Had an interesting dream last night where I was the star in a circus/theater production.  There were lots of masks and sparkly costumes.  Well, I kept missing my cues, and I ran away during intermission.  Someone followed me and helped me change into another costume.  Together, we climbed over rows of  greek theater style seats in the audience to get to a high vantage from which point I could see my understudy catching the cues correctly.  It was a difficult climb, because all of the seats were made of a sort of elastic mesh that was heavily beaded and sequinned.  

And that was it.

Now back to the till.

Current Mood:	busy
Current Music:	Suzanne Vega-- Tom's Diner

But mix us in a class together, and suddenly everyone who is doing similar stuff but not the same way is the enemy.  Suddenly psychologists are berating counselors who snub their noses at LCSW's who think rehab counselors are ridiculous.  It's just silly.  What happened to respect for individualized scopes of practice?  I realize that rehab counselors have more training than I do when it comes to working with substance abuse.  That doesn't threaten me.  Contrarily, it enriches my resource network!  And I would hope that somewhere out there a psychologist can appreciate the more humanistic treatment that usually comes from people with the same credentials as I have.

The mental health profession is developing and growing, and people see each of us according to our specializations for different reasons, so we need not gnash teeth for the sake of competition.  We're a therapeutic melting pot.  How much benefit could come about if we all just melted a bit?  Geesh.

Special Announcement

California Becomes 50th State to License Professional Counselors

The counseling profession achieved a historic goal late last night with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signing into law California Senate Bill 788, establishing licensure of professional clinical counselors in the state.

Counselors are now licensed as master's degreed mental health professionals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The first state to enact counselor licensure was Virginia, in 1976.

Nationwide, there are more than 110,000 licensed professional counselors working in the full range of treatment settings to assist clients with behavioral disorders and developmental issues. Licensed professional counselors are recognized as independent mental health service providers by the vast majority of private insurance companies, as well as under state and federal public health programs. As in most states, large areas in California are experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals.

ACA President Lynn Linde applauded California's enactment of the licensure bill. "This is a momentous occasion. This means that professional counseling is now recognized in all areas of the country and, more importantly, that protections for the consumers will now exist everywhere. Licensure for counselors significantly expands the availability of mental health services, which is crucial to helping meet the need for services."

"Today is a victory for so many counselors who have been advocating for licensure in California," said Richard Yep, ACA Executive Director. "This legislation will serve to regulate the profession of counseling and that is good for the profession and for consumers of mental heath services. Governor Schwarzenegger's signing of this bill caps an effort that began more than thirty years ago."

ACA congratulates the California Coalition for Counselor Licensure (CCCL) for its success in leading the licensure effort in the state. ACA has long sought to gain licensure of counselors in all U.S. jurisdictions, and has provided both financial support and technical assistance to CCCL in support of California's effort.

Dean Porter, President of the CCCL, is pleased that this bill has been approved by California's legislature and signed into law. "After working for almost eight years, CCCL, a coalition of nine California counseling organizations, is proud that California will become the 50th state to license professional counselors. This victory would not have been possible without the dedicated counselors throughout California and the state and national organizations, particularly ACA and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), that support professional counseling. Legislators from both sides of the aisle have the gratitude of counselors and their clients, who will now have increased access to professional services and the protection that regulation assures."

Information on implementation of the bill will be available on CCCL's website www.caccl.org and questions on the California law can be addressed to info@caccl.org.

