Therapists Banned From Saying “Psychology”

On October 22, the Center for Individual Rights and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two professional therapists, challenging a law that bans anyone in the state from using the terms “psychology,” “psychological,” or “psychologist” to describe their counseling practice unless they are specifically licensed as a psychologist.

CIR is representing Julie Alleman and Juliet Catrett, professional therapists who operate a counseling practice that specializes in the treatment of trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Previously, their practice operated under the name “Psychological Wellness Institute,” but when they received a letter from the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists threatening legal action, Alleman and Catrett had to change the name of their practice to “P. Wellness Institute.” They learned that they cannot even describe their practice using the word “psychological,” which makes client communication exceedingly difficult.

Louisiana law also makes it a misdemeanor for anyone who is not a licensed psychologist to provide a broad range of services that the state decided constitute the practice of psychology.  This could include life-coaches, alcoholics anonymous members, and even parents and their children who have studied the principles, methods, and procedures of psychology and have attempted to make use of them.

CIR and the Pelican Institute filed a federal lawsuit in the Middle District of Louisiana challenging this law as a violation of Alleman and Catrett’s First Amendment rights to free speech.

• Read the complaint here