Couch to Capitol: May 2026 Legislative Updates

Couch to Capitol: May 2026 Legislative Updates

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2119495/fan_mail/new] Policy can feel far away until it lands in a session as grief, fear, shame, or burnout. Join the Ohio Counseling Conversations Team as we bridge the gap between the clinical couch and the Ohio Statehouse with a rapid, practical briefing on the bills most likely to affect counselors, and clients across Ohio. We start with House Bill 698 and its push to withhold public university funding based on DEI compliance, including annual certification requirements and tracking of prior DEI roles. We talk plainly about why that matters for counselor educators trying to uphold CACREP expectations and the counseling profession’s ethical commitments to beneficence and social justice. From there, we break down Senate Bill 156’s “success sequence” curriculum mandate for public schools and why a one-size-fits-all definition of success can invalidate students from LGBTQ communities, non-traditional families, and many real-life paths our clients live every day. We also cover House Bill 347’s 24-hour waiting period tied to reproductive care and the risk created by scripted, legally loaded requirements for providers. On the practice side, we dig into Senate Bill 162, a critical insurance reform aimed at limiting insurer clawbacks and reducing administrative burdens that can destabilize small practices and shrink access to mental health care. We round out the update with House bills on an all-payer claims database and behavioral health well checks, privacy protections for mental health professionals, Ohio’s Senate Bill 113 DEI ban, and a national legal challenge that could restrict federal student loans for counseling and other professional degrees. Connect with the Ohio Counseling Association's Legislative Advocacy Committee [https://www.ocaiac.com/] Find your Ohio Senator Lookup [https://ohiosenate.gov/members/district-map] Find you House Rep Lookup [https://ohiohouse.gov/members/directory] OPPOSE House Bill 698 [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb698&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1779724123103248&usg=AOvVaw2pkopJc0geL7umu3j4K321]- withholding higher-ed funding tied to DEI compliance and annual certification requirements OPPOSE  Senate Bill 156 [https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb156]- the “success sequence” requirement in public schools plus likely harm for marginalized students OPPOSE House Bill 347 [https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb347]- creating a 24-hour waiting period for reproductive care and adding provider compliance risks SUPPORT Senate Bill 162 [https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb162]- reducing insurance takeback timelines and easing appeals to protect small practices and client access WATCHING House Bill 716 [https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/HB716]- proposal for an all-payer claims database to support data-driven health care improvements SUPPORT House Bill 724 [https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb724] requiring coverage for behavioral health well checks without a diagnosis WATCHING House Bill 718 [https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb718]- changes to the Behavioral Health Professionals Board and why legislative language matters WATCHING House Bill 837 [https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb837]- aiming to protect residential and familial information for mental health professionals OPPOSE Senate Bill 113 [https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb113]- banning DEI efforts in K-12 and why OCA submits formal opposition SUPPORT the National lawsuit challenging federal student loan rules [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/broad-coalition-challenges-unlawful-student-loan-restrictions-that-target-nurses-counselors-public-health-professionals-and-educators/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1779724123104328&usg=AOvVaw0x3zqT449o1t5zBhe79ajv] that narrow what counts as a professional degree, including counseling  Connect with Us on Any or All Socials at our Link Tree! * OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling [https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling] Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Victoria Frazier & Lauren Collins-Knight ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill, Lauren Collins-Knight, Victoria Frazier, Mariah Payne, and Chase Morgan-Swaney ·Editing by Victoria Frazier

Let's Unpack That #12: Springing Forward Doesn't Mean Falling Apart

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2119495/fan_mail/new] Sunshine can feel like a promise: more energy, better mood, fewer heavy days. But we’ve learned the hard way that seasonal change, especially the spring shift into warmer weather, can also bring real mental health risks and clinical surprises. Victoria Frazier sits down with Jared Sparks, clinical counselor and supervisor at Cleveland Sex and Intimacy Counseling, to talk about what actually happens when the temperature rises and why “feeling better” isn’t always the same thing as being stable. We dig into research showing that even small increases in average monthly temperature can correlate with higher suicide rates, then connect that to what we see in practice: irritability, impulsivity, sleep loss, and the ways longer daylight can disrupt circadian rhythm. We also spend time on bipolar disorder and why light sensitivity and shifting sleep cycles can be a major factor during daylight saving time and seasonal transitions. From there, we get practical. You’ll hear the sleep hygiene tips we lean on with clients (consistent sleep and wake times, keeping the bed for sleep and intimacy only), how shift work complicates everything, and why tools like blackout curtains can be surprisingly powerful. We also talk medication considerations, including heat intolerance, dehydration, and sun sensitivity, plus how we can help clients ask better questions of their prescribers without stepping outside our scope. If you’re a counselor, therapist, or a client wondering why spring feels harder than it “should,” hit play. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more people can find it. What changes first for you when the weather warms up? Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Victoria Frazier & Jared Sparks ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill and Victoria Frazier ·Editing by Marisa Cargill & Victoria Frazier ·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood

