Index to Supplementary information on this page:
Ethics Codes, Washington Law and “MA ABS” Websites:
1. Examples of "MFT" unethical,
unprofessional websites.
2. Examples of "MHC"
unethical, unprofessional websites.
3. Examples of "MA ABS" websites.
4.
Examples of counselors alleged to be
practicing
without a license
5.
RCW 18.130.180 Unprofessional conduct. (Extracted from the Washington State Law governing counselors.)
6.
Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Counseling Association.
7.
Code of Ethics of the American Mental Health Counselors Association
8.
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
9. Code of Ethics of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors
In the state of Washington, an LMFT
is a licensed category (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). However,
you will find many practitioners using MFT which is a "generic set of initials"
and the use of MFT generally indicates an unethical and unprofessional
counselor. All too often, when a counselor decides to open a private
practice and serve the public, he or she is bothered by the lack of professional
initials or credentials. The thought process is, "Well, I do marriage and
family therapy, so I will use the MFT initials."
The consumer should note that MFT
does not indicate any certification, licensure or degree level. MFT
is used frequently on the website of the American Association of Marriage and
Family Therapists. As regards misuse
of the MFT acronym, the
AAMFT web site asks the question: "Who are Marriage and Family
Therapists (MFT)?" and then answers it in detail. It begins by saying, "Marriage and Family
Therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and
family systems, and LICENSED
to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family
systems." (emphasis added). [So, if a counselor is NOT licensed as a LMFT,
then to use MFT or to claim,
"I am a Marriage and Family Therapist," would be fraudulent, misleading,
unprofessional and unethical,
while to say, "I do marriage and family therapy," would not.]
1. “MA, MFT” Websites
MFT category: (names
cleared)
DM webpage gone. Removed from list 12/20/09.
JB removed MFT from 3 websites and removed from this list
11/27/07
HS removed MFT from website and was removed from this
list on 9/20/07
LG removed MFT from website and was removed from this list on 1/2/08
HJ removed MFT from one website 10/28/08 but remains on the
list.
HJ removed MFT from second website and was removed from list
10/31/08.
PW, CPCN, removed MFT from one website
3/19/09.
PC, removed MFT from website and was removed from this list
on 4/2/10
JS, removed MFT from 2 websites and was removed from this
list on 8/17/10
2. Examples of "MA,
MHC" Websites
In the state of Washington, an LMHC
is a licensed category (Licensed Mental Health Counselor). However,
you will find a few practitioners using MHC which is a "generic set of initials"
and the use of MHC generally indicates an unethical and unprofessional
counselor. All too often, when a counselor decides to open a private
practice and serve the public, he or she is bothered by the lack of professional
initials or credentials. The thought process is, "Well, I do mental
health counseling, so I will use the MHC initials.
The consumer should note that MHC
does not indicate any certification, licensure or degree level.
(Or both MHC and MFT, in
some of these examples.)
Registered Counselor Category (names cleared)
No current examples identified
JO removed web
page and MFT-A. Remove from page 12/20/09
BW removed MFT & MHC and was removed from list 10/25/07
SAB removed MFT & MHC and was removed from this list 2/5/08 W
CS removed MHC from one website 5/29/08--1 to go.
CS removed MHC from remaining website 10/20/08.
MS
became an LMHC & removed MHC from website 12/29/08
CB, CPCN, became an LMHC & removed MHC from website 3/19/09
TJ, removed MHC and MFT and was removed from list 7/26/09
GM removed MHC Intern and CDP, removed from this list 7/26/09
AM removed MHC and removed from list 12/20/09
3. Examples of “MA,
ABS” Type Websites
Formerly,
Bastyr University’s Leadership
Institute of Seattle (LIOS) authorized and permitted their graduates in the Master
of Arts in
Applied Behavioral Science program to use every word
on the diploma as part of their professional credentials. As a result, many alumni advertised themselves as John Smith, MA, ABS – or John Smith, MA/ABS
and used these initials to market themselves on business cards, professional
stationery, resumes, telephone advertisements and websites.
