My goodness, I didn't even know this was a thing! I think your suggestions for public and counselor advocacy are really productive. Did any of your sources indicate which states are regions had the greatest shortages? ---Cara Bowen
Hi Cara, that's a great question! While our research did not specify which states or regions have the greatest shortages or impending risk of mental health professional shortages, this source may be interesting/helpful - https://www.psychotherapynotes.com/therapist-shortage-or-saturation-depends-who-and-how-you-ask/ According to this article, California has a significant shortage of mental health professionals, with the highest demands residing in rural areas across the country. It would definitely be interesting to learn more about highly impacted areas and how the proposed loan repayment act will hopefully lead to an increase of accessible counselors/mental health professionals to the public. -Anna Ruddat
Hello, I hope this answers your question! If this bill gets passed, a counselor who works in a workforce shortage area will have subsidized student loan and interest taken from a graduate program. 1/6 of the loans and interests will be taken away if a counselor provides a service in a workforce shortage area for a year. This means that the entirety of loans and interests will be gone after working in those area for 6 years. I believe many counselors working at an area with many other counselors would be motivated to move to a workforce shortage area in order to get the benefits.
I really like these policies and appreciate the encouragement for counselors to advocate for themselves. Counselors spend a lot of time advocating for their clients but we also need to advocate for our own best interests. ---Maggie Smith
This is so essential and I am so grateful for you all shedding light on this issue. I am particularly struck by how accessibility into mental health fields also limits representation of marginalized identities in those professions. This is particularly disturbing to me given the fact that marginalized populations are the populations who are most vulnerable and could use extra support the most. The idea of mental health professionals coming predominantly from privilege, making it harder for them to empathize and understand the systemic barriers their clients experience puts marginalized clients in danger of being victim-blamed or further stigmatized by their counselors.
I really hope we are able to address this disparity. Making education accessible for potential counselors would be an amazing start! Thank you!
Hello, thank you for your response! I definitely agree that educating potential counselors is important. Although counselors work to advocate for clients, we are often motivated to choose our workplace by income. Due to this reason, I understand how many counselors would prefer other areas than the areas with marginalized population. However, it could also be true that counselors do not prefer to work with them from not being able to empathize with them well. It would be crucial to educate future counselors about this issue and prevent them from stigmatizing the marginalized population. Also, I believe this bill, which encourages counselors to work in those areas, will be helpful in avoiding that type of situation from happening.
It's easy to forget to advocate for our own profession sometimes, so thanks for bring this up! I found it interesting that there is a lack of an estimated 250,000 counselors for the year 2025. I knew coming into this program that I would be taking on the debt that I am, so I'm just shocked that the debt amount difference in the next 5 years would deter 250,000 counselors from the profession. I'd be curious to know which states or schools are planning on changing those tuition rates over the coming years, that way advocacy could be heavily encouraged for those particular areas.
Hi Katie! Tackling the financial strain pursuing a degree puts on counselors would definitely be an interesting way to address the deficit in counselors we are facing in upcoming years. Counseling Is a career that often has a high estimate of projected need. With a high need For counselors but a decrease in counselors available, I am also curious about what school can/ will do to solve this issue. Something like the loan repayment act would be helpful in encouraging future counselors to pursue their goals And not be discouraged.
Wow! As someone who is definitely in a lot of debt to the university, this issue really caught my eye. I never thought about how if we had less of a financial strain that we, as counselors, would be encouraged to work more with underserved communities. We definitely forget to advocate for ourselves sometimes and having our finances taken care of can 100% help us focus more on helping others. --Theresa Tran
I truly believe that easing the financial burden on counselors would be incredibly beneficial for counselors as well as clients. If counselors are drowning in debt, it may be hard for them to put all of their energy into their work and truly focus on their clients when they are in financial turmoil. Counselors are often underestimated in my opinion, and we absolutely deserve the same rights as other medical professionals.
Such enlightening information! Like others, I was unaware of this topic. I appreciate your note that improving the financial status of our professionals would increase our ability to help serve rural and under-served areas. As a profession, we need to expand to increase mental health access for low income and rural populations. Easier said than done, but this bill would help alleviate some financial burden of counselors, removing one barrier from increasing the accessibility of services. Thank you all for bringing my attention to this potential, future resource for our profession!
