As I note in the Bio section of my web site, I practice in Oregon as an Alternative Therapist.\u00a0 In recent years I\u2019ve advocated to the Oregon legislature and state government for the creation of a board for Alternative Therapists modeled after the board that regulates Alternative Therapists in the State of Vermont.\u00a0\u00a0 During 2017, this idea gained momentum with some legislators and with the Oregon Health Authority.\u00a0 A series of meetings and workgroup sessions have moved the \u201cVermont Concept\u201d forward to the point where we are ready to discuss legislative concepts with the broad community of Alternative Therapists in Oregon.<\/p>\n
On Friday, November 10 we are holding an informational meeting regarding the proposal to form a regulatory board for Alternative Therapists in Oregon.<\/p>\n
Some Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n During the 2017 legislative session, bills were introduced in the Oregon house and senate that would have affected Alternative Therapist practice in Oregon (HB2361, SB2303.A3).\u00a0 These bills stirred up a discussion about regulating Alternative Therapists in Oregon.\u00a0 In this discussion, a proposal that I\u2019ve advocated for in recent years based on the state of Vermont\u2019s regulatory board for alternative therapists came back into focus.\u00a0 The Oregon Health Authority and state Senator Steiner-Hayward were receptive to this idea, and I\u2019ve been working with them and with some NGOs (ACCBO, AOCMHP) during the late summer and early fall on a legislative concept that could be introduced in the upcoming legislative session.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve brought a few other alternative therapy stakeholders into this process to wring out ideas and add to the concepts \u2013 educators, stakeholders who run training programs, the president of a professional group.\u00a0 They are a thoughtful and capable group who have also been involved in past advocacy efforts for Alternative Therapists.<\/p>\n Basic Concepts:<\/strong><\/p>\n The legislative concept that we\u2019re working on addresses the two key issues that were paramount during the 2017 legislative session and in earlier sessions:<\/p>\n Consumer Protection<\/strong>:\u00a0 The 2018 legislative concept\/proposal addresses consumer protection in a manner that\u2019s similar to the Vermont Concept.\u00a0 Consumer protection is addressed primarily through 2 provisions:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Affirming the Right to Practice:<\/strong>\u00a0 During the 2017 legislative session, we made efforts to affirm the continued right for Alternative Therapists to practice in Oregon.\u00a0 The concept that we\u2019re working on for 2018 affirms our right to practice by defining the practice of Alternative Counseling Therapy in Oregon, and by the implicit agreement that Alternative Therapists exist in Oregon as a known group.\u00a0 This implicit agreement moves Alternative Therapists as a group out of the shadows or out of the unknown, and makes them a known and registered group in Oregon.<\/p>\n Proposed Role of the State<\/strong>:\u00a0 In the concept that we\u2019re working on, the state of Oregon would not play a role in accrediting Alternative Therapists.\u00a0 Nor would the state have a role in defining education or training for Alternative Therapists.\u00a0 The state of Oregon would not limit your practice or define \u201cbest practices\u201d for Alternative Therapists.\u00a0 Instead, consumer protection would be served through therapist\u2019s professional disclosure to clients about their training and through the provision of ethical\/professional standards and a complaint\/discipline process.<\/p>\n Hypnotherapists have requested to not be include in this proposal and as per their request, Hypnotherapists are given an exclusion in this proposal.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Alternative Therapist Discussion:<\/strong><\/p>\n This legislative concept is in the process of being debated and edited.\u00a0 We\u2019re reaching out to Alternative Therapists at this time to provide information about the legislative proposal and to invite discussion.\u00a0 If you have an interest in this topic we hope that you\u2019ll attend and participate.\u00a0 Please also pass this invitation along to other Alternative Therapists in your community.<\/p>\n\n
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