Proposed bill sets dangerous precedent of removing licensure provision for therapists

Dangerous bill

The S.C. House of Representatives has introduced a bill that would no longer require social workers, psychologists, family therapists and licensed professional counselors to be licensed in South Carolina.

With the passage of House Bill 3515, the possibility will exist that untrained, unsupervised, and likely undereducated individuals could consider themselves to be therapists. This can only hurt individuals seeking help.

Removing licensure requirements from social workers, psychologists and professional counselors, among others, opens the field up to individuals who are free to take advantage of an unregulated and unsupervised system and would likely lead to, at minimum, poor outcomes, and at worst, death (including suicide).

Currently, to engage in independent practice, a clinical social worker must possess a graduate degree in social work, pass an advanced clinical license test and work under supervision for two years before they can practice independently.

This state requires licensure for all public health providers. Behavioral health providers should be no different.

Additionally, if our social workers have no means to achieve licensure, they will not be allowed to bill insurance since most companies require the first level of licensure at the least.

This is dangerous legislation.

Nancy K. Brown, Columbia

Town owed more

I remember Lisa Sulka walking up my driveway 20 years ago looking for votes. She was talking about what Bluffton really needed -- and what we needed then is still what we need today. That delivery is long overdue.

I see in the news that Port Royal is making their tree ordinance more formidable. I see that the City of Beaufort has achieved a high-level of professionalism. I see that Hilton Head Island is protecting the Jonesville area from over development, but none of these things ever seem to come to Bluffton.

In Bluffton, the revolving door at the Bluffton Police Station continues to spin. We have more traffic, more clear-cutting, and more pollution; $150k is missing from monies designated to improve Eagles Field, and I see Councilman Fred Hamilton is calling for patience.

It seems that Bluffton traded its soul for promises never to be delivered. It might even be fair to say we are morally bankrupt, but at least we are polite.

It’s time for a complete regime change in Bluffton. This one just doesn’t get it.

Jeff Urell, Bluffton

Preserve St. Helena

Setting the record straight: A few in our neighborhood have expressed that they are fine with the proposed luxury gated golf resort right next door, and implied that we in Dulamo are OK with this plan.

This is absolutely incorrect. They do not speak for Dulamo or the community at large on St. Helena Island.

Using the word “inevitable,” and suggesting we should “accept the lesser of the evils” (as other developers are lining up and zoning currently could permit much more). The F.O.I.A. tells a lot (but not all) of what has been going on behind the scenes.

Respect the spirit of the CPO. Preserve and protect St. Helena Island.

Donna P. Cole, Beaufort

It is OK to differ

I have a question for the book banners: What are you so afraid of?

As one who came of age in the late 1960s with a deeply religious father who was commanding an infantry brigade in VietNam, my worldview was decidedly different from his. My experience also included not being seated at the counter at the drugstore when I was with a Black friend,

My father respected my views and I respected his. He allowed and encouraged me to read whatever I got my hands on, including literature on Mao and the Red Guard when he was teaching at the Army War College during my senior year.

We discussed things. We didn’t agree often in those years, but we listened to each other and learned from each other.

I turned out OK because I was given all the information I needed in order to grow into a whole, balanced adult.

My children don’t agree with me on everything, and now I have the pleasure of watching my 17-year-old grandson find his way in the world.

I haven’t read all of the banned books, but I have encouraged my grandson to because the ones on the list that I have read, I consider to be important works of literature.

If you don’t want to read a book, don’t. But don’t cram your worldview down someone else’s throat.

Emily Starry, Hilton Head