On October 20th 2006, Bastyr
University announced that it had completed a review of the use of degree
acronyms and determined that "MA" would now be used for the Master of
Arts in Applied
Behavioral Science degree. Bastyr LIOS has issued alumni bulletins and
list-serve emails to their alumni to announce this decision and requesting that
they no longer use "ABS." However, some alumni
continue to use the misleading "ABS" acronym despite Bastyr LIOS'
repeated requests.
The following are links to websites
on which persons are listing their services using a form of "MA ABS"
credential.
[See: An Open Letter to Bastyr University
LIOS "MA, ABS" Alumni. ] A few similar "degree
acronyms" are included from time to time. As each of these persons remove the offending initials from their site and let us know,
we remove them from the list. [Telephone
numbers and email links listed below are not confidential information and are
published on the individual's websites.]
Licensed Counselor Examples
of misleading "ABS"
All know offenders complied.
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|
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Counselors who have been removed
from the "ABS" examples list.
Registered Counselor Category--ABS
(names cleared)
HB closed webpage, removed from list 12/20/09
LKT the "CFT" removed, removed from list 12/20/09
DA no longer is an example of misuse of MA, ABS.
(removed)
GB has removed the ABS and the site
no longer qualifies for this list 1/21/07.
TE removed. No longer a good example of MA ABS misuse.
JF no longer is an example of "ABS" use and has been removed.
KF has removed the "ABS" and his site no longer qualifies to be listed.
DH has discontinued "ABS" use and has been removed 12/7/06.
JH removed ABS and removed from this list 1/21/07.
JH removed ABS and was taken off the list 9/2/07.
DI removed from list. No longer displays the ABS. 11/13/06
KL removed from list. No longer displaying the ABS. 11/20/06.
TM has dropped use of the ABS acronym and has been removed 12/7/06.
DM no longer is a good example and has been removed.
MM no longer qualifies to be listed as an example 10/24/06
MP listing removed from web, removed from list 10/9/07.
MR removed ABS, no longer qualifies for list 4/4/07
OR removed ABS from sites and was deleted from this list on 12/24/06
GS has removed ABS + other misleading initials and has been removed 12/7/06
SW has removed the ABS from her
website and have been removed from this page.
SV no longer on the offending page, removed her 1/2/08.
FG has removed the ABS from all websites and has been removed 4/5/08.
MA has removed all the ABS references on several sites and is removed 5/12/08
JR removed ABS from one site but remains 8/11/10 because of a 2nd
website.
JRR announced on his website that he has retired. 3/11/11
Licensed Counselor Category--ABS
(names cleared)
DC webpage cleaned up 11/30/06
EC no longer serves as an example of "ABS." Removed.
MG removed 10/5/06. No longer an example of MA ABS misuse.
AG has revised website and deleted "ABS", off this list 12/7/06.
MH's page containing ABS has been removed from the web. 4/30/07
PH removed. No longer an example of MA ABS misuse.
BK--thanks for your cooperation. You are off the list 12/13/06.
SK no longer qualifies to be listed as an example 10/16/06.
MP no longer qualifies to be listed as an example 11/19/06
SP has removed ABS and is removed from this list.
JS removed the ABS and was deleted from this list 1/21/07.
JS has removed the "ABS" and I have removed her name 1/12/07.
LS has removed the "ABS" and has been removed from this list. 4/13/07.
LS website has removed "ABS" and has been removed from this list 4/4/07.
KZ -- the web page containing "ABS" can no longer be found
PM the web page contain "ABS" can no longer be found 10/27/08.
RMP removed 2011.
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3. Examples of
Websites for Counselors Who Appear to be Counseling Without a
License
A Brief History of
Counselor Licensing: In the early 1990's the Washington
State legislature began the process toward licensing counselors.
Their first step was to create several categories of high qualified
"certified counselors." But what could they do with all the
other counselors in the field who couldn't meet the requirement to
be certified? A "catch-all" category called
Registered Counselor was created. Registered counselors
would also be able to legally continue counseling in the State of
Washington.
A few years later, new
legislation changed the certified counselors to "licensed
counselors" and the current license categories were formed: Licensed
Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers
(LICSW), and Licensed Advanced Social Workers. At this time,
no action was taken about the Registered Counselor category.
