Clinical Social Work Practice and Regulation

Clinical Social Work Practice and Regulation: An Overview offers a description of the mental health treatment being provided by over 200,000 licensed clinical social workers in the United States and a summary of the fifty-one licensure laws and regulations which govern licensed clinical social work practice. The public is confused by the fact that no two licensure laws are the same; there are thirty-eight different titles governing clinical social work and social work practice; and scopes of practice vary across the country. LCSWs often have difficulty taking their license to another state. This book aims to contribute to a discussion about standardizing clinical social work licensure laws and regulations. Clinical social work licensure laws and rules are described and analyzed in 18 different areas. Additionally, recommendations are provided for licensure language that would lessen the confusion that exists for the public, and across state laws.

Laura W. Groshong, AM, LICSW, is a clinical social worker in private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is also a registered lobbyist in Washington, representing the Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work, among other groups. Groshong is also the director of government relations for the Clinical Social Work Association, a national group that promotes clinical social work professional interests.