Licensure Reciprocity between states

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have been discussing the LCAT versus the MFT licenses in New York and California, and it is upsetting to me that California does not recognize the MA in Drama Therapy. This seems highly problematic to me, especially since the two accredited masters programs in Drama Therapy are in New York and California. This is particularly interesting to me because I am considering a move to California.

Is there any talk of change on this issue? Does the NYU program need to shift the kind of Masters received from its program? This is also an issue because the LCAT process is so ridden with problems at this point. Although I am proud that there is a LCAT in NY state, sometimes I just want to get another license because it seems so disorganized in Albany. I have spent almost 5 months trying to get my LCAT permit (with a third party supervisor) and I still do not have the permit in hand. Meanwhile, a year's worth of work is not going to count towards my hours for the license.

Thank you for listening to a bit of a rant. Does anyone have opinions/information about this issue?

Thanks,

Cora Goldfarb

Drama Therapist

[Guest guest]

Cora,

I have just returned to Ny after living in San Francsico for a year (unemployed) and I hear your pain. I am a LCAT, dance/movement therapist, and couldn't even find a job in CA beyond "activities representative" I hear that it is especially difficult in Northern Cal.

Art Therapy master's programs in CA include the MFT curriculum, but dance, drama and music therapy have not for some reason.

Anyway, the difficulty lies in a few factors:

1. CA is THE only state in the country that does not recognize the LPC, or NCC.

2. CA's primary mental health license is the MFT-(yes- more popular than the psychology license!) the MFT in CA is equivalent to the LCSW in NY. If you were a MFT in Ca and transferred to NY, you would have no trouble transferring your license to a MFT license. You might even be able to transfer your MFT to a NY LCSW, with few modifications.

HOWEVER...Ca is the most difficult state in which to obtain a mental health license. For the MFT, you would basically have to study in CA in a MFT program, and then do all of the fabulous free training for two years as a MFT intern (I believe one year is donw while in school, the other is done after you graduate, and most do not pay). This is much more intricate tahn I am describing, but I'm trying to be brief.

I suppose that the reason for the difficulty might lie in the possibility that there are more therapists out there than clients. If you are interested in CA for the weather and how nice it is...take a vacation. Unfortunately, unless you want to re-do another masters or PhD, you'd be best off calling yourself a "life coach" if you decide to live in CA. Folks who do not, will not, or cannot obtain a proper license call themselves a "coach". That said, many of those folks are also not qualified to provide therapy, anyway.

It's tough. Weigh your options carefully. It's the toughest market for therapists out there, if you want to do it legally.

Good luck,

Jenn

Tantia, MS, ADTR, LCAT

Subject: Licensure Reciprocity between statesTo: "NYCCAT" <NYCCAT >Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 10:01 AM

Hi,

I have been discussing the LCAT versus the MFT licenses in New York and California, and it is upsetting to me that California does not recognize the MA in Drama Therapy. This seems highly problematic to me, especially since the two accredited masters programs in Drama Therapy are in New York and California. This is particularly interesting to me because I am considering a move to California.

Is there any talk of change on this issue? Does the NYU program need to shift the kind of Masters received from its program? This is also an issue because the LCAT process is so ridden with problems at this point. Although I am proud that there is a LCAT in NY state, sometimes I just want to get another license because it seems so disorganized in Albany. I have spent almost 5 months trying to get my LCAT permit (with a third party supervisor) and I still do not have the permit in hand. Meanwhile, a year's worth of work is not going to count towards my hours for the license.

Thank you for listening to a bit of a rant. Does anyone have opinions/informatio n about this issue?

Thanks,

Cora Goldfarb

Drama Therapist