But problems were becoming evident. This Registered Counselor
category could legally practice counseling, but there was only
minimal entrance requirements ($50 fee and take an HIV/AIDs class.
The category exploded with numbers of Registered Counselors with all
shades of qualifications (or none) finally reached over 17,000,
eclipsing the total number of licensed counselors in the state.
A Seattle Times investigative series "License to Harm" brought
negative publicity and public attention to Registered Counselors.
Failing in 2007 and
finally succeeding in 2008, the legislature passed a bill to create
eight (8)
new counseling credentials and to eliminate the Registered
Counselor category altogether. No new Registered Counselor
applications would be considered and the category would be
eliminated June 30th, 2010. [see:
How many counselors are there in Washington State.]
The Health Department
told Registered Counselors: "If you do not have one of
the new counselor credentials by July 1, 2010 you must cease
practice. We are abolishing the registered counselor profession on
June 30, 2010. If you practice after June 30 without a new
credential, we will consider that unlicensed practice." A
necessary measure perhaps, but a difficult pill to swallow for those
who had built a counseling practice over many years and were
dependent on the income to support themselves and their families.
Persons with good qualifications can still practice counseling, but
but only as Affiliated Counselors employed and supervised by
state-licensed counseling agencies. To continue a private
counseling practice without a counseling credential from the state is
illegal, unethical, and unprofessional.
Examples of Counselors Alleged
to be Practicing Counseling Without a License
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No current listings in this category.
|
Unlicensed Counselor Category--Alleged
(names cleared)
How: A. By obtaining a new credential or B. By removing the
offending website.
!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!
JRR deleted 3/11/11 after posting the
announcement on his site that he has retired from counseling.
Washington State Law--RCW 18.130.180
Unprofessional conduct
The following conduct, acts, or conditions constitute unprofessional conduct for
any license holder or applicant under the jurisdiction of this chapter:
(1) The commission of any act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or
corruption relating to the practice of the person's profession, whether the act
constitutes a crime or not.…
(3) All advertising which is false, fraudulent, or misleading;
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All members of the American
Counseling Association (ACA) are required to adhere to the Standards of Practice
and the Code of Ethics....Members should refer to the applicable section
of the Code of Ethics for further interpretation and amplification of the
applicable Standard of Practice.
Section C: Professional Responsibility
C.3. Advertising and Soliciting Clients
C.3.a. Accurate Advertising:
When advertising or otherwise representing their services to the public,
counselors identify their credentials in an accurate manner that is not false,
misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent.
C.4. Professional
Qualifications
C.4.a. Accurate
Representation: Counselors claim or imply only professional
qualifications actually completed and correct any known
misrepresentations of their qualifications by others.
C.4.b. Credentials:
Counselors claim only licenses or certifications that are current and in good standing.
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Principle 12: Private Practice.
B) "In advertising
services as a private practitioner, mental health counselors should
advertise the services in such a manner so as to accurately
inform the public as to services, expertise, profession, and
techniques of counseling in a professional manner.... Mental health
counselors advertise the following: highest relevant degree,
type and level of certification or license, and type and/or
description of services or other relevant information. Such
information should not contain false, inaccurate, misleading,
partial, out of context, descriptive material or statements."
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Principle VIII: Advertising
8.6 Marriage and family therapists correct, wherever possible, false,
misleading, or inaccurate information and representations made by others
concerning the therapist's qualifications, services, or products.
Note: as regards misuse
of the MFT acronym, the
AAMFT web site asks the question: "Who are Marriage and Family Therapists?"
and then answers it in detail. It begins by saying, "Marriage and Family
Therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and
family systems, and LICENSED
to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems."
(emphasis added). [So if a counselor is not licensed and eligible to use
the LMFT, then to use MFT or to say "I am a Marriage and Family Therapist," would be fraudulent and misleading.]
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PRINCIPLE VII - ADVERTISING
Any advertising by or for a member of AAPC, including announcements, public
statements and promotional activities, is undertaken with the purpose of helping
the public make informed judgements and choices.
We do not misrepresent our professional qualifications, affiliations and
functions, or falsely imply sponsorship or certification by any organization.
B. "....We may not use the initials "AAPC" after our names in the manner of an
academic degree."
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