The remote supervision allowance due to the coronavirus expired on 7//01/2022  Mental health professionals are being negatively affected by the board lifting the allowance for remote supervision. This issue directly impacts associates level marriage and family therapists, associate social workers, associate clinical counselors, and their supervisors.

This is detrimental, unethical and we request that the allowance should be indefinitely extended (law change) for the multiple reasons listed below:

1. Despite the COVID-19 vaccine being required for health care professionals, there are still many associates and supervisors in the mental health field who are vulnerable to the virus, have family members who are vulnerable, or are unable to get the vaccine due to medical issues. The new variant is hitting many of us hard and it is unsafe for therapists, supervisors, and clients. 

2. The industry is changing and telehealth is the future. The majority of new jobs listings are for telehealth positions and most clients are seeking services remotely.

3. Many private practice clinicians and clinics got rid of their office space during the pandemic and no longer have office space to provide supervision in. It is unfair and unethical to require them to have supervision in their homes or in public places due to HIPPA concerns and personal privacy violations.  

4. Lifting the remote supervision mandate limits employment opportunities for associates in private practices and in privately owned clinics. These clinics may now stop employing associates due to not wanting to re-sign leases or pay for office space solely for supervision. 

5. Associates will have to terminate services with clients at private clinics due to being unable to attend in-person supervision. This is detrimental to client care and can negatively impact many clients who have built rapport with their providers. 

6. Many clinicians and supervisors moved to other parts of California during the pandemic and are no longer in the same city as their employer making them unable to easily commute to in-person supervision. 

7. Psychologists (APA), non-profits, schools, and hospitals are NOT held to the same standard and are still allowed to provide remote supervision. This is unfair to all other mental health professionals in California employed in for-profit settings. The standard for remote supervision should be the same for all mental health professionals as health care providers.

8. Mental health professionals are considered "healthcare workers" and therefore required to wear masks while rendering sessions and in supervision. This takes away from the process of clinical supervision, especially group supervision. Part of a successful supervisory relationship is rapport, which is built through the relationship between supervisor and supervisee. Being able to facial expressions is important to the process of supervision. 

9. Remote supervision allows associates to have more access to specialized supervisors in other areas of California, allowing them to and increase their access to being supervised by clinicians who may have specialties that are not common in their area. (Example: a therapist specializing in polyamorous relationships may be more likely to live in Northern California and an associate who wants to work with this population in Los Angeles, this associate should be able to get supervision from a specialist easily). 

10. Research has proven that telehealth is just as effective as in-person therapy. They also found that most clinicians and clients prefer telehealth due to the flexibility and easy access (e.g. avoiding commute, easier to fit into the workday, etc). 

11. Lastly, there is no impact on the quality of supervision provided remotely on therapist development. Most supervisors and associates have reported that they still find remote supervision just as effective in developing their clinical skills. 

The solution to this issue for the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and the Department of Consumer Affairs  (DCA) agree to extend the remote supervision waiver for all mental health professionals long-term and begin working toward policy and law change which will make remote supervision accessible indefinitely.

It is up to us as mental health professionals to speak up and take action! Our voices and needs should be heard by the BBS and the DCA. It's time for change and to modernize the industry, so we can catch up with the rest of the world transitioning towards technology, increase access to mental health care and increase job opportunities for clinicians.

Please sign your name, credentials, and license number if you support this petition. 

Together we can create change, every signature counts!!!