While the controversial bill that was signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam Wednesday to allow counselors with "sincerely held principles" to turn away certain clients was unnecessary, we believe any fallout from it will be minuscule or nonexistent.
We believe professional counselors already had an ethical right to refer a client to another therapist if their experience in a particular area - even because of their principles - was severely limited, because providing service otherwise could be akin to malpractice.
So while we opposed the bill, we believe the talk of widespread discrimination and an increase of bullying as a result of this legislation is unfounded.
After all, two provisions that swayed Haslam's vote ensure that those who seek counseling will get the help they need even if they are referred elsewhere.
One says counselors will not be able to turn anyone away "when an individual seeking or undergoing counseling is in imminent danger of harming themselves or others." The other says any counselor whose "sincerely held principles" keep them from counseling a client "must coordinate a referral of the client to another counselor or therapist who will provide the counseling or therapy."
In other words, a counselor can't just pass off clients to any therapist but must be sure that therapist is willing to work with the clients on their specific issues.
The bill also says if a referral cannot be made, the "sincerely held principles" measure will not apply.
However, as we have said before regarding this bill, we believe counselors who earnestly seek to be a part of this helping profession should be able to counsel persons of any stripe and that they should make sure their continuing education allows them to stay current on cultural shifts - whether they approve of them or not - and society in general to provide the most thorough assistance possible.