are certified by departments of education to provide mental health services to children, usually solely on the basis of their college degree. Study counseling at ASU? You can become a “school” counselor. You can’t practice independently and have real clients - that’s handled by another state agency.
But you can meet with kids and “counsel” them.
On things like gender identity. Pronouns. And having sex. Whatever.
And you don’t even need to create all that paperwork for parents to sign - or be supervised by more experienced counselors - like real licensed counselors do!
A few recent Twitter(X) posts if you haven’t followed along.
Here’s the Administrative Code referenced:
And about that “paperwork” - here’s a “Cheat Sheet” the BBHE created for licensed mental health workers reminding them of their documentation obligations. Doesn’t apply to “school” counselors, though. Because, again, they just work with kids in schools:
Parents are the legal representatives of a minor - absent a court order.
Failure to get the parents’ signature on the informed consent is a serious violation. The BBHE has statutory authority to conduct administrative hearings and issue binding, legally enforceable rulings. Lawyers are present. You can lose your livelihood.
Failing to follow the regulations on practice standards can lead to serious discipline.
I have lots of these cases in my files - because the BBHE does a very good job at regulating mental health workers and protecting the public.
The department of education?
They don’t actually regulate mental health providers at all. Not any differently than they regulate teachers “certified” to work with kids in school.
Nope, school counselors can literally approach your child at recess or lunch, and “have a chat” - and you’d never have to know.
If, after reading this and you still feel comfortable with your kids seeing a school counselor, please see my Twitter(X) series on teacher misconduct actions, like, immediately. Hurry.
End.
Excellent work on a critically important topic. Mental health, especially among the young, demands the highest standard of care. Bring ‘certified’ simply doesn’t ensure that the necessary standard will be applied.