Protect the Religious Freedom of Counselors and Therapists
| Target Name | Target Organization |
| Cameron Sexton, Chair | (House Health Committee) |
| Barry Doss, Vice-Chair | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Joe Armstrong | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. John Ray Clemmons | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. John J. Deberry, Jr. | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Jeremy Faison | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. JoAnne Favors | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Gary Hicks | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Matthew Hill | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. John B. Holsclaw, Jr. | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Darren Jernigan | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Sherry Jones | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Sabi Kumar | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Mary Littleton | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Judd Matheny | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Bob Ramsey | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Bryan Terry | (House Health Committee) |
| Rep. Ryan Williams | (House Health Committee) |
In Tennessee an important bill is moving through the legislature. Already overwhelmingly passed by the Senate, HB 1840/SB155 declares that no person providing counseling or therapy services shall be required to counsel or serve a client as to goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief of the counselor or therapist.
It will be heard on Wednesday March 9th by the Tennessee House of Representative Health Committee. Please sign the petition urging the committee to pass the bill to the full house.
This bill protects the ability of counselors and therapists to refer patients to other professionals if the client’s goals, desired outcomes, or behaviors conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the counselor.
BILL SUMMARY
Under the bill, no counselor or therapist shall be required to serve a client as to goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief of the counselor, provided an appropriate referral is made.
Under current state regulations, a counselor or therapist is potentially subject to discipline for referring a client whose goals and desired outcomes conflict with a counselor’s religious beliefs, even if the counselor lacks the competence to treat such a patient.
ANALYSIS
This is an important bill to safeguard a counselor or therapist’s religious beliefs and moral convictions. It protects the right of conscience of the counselor but also allows the clients to receive treatment from someone who is better suited to treat them.
Please sign the petition that will send an email to the Tennessee House of Representatives Health Committee urging them to pass this important legislation.
The Petition
Support HB 1840 to Protect Religious Liberty
Please support HB 1840, which allows professional counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists to refer clients to another counselor if counseling the client toward a particular goal or objective would require the counselor to violate his or her own religious beliefs.
Allowing counselors to refer clients to another counselor that is better suited to treat them benefits the client while preserving the counselor's right to practice their profession without violating their conscience.
This long-standing right and practice was prohibited by changes made in 2014 to the ethical guidelines for professional counselors, and the state has adopted, as our law, those ethical guidelines.
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