This is a question of what kind of service you may want to receive from a practitioners with regard to a therapeutic dialog. Above is a link to the new Bill before WASHINGTON State Legislature ~ below are comments from others outside of this blog.
Dispatches ......
Subject: [waproca] Re: In these days of uncertainty ......
Sure the safety of the public is important. But to persecute innocent, dedicated (approximately 17 thousand of us) folks who have been evidently successful in their businesses (to stay in business), and have paid Washington state taxes and for business licenses for many years, as registered counselors and hypnotherapists is a travesty beyond my comprehension.
I have been in private practice for 27 years, first in another state, and now here in Washington state for almost 14 years. In those 27 years, I have had one formal complaint (not regarding sexual abuse) out of thousands of clients and students! It was never taken further than a complaint because there was no valid reason for the client to continue and thus the complaint was dropped.
I have had literally thousands of hours of formal training and certifications in the counseling genre's of expertise and of my choice. In fact, I recently completed a two year practicum in Integral Therapeutic Techniques and certification with a PhD in British Colombia, Canada. I will always continue to educate myself as my greatest effort to do the best work for my clients.
After fifty plus years of life I am unwilling to go back to school for a degree, let alone 3,000 additional hours of observation. Isn't it proof enough that I have been successful in my private practice for 27 years? A wonderful teacher of mine said, "That's why they call it a 'practice' because, not only extensive education but, practical application is where all levels of practitioners learn best." As a matter of fact, I also have over a hundred written, and documented, testimonials of my client's successes and accomplishments as a result of my work. I am sure that my story is not unique, that there are many other registered counselors who have similar experience.
I think Gov. Gregoir's concentration to "protect the public" is intentionally a campaign ploy to get re-elected. "Safe Healthcare" are buzzwords that are near and dear to many peoples hearts and pocketbooks. I'm guessing that the 17,000+ of us that are registered counselors, in this state hopefully will not be voting for her again. That amount of people, plus our clients. spouses and friends, could be the deciding factor in voting her out of office. Referring to the article in the Seattle Times, she is spending FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS (plus a portion of the allocated TWO MILLION) of our tax money to destroy the careers and lives of legitimate, caring, alternative therapists most of whom have the public's safety in their minds and hearts.
If the statistics be known, many psychologists, family therapists, social workers and others, that are supporting the elimination of registered counselors, have been actually prosecuted a myriad of times more than we have for unethical and immoral behavior. Along with The Governess, they are pointing the finger at us and not aware that there are three fingers pointing back at them. My guess is that they are living under an illusion that they might make more money if they eliminate us because insurance companies are not paying them as much as 10+ years ago. I will bet that they find that this is illusory thinking.
All of this is truly a sad state of affairs.
What shall we do so we can continue to assist so many people that continue to be grateful they chose us as alternative professionals to assist them in their lives?
Respectfully submitted,
Gregoire pitches $8 million plan for patient safety
DAVID AMMONS
AP Political Writer
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday proposed tougher policing of health care professionals and more transparency of hospitals' patient safety records.
The governor, who has made expanded health care a centerpiece of her term in office, said patient safety is "the next logical step on the road to reform."
Compared with the more than $1 billion appropriated this year for state health care coverage, including an expansion to cover another 30,000 more children, her ideas for the 2008 legislative session have a tiny pricetag: less than $8 million.
Indeed, Gregoire said she expects full public access to hospitals' track records to be done without extra cost to the state treasury. She said she will introduce legislation giving consumers information about "adverse events," such as infections or patient deaths, at each hospital.
"With full disclosure, the health care system can learn from its mistakes and prevent new ones," Gregoire said in a policy paper released by her office.
Gregoire outlined her proposals at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane after meeting with health care professionals from the area.
"All Washingtonians deserve safe, high-quality health care," she said. "We rightfully expect our health care providers to do their best and, above all, to do no harm."
Other proposals include:
-Strengthening standards for credentialing health care providers. This includes money for national criminal background checks for all out-of-state applicants seeking to get licensed in Washington. Gregoire said the $930,000 appropriation would pay for 13,500 background checks each year.
-Boosting standards for registered counselors. Cost: $560,000.
-"Rigorous" investigation of complaints against health care providers. Her budget will include $2 million for a 30 percent boost for investigations.
-A new state online database would provide a centralized look at all of the prescriptions an individual has from various providers, helping prevent adverse drug reactions or overmedication. Pricetag: $1.4 million.
-Helping hospitals train more nurses, to ease staff shortages. Pricetag: $3 million.
