MACON, Ga. — Governor Brian Kemp signed over 700 bills into law on Monday, including one that has special significance for workers in Central Georgia.
Senate Bill 373 speeds up the process for therapists moving to Georgia to get their license to practice, which has been a struggle for many workers recently.
"This could potentially help us to provide more services to people," said Andrea Cooke, the project director for Macon Mental Health Matters.
Before this law, legislators said therapists moving into the state were waiting up to a year to get cleared to practice in Georgia.
Now if a marriage or family therapist has a valid license, is in good standing with another state, doesn't have a criminal record, and pays the necessary fees, then they will be eligible for a license within 30 days.
Gloria Sisse is a licensed professional counselor. She said this will make Georgia a more viable option.
"Only having to wait 30 days means that I can if I was thinking about coming to Georgia, now I know I can come to Georgia," Cisse said.
Cooke is working to get her license to practice family and marriage therapy. She said there are people who move to the state but are stuck in processing.
"There's probably a lot people here already who practice in other states and are just jumping through all the red tape in order to get licensed here," Cooke said.
While those providers wait for approval, Cisse said the people that need their help are also feeling the impact.
"Because that means they have to wait and sometimes the wait is too long, right? People decide to make that final decision or they get to a place where it's harder and harder to manage the mental illness that they might be experiencing," Cisse said.
Cooke and Cisse started the organization Southern Center for Choice Theory. They have been providing multiple mental health services with Macon Mental Health Matters since 2021.
Cooke said it would be ideal to train and develop therapists in their community, but any kind of help is welcomed.
"Having counselors that are coming from other states that have done the work who I'm sure meet all the qualifications for licensure does nothing but help us because you know a rising tide lifts all boats," Cooke said.
The law also updated the experience, education, and training requirements for a license in professional counseling. Now applicants are required to have a master's degree instead of a doctorate degree and have more supervised training hours.
All license application go through the Board of Marriage and Family Therapists out of the Secretary of State's Office.