Conversation 41 - Give Yourself Permission to Grow

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2119495/fan_mail/new] Your next mentor might be one conversation away, but most of us still hesitate to reach out. We sit down with Dr. Jake Protivnak, counselor educator at Youngstown State University, past president of the Ohio Counseling Association, and current president of Chi Sigma Iota International, to talk about what mentorship actually is and why it shapes who we become as counselors. We start with Jake’s own story and the mentors who guided him, including Dr. Tom Davis, the namesake of OCA’s Tom Davis Mentorship Award. From there, we get practical: how mentoring differs from advising, how it differs from clinical supervision, and why the best mentoring keeps a mentee’s values and goals front and center. If you’ve ever wanted someone to “just tell you what to do,” we unpack how great mentors support autonomy without leaving you alone. We also zoom out to the bigger picture of professional identity and community. Jake explains why Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) matters for counseling students beyond a resume line, including leadership opportunities, professional development, scholarships, and real connection for busy or commuting students. Then we dive into counseling history, digital archives, and Ohio’s leadership in counselor licensure and accreditation, plus what gets lost when a profession forgets its own story. If you’re a counselor in training, newly licensed, or a seasoned clinician looking to give back, you’ll leave with clear next steps and renewed pride in the counseling profession. Subscribe, share this with a colleague or cohort member, and leave a review so more counselors can find the mentors and community they deserve. OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling [https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling] Connect with Us on Any/All Socials at our Link Tree! If you’re a counselor in Ohio and would like to get involved as part of production or as a guest, or know someone who might be interested, please email us at ohiocounselingconversations@gmail.com! **** Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Marisa Cargill ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill, Victoria Frazier, and Shannon O'Mara ·Editing by Marisa Cargill ·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood

Couch to Capitol: April 2026 Legislative Updates

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2119495/fan_mail/new] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2119495/fan_mail/new] A payer suddenly demands money back, lawmakers debate how long clawbacks should even be allowed, and the Supreme Court redraws the lines around counseling regulation when speech is the treatment. We walk through the urgent CareSource of Ohio recoupment news and the concrete steps we recommend right now: push for claim-level specificity, document everything, review your provider contract, consider formal dispute options, and escalate patterns of concern through the right oversight channels. If you’re a mental health provider worried about retroactive audits and reimbursement instability, this breakdown is built for you. From the Ohio Statehouse, we recap OCA’s Legislative Advocacy Day and where the biggest policy priorities stand. We track Senate Bill 162 on insurance clawback limits and House Bill 220 on prior authorization reform, plus what counselor advocates are asking legislators to do next. We also share how advocacy training and coalition work can turn frustration into action, especially when policy decisions ripple into client access, staffing, and continuity of care. At the federal level, we unpack the Supreme Court’s ruling in Chiles v. Salazar and what it could mean for laws that aim to protect clients from harmful practices, including sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts. We close with positive momentum too: the Counseling Compact continues to expand interstate practice privileges, and Ohio’s election calendar is a timely reminder that civic engagement shapes mental health systems. Subscribe for monthly counseling policy updates, share this with a colleague, and leave a review to help more counselors find the show. ***** Links Mentioned on the Episode: Counseling Compact [https://counselingcompact.gov/] Connect with the Ohio Counseling Association Insurance Advocacy Committee  [https://www.ocaiac.com/] Caresource Clawbacks [https://www.socialworkers.org/News/News-Releases/ID/3394/Caresource-Payment-Clawbacks-Jeopardize-Behavioral-Healthcare-Access-across-Ohio] Make Your Voting Plan [https://www.vote411.org/make-your-plan] SUPPORT: Senate Bill 162- limiting clawbacks from insurance companies SUPPORT: House Bill 724-  require health benefit plans to provide coverage for annual behavioral health.  OPPOSE: House Bill 172-  prohibit the temporary provision of mental health services to minors without parental consent. PASSED: House Bill 220-  prior authorization reform bill  Chiles v Salazar Supreme Court Decision- classified counseling and other mental health services as free speech, not professional conduct  Connect with Us on Any or All Socials at our Link Tree! * OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling [https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling] Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Dr. Chase Morgan-Swaney ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill, Victoria Frazier, Mariah Payne, and Chase Morgan-Swaney ·Editing by Victoria Frazier

Let's Unpack That #11: Bad Advice That Sounds Good

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2119495/fan_mail/new] “If they wanted to, they would.” “Be the bigger person.” “Time heals all wounds.” These lines can sound clean and confident, but when you’re living real life with limited capacity, messy relationships, and actual grief, they can land like a brick wall. We sit down as two counselors who hear these sayings in sessions, group chats, and counseling rooms, and we pull them apart with the nuance they rarely get online. We talk about why behavior isn’t always a simple measure of desire and how burnout, skills, fear, and unclear expectations change what people can realistically do. We also get honest about boundaries: “being the bigger person” can support safety and de-escalation, but it can also become permission to stay silent, skip accountability, and abandon yourself. If you’ve ever wondered whether speaking up is “too much,” this conversation offers a grounded way to think about integrity, communication, and self-respect. Then we move into grief and loss, where platitudes tend to multiply. We explain why “time heals all wounds” and “everything happens for a reason” often function as silver-lining pressure, especially when pain is sticky and long-lasting. We also challenge the idea that you must love yourself before you can love others, naming how connection and relationships can be part of healing rather than a reward for being fully “fixed.” If you’re a counselor, helping professional, or just someone tired of toxic positivity, you’ll leave with better language, better questions, and a clearer sense of what actually helps. Subscribe, share with a colleague or friend, and leave a review, then tell us which cliché you want us to unpack next. What do you think? Send us your questions or topics you'd like us to unpack! OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling [https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling] Connect with Us on Any/All Socials at our Link Tree! **** If you’re a counselor in Ohio and would like to get involved as part of production or as a guest, or know someone who might be interested, please email us at ohiocounselingconversations@gmail.com! **** Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Victoria Frazier & Marisa Cargill ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill and Victoria Frazier ·Editing by Marisa Cargill ·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood