P Wellness Center: New Lawsuit
For Immediate Release
October 22, 2024
Louisiana Prohibits the Word “Psychological” to Describe Counseling Services
Therapists File First Amendment Lawsuit Challenging Unconstitutional Speech Restriction
WASHINGTON, DC & NEW ORLEANS, LA – With pro bono representation from two distinguished public interest law firms, two Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based therapists today filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Louisiana 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. The law violates the right to free speech and limits the ability of counseling service providers to accurately communicate with clients in need of their assistance.
Louisiana’s blanket prohibition on the use of terms like “psychological” makes it more difficult for well-trained counselors and social workers, who often have other professional licenses, to communicate accurate information about the services that they provide to people in need. Instead, counselors must strain for less clear and accurate language to explain their practice to vulnerable clients or face criminal penalties.
The DC-based Center for Individual Rights and the Louisiana-based Pelican Institute for Public Policy joined forces to represent plaintiffs Julie Alleman and Juliet Catrett, professional counselors who co-operate a practice, formerly known as “Psychological Wellness Institute.” Their practice specializes in the treatment of trauma-related disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. Earlier this year, the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists sent Alleman and Catrett a letter threatening criminal prosecution for using the adjective “psychological” in their business name, forcing them to change the name of their practice to “P. Wellness Institute.” They can now no longer easily discuss with clients the psychological principles which form the basis of their work.
“Our business is built on helping people relieve their suffering by promoting psychological wellness,” said Julie Alleman, on behalf of the P. Wellness Institute, formerly known as Psychological Wellness Institute. “This law criminalizes us for using the word “psychological” in the name of our business to accurately describe the services we are providing and prohibits us from using common words people expect to hear from their counselors by making us liable for civil and criminal charges.”
Louisiana law also makes it a misdemeanor for anyone who is not a licensed psychologist to provide an overly broad array of services that it suggests constitute the practice of psychology. This could include life-coaches, alcoholics anonymous members, and even parents who have studied the principles, methods, and procedures of psychology and have attempted to make use of them.
The federal complaint details how Louisiana’s sweeping language restrictions violate clear free speech principles by prohibiting counsellors from accurately describing their practice using common terms absent a license.
The case is Julie Alleman and Juliet Catrett v. Harness. Further information is available here and here.
About the Center for Individual Rights:
The Center for Individual Rights is a national public interest legal organization that provides free representation to clients whose rights have been violated or are seriously threatened. Celebrating its 35th year, CIR has an impressive record of landmark victories in the Supreme Court of the United States and other many courts, setting legal precedents that restore and protect fundamental individual rights that are necessary for a flourishing and free society.
About the Pelican Institute Center for Justice
The Pelican Center for Justice is dedicated to ensuring the rights of Louisiana’s working families are protected in state and federal courts by advancing pro-freedom public interest litigation.
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