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TLPCA Counseling and Therapy Summit

Keynote

TLPCA: Understanding the Past, Present, and Future

Professional counseling is an evolving profession in Tennessee and across the country. The presenters will provide a historical perspective on counseling, changes that have occurred, and what the future holds for their ability to practice in Tennessee and across the country.

Objectives

  1. Attendees will understand how counselors became licensed in Tennessee and the evolution of the profession in the state.
  2. Attendees will understand what reciprocity is and how licensing requirements vary from state to state affecting the ability to obtain the ability to practice in another state.
  3. Attendees will understand the basics of the Counseling Compact and its effect on their ability to practice across state lines.

Greg Searls

Greg Searls is a licensed funeral service practitioner in the State of Wyoming. He began his work in the regulatory world when he was appointed by the Governor of Wyoming to serve on the Board of Funeral Service Practitioners in 2010. In 2016, he resigned from the Board when he was hired as an Executive Director in the State of Wyoming Professional Licensing Board office.

Greg served as the Executive Director for the Mental Health Professions Licensing Board, Board of Registration in Podiatry, Board of Midwifery, Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, Board of Hearing Aid Specialists, Board of Athletic Trainers, and Board of Occupational Therapist.

During his time as executive director, Wyoming passed the statutes to join the ASLP-IC, Occupational Therapy Compact, and Counseling Compact. He served as the ex-officio representative to the Counseling Compact Commission for AASCB until Wyoming joined the compact and he was named commissioner for his home state.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science and a certificate of Gerontology from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, and an Associate’s Degree in Specialized Funeral Service Technology from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Greg is co-author of the article Counseling and the Interstate Compact: Navigating Ethical Practice Across State Lines published in The Professional Counselor in the fall of 2023.

William Feck

William Feck is a licensed professional counselor and mental health service provider (LPC/MHSP). In addition to working as a primary therapist at Integrative Life Center, he is a faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University for the professional counseling program supervising practicum and teaching courses, such as theories and addictions. He is pursuing a PhD in Clinical Counseling at Trevecca Nazarene University and working on a dissertation regarding combat-related PTSD and attachment styles. He recently served as a doctoral intern for the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB), in which he conducted research for state counseling boards across the nation. He is a nationally certified counselor (NCC) and a certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT).

Kim Speakman is a Licensed Professional Counselor / Mental Health Service Provider (LPC/MHSP) with nearly 30 years experience in community behavioral health. Additionally, she is certified in Healthcare Compliance. Kim is the current President for the TN Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists; is the Tennessee Commissioner and Treasurer for the Counseling Compact Commission. Historically, she is a founding member of TLPCA, as well as the first TLPCA Treasurer and a Past President of our organization.