With House Set to Act, Tennessee Voices Speak Out against Costly Unintended Consequences of Discriminatory Counseling Bill

Nashville, Tennessee - March 30, 2016 - Today, the American Counseling Association (ACA), Tennessee Equality Project, the Counselor Education Program, the Tennessee Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and other outraged Tennesseans gathered on a press call to discuss the various unintended consequences of Tennessee House Bill 1840, which would permit Counselors to deny services and refer clients based on the provider's "strongly held religious beliefs." The proposed legislation is an unnecessary government intrusion into a counseling profession that already adheres to a strict code of ethics, as well as a "solution" in search of a problem.

Additionally, passing this legislation could result in costly unintended consequences for Tennessee – for the hundreds of thousands of state residents whose reliance on accessible and professional counseling services could be harmed; for the state's eligibility for federal healthcare funding that could be jeopardized by the discriminatory nature of this legislation; and for the bottom line of Tennessee small businesses and the state's tourism and convention industries, which could be negatively affected if Tennessee becomes "the next" state to enter into the contentious national debate surrounding LGBTQ rights and religious freedom legislation. 

Below are quotes from today's call participants and allies.

Art Terrazas, Director of American Counseling Association: "HB 1840 is an unprecedented attack on the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics, something to which nearly 60,000 counselors abide.  It is also a prime example of government overreach. This bill places the government in-between a patient and their therapist and that's just wrong. Allowing any health care provider to deny services based on a provider's beliefs would have a deleterious effect on Tennesseans who seek mental and physical health services."

Lisa Henderson, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Member for the Tennessee Counselors Association: "The primary concern for the Tennessee Counselors Association is the challenge to our code of ethics. Prior to the Senate bill, there was no complaint brought to the Tennessee Counselors Association, the Licensing Board, or any other entity. It went straight into bill format. This current climate of distancing ourselves from our clients goes against the tenets of counseling, and  it is counterproductive to finding the balance that allows everyone to receive the help they need."

Dianne Bradley, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: "This bill is a solution in search of a problem. It is unnecessary, at the very least, and potentially quite harmful to those who seek counseling. Our codes of ethics allows us to refer, in an ethical, prudent, and responsible manner through mechanisms already in place."

Maria, client of Marriage and Family Therapists: "I was raised by an abusive mother and, unfortunately, the cycle of abuse continued with my husband.  After 17 years of abuse, I decided to look for help. I called a lot of local numbers, but no one took me seriously. I was about to give up when I called Ms. Dianne. I made that call and that call eventually changed my life. When you're in a low place, it's hard to ask for help. But I did. If my therapist had turned me away for any reason, I'm not sure what I would've done. Counseling is the bridge between my past and a life with meaning."

Chris Sanders, Executive Director of the Tennessee Equality Project: "Our concern with HB 1840 is the impact it will have on LGBTQ people in rural areas where mental healthcare availability is uneven at best. If a counselor is able to turn away LGBTQ clients, it may be that the patient will have to travel miles to find a counselor. We are particularly concerned about LGBTQ minors. The Tennessee Department of Education reported 6,000 confirmed cases of bullying in public schools this year--and 8/10 of LGBTQ youth encounter bullying of some kind in school. It's not just LGBTQ youth, but adults and seniors who will have to suffer hardship and travel miles to find a counselor that is open and affirming."

Barney Self, President of the Tennessee Association of Marriage and Family Therapists: "We stand in lockstep with our brothers at the Tennessee Equality Project and the American Counseling Association. We have a formalized, tried, and true process for dealing with referrals. This bill would make it possible for there to be a slammed door in the referral process – a unilateral denial of services is an extremely hurtful thing for patients. This bill is very damaging, very hurtful, and very risky for the state on multiple levels."

Robert Gebbia, CEO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: "As the nation's largest organization dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention would like to express its opposition to the legislation being considered in the state of Tennessee which would allow counselors to deny services to patients based on religion, race, or sexual orientation. There are not enough mental health providers in our country and we need all of them to practice what they've been trained to do. The lives of the people of Tennessee depend on them."