Help Mental Health professionals by signing the letter to the HCAi to re-evaluate student loan assistance programs' requirements. 

Dear Health Care Access and Information (HCAI),

We, the undersigned mental health professionals, students, and concerned members of the public, write to express urgent concern regarding the current expectations placed on clinicians to meet or exceed 32 hours of direct client contact per week—a benchmark that is not only aberrant and non-realistic, but one that fosters systemic harm across our profession.

Such excessive direct service demands are inherently unsustainable and contribute directly to burnout, exploitation, and unethical clinical practice. This level of workload often leaves little to no time for supervision, case management, documentation, continuing education, rest, or self-care—critical components of effective and ethical treatment.

These unrealistic requirements are particularly egregious when tied to student loan forgiveness or repayment programs, which effectively force new clinicians to choose between qualifying for financial relief and protecting their own mental and physical health. Many are burdened with student debt and feel compelled to accept exploitative work conditions just to remain eligible for these support programs.

This systemic issue does not just harm providers—it undermines the quality of mental health care. As professionals burn out or leave the field entirely, the public is left with a dwindling workforce and a growing unmet need for care. If we continue to normalize these conditions, we risk creating a generation of clinicians who are unable to practice ethically or sustainably, with devastating consequences for both clients and providers.

We urge HCAI and all relevant governing bodies to:

• Reevaluate loan forgiveness and repayment criteria to ensure they support ethical, sustainable work conditions.
• Cap direct service hour expectations for qualifying programs at a realistic and research-informed level.
• Protect mental health professionals from coercive labor practices disguised as public service.
• Create and promote workplace standards that prioritize provider well-being alongside client care.

The health of our communities depends on the well-being of those who serve them. It is time for a serious reckoning with the dangerous norms embedded in our field. The undersigned call for HCAI’s leadership in reforming these exploitative practices and safeguarding the future of mental health care in California and serve as an example for the entire U.S. Nation.

Sincerely,

LGP, LMFT