"To believe is true religion, but to see is truth at last." -Greg Graffin

Current Location:	Immersed in assignments
Current Mood:	busy
Current Music:	Breathe (2am)-- Anna Nalick

Fayetteville has a bus system called Razorback Transit.  It's paid for by U of A student fees, so it's not exactly free to me, but the cost is minimal, and it's free to the community.  There's a bus, the Blue line, that stops right in front of my apartment and again on its route right in front of the two buildings where all my classes will be.  There's another bus, the Red line, that stops by my apartment then makes a big loop through town stopping at the mall, Wal-Mart, the hospital, and other useful places.  I. Love. Public. Transportation.  I have only driven my car once since we moved here, and that was to move it from the parking lot at the side of our apartment to the one in back. No parking fees at school, no parking tickets, no waiting for the car to cool down, no hassle.  It's wonderful.  I just meander over to the bus stop, chat with some guy who reminds me of Morgan Freeman, and ride five minutes to school in an air-conditioned bus.  Simple and convenient.

Yesterday I was reading a book waiting on the bus, and it occurred to me that this was not the first time I'd been in this situation.  When I was in high school, a bus stopped right outside my house to pick me up, and it dropped me off right outside the building where all my classes were.  It was as free as "free" things are, and it spared me all the afore-mentioned hassles.  I. Hated. That. Bus.  There was nothing less cool than having your "hardship license" (given to any 15 year olds with jobs back then) and a car and not being able to drive yourself to school.  I fought with my mother tooth and nail over this problem.  She finally relented and let me drive my sister and I to school my senior year.  I was overjoyed.  Freedom. 

I remember her telling me, at the end of our last debate on the subject, "One day you'll be an adult with rent and bills, and you'll wish you had something so convenient as a free ride to school."  I, of course, thought she was crazy and incapable of understanding that I would NEVER think a think like that. And I drove.

So there I stood yesterday, an adult with rent and bills, absolutely thrilled by the convenience of a free ride to school and back.  My mouth hung agape, and I picked up my cell phone to call Mom and tell her she was right.

She laughed histerically and couldn't wait to tell my dad.

And so it is.  =)

Current Location:	Home Sweet Home
Current Mood:	cheerful
Current Music:	Short Skirt Long Jacket-- Cake

It's a relief having narrowed the options of where we're going to live in a couple months down by almost half, but it stings to be told that the other kids are better qualified to be doctoral students than I am.   

That's all for now, I s'pose.

Current Location:	Couch-bound
Current Mood:	disappointed
Current Music:	Frou Frou-- Breathe In

"I want you to know that I love you more than benzene rings love to keep their double bonds! (which is a heck of a lot!!! <-see, 3 exclamations=more than the average "a lot-ness":) "

And that's nerd lovin'.

Current Location:	Work
Current Mood:	cheerful
Current Music:	Solace and Sorrow-- SJ Tucker

Your result for The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test...

Pure Nerd

87 % Nerd, 35% Geek, 17% Dork

Take The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test at HelloQuizzy

Current Location:	At his side
Current Mood:	nerdy
Current Music:	Flight of the Conchords on HBO

Your result for The Chakra Test...

The Lover

You have scored 100% Balance - Your dominant Chakra is the "Heart or Green Chakra"

Take The Chakra Test at HelloQuizzy

Current Location:	pthththt
Current Mood:	cheerful
Current Music:	Superstars of Dance

My fellow Americans, today is a loquacious day. You have shown the world that "hope" is not just another word for "brother", and that "change" is not only something we can believe in again, but something we can actually sneeze.

Today we celebrate, but let there be no mistake – America faces delicious and tasty challenges like never before. Our economy is itchy. Americans can barely afford their mortgages, let alone have enough money left over for religions. Our healthcare system is lumpy. If your breast is sick and you don't have insurance, you might as well call an assassin. And America's image overseas is tarnished like a pet cookie. But squirting together we can right this ship, and set a course for Guyana.

Finally, I must thank my creepy family, my cute campaign volunteers, but most of all, I want to thank Jehovahs Witnesses for making this historic occasion possible. Of course, I must also thank you, President Bush, for years of pruning the American people. Without your happy efforts, none of this would have been possible.

Now go make your own: http://www.atom.com/spotlights/inauguration_speech_generator/

h

Current Location:	Home
Current Mood:	cheerful
Current Music:	Taglio! -- SJ Tucker