I am so glad that your group covered these policies by introducing this bill. As a person who wants to work in underserved communities, but also worries about loan repayment, this public policy issue would be beneficial for counselors who want to do the same. This poster is informative and easy to read. I think this issue is important and by advocating for counselors we can be able to serve more people. Thank you for bringing attention to this matter.--Kimberly Frye
Hi Kimberly! That's amazing that you want to work in underserved communities, they are definitely in dire need of access to mental health professionals across the country. I agree with you, loan repayment is an increasingly significant concern among counseling students and practicing professionals, and has definitely limited and deferred people from entering the profession. I hope that through advocating for the mental health profession, more people will have access to these services as you said! This is definitely a pressing concern that will impact the future of mental health professionals. -Anna Ruddat
I think that we as counselors are encouraged to work in underserved communities that we best feel will help those populations, but we at times are motivated by income also because not only do we have to pay for supervision in some cases (along with affording a living lifestyle), have to factor in how to pay off loans for our profession. I like that this bill brings up the idea of repaying years of service will help relieve a portion of the outstanding debt for starting counselors. I would hope that this bill gets proper coverage and advocation through the month of April and at conferences later in the year! Thank you for bringing this topic up! -Hannah Kearns
Thank you so much for this information! I had no idea that this was a bill in the works especially considering how it can directly impact us counselors in training. With all this talk of advocacy for underrepresented/privileged groups I tend to forget that counselors also fall into that range and that it’s important to advocate for ourselves too. This bill is a perfect example of that and just like you mentioned in your presentation if we help our counselors financially then they can better help their clients. A win-win situation for sure.
Thank you for this information because it was definitely something I was not aware of. I know that as I was looking into professions I was hesitant about becoming a counselor because of the idea that financially they don't get paid very much and it is a long process. This definitely gives me hope and makes me motivated about advocating for not only others but ourselves as well! -Jennifer Kim
I also didn't know this was a thing! So cool. Financial help for this profession seems like a dream, but unlikely ya know? I would be so impressed if this would happen. it would truly help us and all counselors put all of our time and effort into helping others heal and such.
Wow! As someone who is definitely in a lot of debt to the university, this issue really caught my eye. I never thought about how if we had less of a financial strain that we, as counselors, would be encouraged to work more with underserved communities. We definitely forget to advocate for ourselves sometimes and having our finances taken care of can 100% help us focus more on helping others.
My goodness, I didn't even know this was a thing! I think your suggestions for public and counselor advocacy are really productive. Did any of your sources indicate which states are regions had the greatest shortages? ---Cara Bowen
ReplyDeleteHi Cara, that's a great question! While our research did not specify which states or regions have the greatest shortages or impending risk of mental health professional shortages, this source may be interesting/helpful - https://www.psychotherapynotes.com/therapist-shortage-or-saturation-depends-who-and-how-you-ask/
DeleteAccording to this article, California has a significant shortage of mental health professionals, with the highest demands residing in rural areas across the country. It would definitely be interesting to learn more about highly impacted areas and how the proposed loan repayment act will hopefully lead to an increase of accessible counselors/mental health professionals to the public. -Anna Ruddat
Very well laid out! I'm curious about how a shortage of counselors will lead to an increase in self-referrals. ---Rebecca Baughman
ReplyDeleteHello, I hope this answers your question! If this bill gets passed, a counselor who works in a workforce shortage area will have subsidized student loan and interest taken from a graduate program. 1/6 of the loans and interests will be taken away if a counselor provides a service in a workforce shortage area for a year. This means that the entirety of loans and interests will be gone after working in those area for 6 years. I believe many counselors working at an area with many other counselors would be motivated to move to a workforce shortage area in order to get the benefits.
DeleteI really like these policies and appreciate the encouragement for counselors to advocate for themselves. Counselors spend a lot of time advocating for their clients but we also need to advocate for our own best interests. ---Maggie Smith
ReplyDeleteThis is so essential and I am so grateful for you all shedding light on this issue. I am particularly struck by how accessibility into mental health fields also limits representation of marginalized identities in those professions. This is particularly disturbing to me given the fact that marginalized populations are the populations who are most vulnerable and could use extra support the most. The idea of mental health professionals coming predominantly from privilege, making it harder for them to empathize and understand the systemic barriers their clients experience puts marginalized clients in danger of being victim-blamed or further stigmatized by their counselors.
ReplyDeleteI really hope we are able to address this disparity. Making education accessible for potential counselors would be an amazing start! Thank you!
Hello, thank you for your response! I definitely agree that educating potential counselors is important. Although counselors work to advocate for clients, we are often motivated to choose our workplace by income. Due to this reason, I understand how many counselors would prefer other areas than the areas with marginalized population. However, it could also be true that counselors do not prefer to work with them from not being able to empathize with them well. It would be crucial to educate future counselors about this issue and prevent them from stigmatizing the marginalized population. Also, I believe this bill, which encourages counselors to work in those areas, will be helpful in avoiding that type of situation from happening.
