Washington state continues to require masks for employees and patients in counseling centers as they are considered health care facilities. This continued requirement exacerbates the child and teen mental health epidemic as patients cannot adequately gain connection and social skills if they and their counselors must wear a mask during sessions. This mandate is even required during outside socialization groups and when other safety protocol can be put in place. Counseling centers are not equivalent to medical facilities as patients are not coming to the facility when actively sick. I am calling on state and local officials to provide an exemption to the mask mandate for counseling facilities so that children and their families can get the care they need and begin to thrive again.