This profession pays pretty low here, particularly if you work for an agency, with a masters in counseling or sw, might start around 35K tops, if you have a few yrs experience. Private practice obviously much better. But even so, insurances may pay around 50-60 hr, but you have all the overhead and some qualified employee to do office/billing.
With that in mind, I understand why some were upset with a $50 increase. Yet it has not been increased in many years. Now this increase is to offset the cost of having a more professional and production board that oversee's. I never thought 40 ceu's were too much for bi-annual renewal. As a matter of fact, I am all for more training because most therapist do not focus on only one area, such as ptsd, and see a variety of clients with a variety of issues. So for example, if you work primarily with adults and lack knowledge about kids, but you have many adults that bring parenting problems, might want to expand and chose some training on kids, etc. The things that are our passion, we tend to seek out through books and learn really well on our own. So when the state lowered the number of ceu's to offset the cost, it kind of upset me. I interpreted it as "40 lowered to 35-no problem, long as we get to hire more staff".
That being said, I have a respect for the licensing boards, as they are there to protect the public, take complaints, and make sure that those providing services are competent. I respect laws, rules, etc. but also want to be up to date on what changes are being made. Im sure their job is not easy. However, because of the attitude, therapist's will not call them when they should. When therapist's have a ligitimate question-they get scolded for asking. They are told -didn't you read xyz. Well of course they did, but its not always clear. They have scheduled meetings where anyone can attend-thats what they say, however, it is discouraged. When therapists do attend, it is questioned why they are there.
I was at a weekend training with a friend that was put on by a state credentialing board(not licensing) . During a break where fruit was served, a board member made a racial slur to a collegue about watermelon that was served. This collegue is white and her son is bi-racial. She was so taken back that she left and drove 3 hours home. Apparantly this board is primarily old white men.
If you do something wrong, even very unknowingly, you are in deep trouble. Yet the state licensing board will not comment/advise on internet counseling. So the rules are very vague, they will not clarify, only ward. Basically, the wording is very discouraging in participating in such.
People go into the field for many personal reasons, never for the money. The salary is about the same as a high school drop out working in a warehouse, half of what a UPS driver makes, less than a teacher with a bachelor degree and summers off, less than the average used car salesman. It is designed to say that you must be a little co dependent to go into the field. Even so, it is one of the most worthwhile and needed services that need to be more available for anyone that needs it, not just those with insurance.
I met a therapist at a conference that speicializes in grief counseling. She is in private practice and refuses to jump through all the hoops of insurances, and deny service to those without insurance and cant pay. So while she does not take insurance, she leaves it up to the client to pay what they feel the service is worth, with a minimum pmt of $15 per hour. She provides them with a paper that shows what the average cost of service is, explains her philosophy, and leaves it up to them. Some chose $15, some $60. She said some can only pay the $15-25 but occasionally pay $100 when they have extra to offset it. I really like her idea, and most insurances require a $10 -20 co pay anyway. She has cheap office space and little overhead, no office staff. She said she makes a good living doing it this way.
