Earlier today, the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) participated in a Congressional Briefing examining how proposed federal student loan changes by the U.S. Department of Education could significantly weaken the mental health provider workforce. The briefing featured remarks from Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6) and Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26), followed by two expert panels addressing the workforce, access, and equity implications of the proposed changes.
This briefing was collaboratively planned by a coalition of organizations including the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), American Counseling Association (ACA), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and AMHCA. The goal of the briefing was to educate Members of Congress and congressional staff on why mental health counseling and comparable behavioral health professions must retain professional degree status under the Department of Education, and to highlight the workforce, access, and equity harms that would result if the Department’s proposed interpretation were to stand. More than 100 people attended to hear from our Representatives and experts.
Kicking off the briefing was Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) (Image below). Earlier this week she led 25 of her colleagues in signing a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Education and the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee to explicitly include mental and behavioral health professionals in the definition of “professional degree.” This designation would allow students pursuing careers in these fields to qualify for higher federal student loan limits. During the briefing, Rep. Salinas shared that she had once considered entering the counseling profession herself and emphasized the importance of mental health services across all levels of care. She also cited projections from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis indicating a shortage of more than 400,000 mental, behavioral, and addiction treatment providers nationwide—further underscoring the urgency of protecting educational access.
Representative Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26) spoke from his perspective as an occupational therapist, noting the critical role student loans play in ensuring equitable access to higher education. He shared that legislation he has authored - The LEAP Act - explicitly recognizes mental health professionals—including counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers—as professionals. Rep. Kennedy also emphasized that there are more effective ways to control the cost of higher education than reducing student loan caps. Concluding his remarks on a lighter note, he added a moment of hometown pride with a spirited “Go Bills!”
The first panel featured Guila Todd of ACA, Dr. Anthony Estreet of NASW, and Roger Smith of AAMFT. Panelists described how restricting access to federal student loans would directly harm the mental health workforce pipeline by limiting students’ ability to enter and complete professional training programs. They emphasized that these proposed changes would exacerbate existing workforce shortages and further restrict access to care for individuals and communities already facing barriers to mental health services.
The second panel highlighted the need and impact of federal student loans. It began with an overview of AMHCA by President Courtney Ackerson, who then shared her personal student loan story. She was joined by NASW student Jordyn Skahill and marriage and family therapy supervisor Dr. Dominique Rice. President Ackerson explained that without Grad PLUS loans—set to be eliminated under the proposed federal student loan changes—she would not have been able to afford the required clinical training component of her graduate education or cover basic living expenses while fully engaging in her program. Jordyn Skahill highlighted her own reliance on student loans, as well as her institution’s dependence on federal loan programs to support students pursuing mental health careers. Dr. Rice concluded by emphasizing that without access to federal funding, many students would be unable to participate in required practicum experiences or enroll in programs that align with their skills and calling to serve others.
Together, speakers and panelists reinforced a clear message: protecting access to federal student loans is essential to sustaining a strong, diverse, and accessible mental health workforce capable of meeting the nation’s growing needs.
Image below is of Past AMHCA President, Angele Moss-Baker and current AMHCA President, Courtney Ackerson at the briefing.
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