Curt and Katie interview Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, about licensing board inefficiencies leading to incredible delays in folks getting licensed. We talk about the impacts of paperwork processing delays as well the inadequate infrastructure of most licensing boards. We also explore policy and individual options to mitigate or address these problems.
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Show notes: therapyreimagined.com/modern-...
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An Interview with Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD
Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge, and the President of High Pass Education. His research and trainings focus on ethics, technology, supervision, and therapist development. He is the author of Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs, and served as Editor for the User's Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics. He lives near Los Angeles. His books, courses, and exam prep programs can be found at highpass.com.
In this podcast episode, we talk about how the mental health workforce shortages are exacerbated by licensing boards
Curt and Katie decided to invite Dr. Ben Caldwell back onto the podcast to talk about how licensing board inefficiencies are exacerbating mental health workforce shortages.
Impacts of delays of paperwork processing on clients and clinicians
Delays of folks increasing income as a licensed clinician
Lack of mental health clinicians in the work force
Prospective clinicians dropping out of the process to become licensed due to the time and financial burden
Licensing board infrastructure is often inadequate to get individuals licensed timely
Computer systems that licensing boards use are not typically modern
The contracts for streamlining processes are often restrictive to specific systems or to how quickly these improvements can move
There is little that is automated, but rather includes manual entry which is inefficient and introduces opportunities for error
What are potential solutions for the pervasive inefficiency found in licensing boards?
Scanning and using optical recognition software for applications and counting hours
Contracting with private technology companies that are already gathering this data
Finding automated systems that are set up properly from the beginning to minimize training needs
Legislation to put pressure on state licensing boards to update computer systems
Hiring more people to take on these tasks
Using financial reserves to improve systems
Mitigating the effects of the delays on the workers (i.e., being able to take required exams for licensure while accruing your hours)
Simplifying processes wherever possible (i.e., less buckets of hours with minimum and maximum hours that need to be met)
Simplifying applications to make them more understandable for both applicants and reviewers
Policy analysis related to the rules - boards make the inaccurate assumption that if a rule exists it must be good
Using the legislative process to hold licensing boards accountable for not getting through applications timely and potentially even giving folks provisional licenses while waiting for the application to be reviewed
What can individual therapists do to address the delays in processing licensing paperwork?
Be as clear as possible in applications and communication to the board to decrease confusion
Don’t apply for licensure early (i.e., before requirements are completed)
Show up to board meetings and let the licensing board know that delays are a huge problem
Advocate with your professional org and/or to your legislators
Who we are:
Curt Widhalm, LMFT
www.curtwidhalm.com
Katie Vernoy, LMFT
www.katievernoy.com
A Quick Note:
Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves - except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.
Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.