However, the Monitor has ignored the existence of these therapists. Although the American Counseling Association has worked cooperatively with the APA in several efforts, the profession of counseling continues to be ignored by the Monitor. It s a time for unity, not division. It is ironic that many psychologists, probably APA members, are working in educational institutions in programs that prepare counselors yet one never sees this mentioned in the Monitor. Ms. Clay outlines the marketplace shifts among competing professionals who practice psychotherapy.
Psychiatry is out, social workers are in, and psychologists want to write prescriptions.
Nowhere is mention made of licensed professional counselors who specialize in behavioral health care and who are attracting attention from managed-care providers and mental health agencies across the country. Keeping a finger on the pulse of ascending or descending fates of branches of behavioral health care professionals blunts the focus needed for more pressing concerns. Professional publications ought to be obliged to take up the more critical issue of how these four disciplines will put away their jockeying for position and take up a consolidated stance to curb managed behavioral health care excesses in the denial of services and provision of inadequate services. The report in the September Monitor 'Volunteers find satisfaction' about Michael Sullivan as well as the members of the Michigan Psychological Association who offer pro bono services to union members suffering hardship from a lengthy strike is astounding. They can end their hardships, which they bring on themselves, by going back to work.