Counsellors slam ACC changes

Counsellors are the latest group to express discontent with changes to the ACC, saying new rules will shut the door on the work they do for sexual abuse victims.

Under the changes, either a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist will have to diagnose a sexual abuse victim before they are eligible for ACC support.

New Zealand Association of Counsellors spokesman Eric Medcalfe says it means only people who have been trained in an American system at a tertiary level can assess claims, and that leaves out all the counselors who are working with survivors now.

Mr Medcalfe says the Pacific understanding of human psychology is being ignored and the changes favour a particular group of clinicians.

- Newstalk ZB