DeleteIt's easy to forget to advocate for our own profession sometimes, so thanks for bring this up! I found it interesting that there is a lack of an estimated 250,000 counselors for the year 2025. I knew coming into this program that I would be taking on the debt that I am, so I'm just shocked that the debt amount difference in the next 5 years would deter 250,000 counselors from the profession. I'd be curious to know which states or schools are planning on changing those tuition rates over the coming years, that way advocacy could be heavily encouraged for those particular areas.
ReplyDeleteHi Katie!
DeleteTackling the financial strain pursuing a degree puts on counselors would definitely be an interesting way to address the deficit in counselors we are facing in upcoming years. Counseling Is a career that often has a high estimate of projected need. With a high need For counselors but a decrease in counselors available, I am also curious about what school can/ will do to solve this issue. Something like the loan repayment act would be helpful in encouraging future counselors to pursue their goals And not be discouraged.
Wow! As someone who is definitely in a lot of debt to the university, this issue really caught my eye. I never thought about how if we had less of a financial strain that we, as counselors, would be encouraged to work more with underserved communities. We definitely forget to advocate for ourselves sometimes and having our finances taken care of can 100% help us focus more on helping others. --Theresa Tran
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that easing the financial burden on counselors would be incredibly beneficial for counselors as well as clients. If counselors are drowning in debt, it may be hard for them to put all of their energy into their work and truly focus on their clients when they are in financial turmoil. Counselors are often underestimated in my opinion, and we absolutely deserve the same rights as other medical professionals.
ReplyDeleteSuch enlightening information! Like others, I was unaware of this topic. I appreciate your note that improving the financial status of our professionals would increase our ability to help serve rural and under-served areas. As a profession, we need to expand to increase mental health access for low income and rural populations. Easier said than done, but this bill would help alleviate some financial burden of counselors, removing one barrier from increasing the accessibility of services. Thank you all for bringing my attention to this potential, future resource for our profession!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that your group covered these policies by introducing this bill. As a person who wants to work in underserved communities, but also worries about loan repayment, this public policy issue would be beneficial for counselors who want to do the same. This poster is informative and easy to read. I think this issue is important and by advocating for counselors we can be able to serve more people. Thank you for bringing attention to this matter.--Kimberly Frye
ReplyDeleteHi Kimberly! That's amazing that you want to work in underserved communities, they are definitely in dire need of access to mental health professionals across the country. I agree with you, loan repayment is an increasingly significant concern among counseling students and practicing professionals, and has definitely limited and deferred people from entering the profession. I hope that through advocating for the mental health profession, more people will have access to these services as you said! This is definitely a pressing concern that will impact the future of mental health professionals. -Anna Ruddat
DeleteI think that we as counselors are encouraged to work in underserved communities that we best feel will help those populations, but we at times are motivated by income also because not only do we have to pay for supervision in some cases (along with affording a living lifestyle), have to factor in how to pay off loans for our profession. I like that this bill brings up the idea of repaying years of service will help relieve a portion of the outstanding debt for starting counselors. I would hope that this bill gets proper coverage and advocation through the month of April and at conferences later in the year! Thank you for bringing this topic up! -Hannah Kearns
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this information! I had no idea that this was a bill in the works especially considering how it can directly impact us counselors in training. With all this talk of advocacy for underrepresented/privileged groups I tend to forget that counselors also fall into that range and that it’s important to advocate for ourselves too. This bill is a perfect example of that and just like you mentioned in your presentation if we help our counselors financially then they can better help their clients. A win-win situation for sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this information because it was definitely something I was not aware of. I know that as I was looking into professions I was hesitant about becoming a counselor because of the idea that financially they don't get paid very much and it is a long process. This definitely gives me hope and makes me motivated about advocating for not only others but ourselves as well! -Jennifer Kim
ReplyDeleteI also didn't know this was a thing! So cool. Financial help for this profession seems like a dream, but unlikely ya know? I would be so impressed if this would happen. it would truly help us and all counselors put all of our time and effort into helping others heal and such.
ReplyDeleteWow! As someone who is definitely in a lot of debt to the university, this issue really caught my eye. I never thought about how if we had less of a financial strain that we, as counselors, would be encouraged to work more with underserved communities. We definitely forget to advocate for ourselves sometimes and having our finances taken care of can 100% help us focus more on helping others.
ReplyDelete