TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Amelia Ferrell Knisely on Feb 18, 2016

Despite opposition from LGBT groups, the state Senate yesterday approved a bill (SB 1556) that would give state-licensed counselors and therapists the right to deny service on religious grounds. WPLN reports the proposal comes in a response to a 2014 revision to the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics, which stated counselors could not deny service based on religious objections. "We're doing nothing to prohibit or restrict the ability to get counseling from someone who is trained and willing to provide that counseling," said bill sponsor Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin. Opponents, including the Tennessee Counseling Association, argue the measure will make it harder for people in rural areas to access help.