This bill amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to set specific qualifications for marriage and family therapists who provide clinical supervision within the Veterans Health Administration, requiring them to be authorized in their state or designated by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Julia Brownley
Representative
CA-26
This bill amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to establish specific qualifications for marriage and family therapists who provide clinical supervision within the Veterans Health Administration. It requires that these therapists meet existing standards and either be authorized to provide clinical supervision in their state or be designated as an approved supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
VA Sets New Standards for Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisors: State or National Credentials Now Required
The VA is tightening up who can supervise its marriage and family therapists. This bill amends Section 7402(b)(10) of Title 38, United States Code, essentially setting clear standards for therapists who oversee other therapists providing mental health care to veterans.
Supervisor Specs
This bill lays out exactly what it takes to be a clinical supervisor in the VA's marriage and family therapy program. Basically, you need to be a fully qualified therapist and have the credentials to supervise others. This means either being authorized by the state where you practice to provide clinical supervision, or holding a specific "approved supervisor" designation from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Real-World Rollout
For veterans, this should mean a higher, more consistent quality of care. Think of it like this: if you're a mechanic, you want the person training new mechanics to be a master mechanic themselves. This bill aims to ensure that the therapists guiding other therapists have proven expertise in supervision, not just in therapy itself. For therapists within the VA, it sets a clear career path – if you want to move into a supervisory role, you know exactly what boxes you need to check.
For a therapist, this is like needing a specific license to not only fix cars, but also to teach others how to fix cars. It adds a layer of professional development and ensures that supervisors aren't just experienced therapists, but also trained in how to guide and mentor others effectively.
The Fine Print
While the bill aims for higher standards, there are a couple of things to watch. The AAMFT designation could become a bottleneck. If getting that "approved supervisor" status is tough, it might limit the pool of qualified supervisors, even if someone is perfectly capable according to state rules. Also, the bill doesn't spell out exactly how the VA will check if someone's state authorization is legit. It's like saying you need a driver's license but not specifying how to verify it's real and current.