I am a constituent of your district and I am very concerned with Senate Bill 1482. This bill will change licensure requirements for counselors in the state of Arizona. I am against this measure as it will open the door for unqualified individuals to the practice and could expose patients to potential harmful situations. Without proper and regulated licensure, the door is open for individuals to abuse the system and patients. It takes many years of education to obtain the proper credentials to become a licensed therapist or counselor. I am sure you do not want patients engaging with unqualified individuals with no professional training in the mental health field. Please vote NO on this harmful bill.

I am writing to you today as a constituent, a voter, a licensed counselor, and an advocate of mental health awareness. I am concerned with the language in Senate Bill 1482 as vague and confusing. Counselors and therapists spend most of their adult lives being educated in and practicing in the healing of others. This dangerous bill opens the door for unqualified individuals to abuse the system and gain the trust of the most vulnerable. Without proper regulated licensure, individuals will be engaging in relationships with patients who have entrusted with them their deepest fears and cares. And there will be no professional standards or accountability. Please vote NO on SB 1482.

I am an Arizona voter and I am enraged with Senate Bill 1482. I am also a licensed counselor and am very concerned for Arizona’s current and future patients. Without proper and regulated licensure, patients will be unknowingly subjected to unqualified counseling and therefore be exposed to harmful situations. We as counselors, have dedicated our lives to helping others who are already vulnerable, and this bill opens that door for unqualified individuals to abuse that privilege. Please vote NO on SB 1482.