A plan introduced by state Rep. Aaron Miller, of Sturgis, to update and clarify counseling practices under Michigan law was approved on Tuesday by the Michigan House with a gallery full of counselors who watched. The law has not been updated since it was enacted in 1988.

Miller said updates are needed because the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has proposed a rule that strikes the majority of the rules for the practice of counselors, most notably counselors’ ability to diagnose mental illnesses. Because of this potential elimination, many counselors will not be able to practice should the proposed rules be adopted.

“It is up to the Legislature to update these rules and that’s what I intend to do,” Miller said. “Standards and practices have changed significantly over the past 30 years so we must amend state statute rather than allowing the department to simply issue and eliminate rules.”

The most notable update to current law will clarify the current counseling techniques to include psychotherapy and diagnosis. Additionally, statute will be updated to reflect current training standards that have changed over the past three decades.

“These updates are long overdue,” Miller said. “This is a win for local counselors in our community who have advocated for these changes for several years.”

House Bill 4325 now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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