Our Continuing Education Program Grievance Policy
DR. PAULSON PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING LLC
Policy Director: Dr. Brian Paulson, Ph.D., LMHC-QS, LMFT-QS, LPC, MCAP, CGAC, Continuing Education Director
Policy Mandate: This policy fulfills the requirement to maintain a written and published procedure concerning the review and resolution of participant complaints and disputes related to our continuing education programs, addressing mandates from the Florida Board and the NBCC Policy.
I. Purpose and Scope of Grievance
This policy applies to grievances submitted by program participants or potential participants regarding continuing education programs offered by Dr. Paulson Professional Counseling LLC.
Grievances may concern the following areas:
1. Program Content: Disputes regarding the accuracy, relevance, or adherence to established clinical standards. Content related to diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of clients must be clinically sound and consistent with the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
2. Presenter Conduct & Qualifications: Complaints about the professional conduct, knowledge, or presentation skills of the instructor, or concerns that the presenter’s expertise is not commensurate with the level of content. Instructors must possess the appropriate qualifications, which often means holding an advanced degree in a mental health field.
3. Administration and Logistics: Issues concerning registration, certificate issuance, course credit calculation (ensuring that one CE hour equals sixty minutes, with no less than fifty minutes of uninterrupted instruction), record keeping, or facility accommodations.
4. Compliance: Concerns regarding violations of advertising standards (which must not be false, deceptive, or misleading) or failure to comply with requests for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
(Note: The provider maintains separate published policies concerning program fees, refunds, and participant cancellation, as required to inform participants prior to registration.)
II. Grievance Submission Procedure
A formal grievance must be submitted in writing using the designated contact methods:
Method | Contact Details |
Email (Preferred) | info@drpaulsoncounseling.com |
Written Mail | 7901 4th St N STE 300, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, FL 33702 USA |
The written submission must be dated and include the participant’s name, contact information, the title and date of the specific CE program, a detailed description of the complaint or dispute, and the desired resolution or corrective action requested.
III. Review and Resolution Process
The steps taken if a course participant submits a grievance are as follows:
1. Receipt and Assignment: The grievance is immediately routed to the designated Continuing Education Director and Primary Contact, Dr. Brian Paulson.
2. Investigation and Fact-Finding: The Director reviews the complaint in detail, which may involve reviewing relevant records such as the Course Roster, Outline, Agenda, Presenter Curriculum Vitae, Participant Evaluation Data, and Organizational Policies to assess compliance with the NBCC Code of Ethics and applicable state standards.
3. Resolution Determination: The Director determines if a policy or compliance standard was breached and decides the appropriate resolution (e.g., corrective action, partial or full refund, or adjustment of CE credit).
4. Written Response: The Provider will issue a formal, written decision/response to the complainant within a timely period (e.g., fifteen business days) of receiving the initial written grievance.
IV. Regulatory Reporting and Record Keeping
• NBCC Complaint Reporting Requirement: The LLC must report to NBCC each complaint, dispute, or grievance that directly or indirectly relates to the terms and requirements of NBCC Policy within sixty days of the Provider’s knowledge of the complaint. This includes all related written communications.
• Record Maintenance: A detailed record of every grievance submitted, including the original complaint, investigation correspondence, findings, and the final resolution, must be securely maintained as part of the course records for a minimum of five years following the date the course was offered to satisfy the strictest NBCC retention standard.
Understanding Our Grievance Policy
Your feedback is essential to us. At Dr. Paulson Professional Counseling, we value your thoughts and experiences. Our Grievance Policy ensures transparency and addresses your concerns promptly. We encourage open communication and strive to create an environment where you can voice your grievances comfortably.
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