Hello everyone and thank you for your insight and guidance in advance. I applied for my LCSW in December 2023 and finally received the reply from the board. The board is stating that they are denying my hours for psychotherapeutic counseling that I completed at a detox and residential center. They stated that they believe that my time there was supportive counseling and not psychotherapeutic counseling. I completed 411 hours there and in the letter they are saying that I need to complete 960. I completed other hours at another organization. I am in disbelief of this as my time conducting psychotherapeutic counseling meet the definition listed in the administrative code for the State Board Of Social Work examiners.

I am confused by this because during my time there, conducting psychotherapeutic counseling, I had a ongoing interaction between me and the client while they were in treatment, along with their family. I met with most clients twice a week for an hour with the goal to help them resolve symptoms of a mental disorder, psychosocial stress, and relationship problems. I provided Clients with an array of coping skills and utilized CBT and DBT. Additionally I met with her families for family sessions and provided weekly updates to the family regarding the client treatment in progress.

I am not sure how my time there does not count. My work there and my individual sessions meet the regulations definition of psychotherapeutic counseling.

I have no clue what to do and guidance from the board seems to be limited or very delayed. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have insight or guidance? Should I somehow get a lawyer involved?