To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration.

This bill sets clear rules for who can serve as a marriage and family therapist in the Veterans Health Administration and be allowed to supervise other clinicians. To qualify, a person must have a master’s degree, be licensed or certified, and either be authorized by their state to provide clinical supervision or be recognized as an approved supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

• Who is affected: Marriage and family therapists seeking supervisory roles in VA care; patients receiving mental health services in the VA system.
• What changes: VA can appoint supervisors only if they meet these set qualifications, including state authorization for supervision or AAMFT approved-supervisor status.