Mary Jones, chair of the Meriden Family Therapy Advisory Committee, convened the Dec. 12 meeting of the advisory committee of the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board to review the results of licensee surveys and identify priorities for 2026.

Committee members and staff discussed the question asking licensees whether the BSRB could do more to protect and serve consumers. David Fye, the BSRB executive director, summarized the answers: “For the individuals who did provide comments or recommendations, some of the items that were frequently noted were establishing recommendations and best practices for the use of artificial intelligence, fight for improved insurance reimbursements, allow anonymous complaints, speed up the investigative process, give more severe consequences for disciplinary matters, [and] educate the public about the marriage and family therapy profession.”

The committee noted three recurring themes in open‑ended responses: requests for better communication from the agency, support for multistate licensure arrangements or easier reciprocity, and a need for guidance on the ethical use of AI in practice. Fye said roughly half of respondents for each surveyed group reported no recommendations, but that the suggestions that did appear repeatedly are worth follow‑up.

Members raised concerns about the investigative process after several respondents described long waits for feedback. Committee member Nicole Eidson said clearer public education about how investigations work could reduce misunderstandings. Fye acknowledged a recent increase in complaint volume — “around 250” in the prior year — and said staff are reallocating responsibilities and training investigators to reduce delays and provide better customer service.

Several members said survey data could be used as evidence when the committee or staff meet with other state agencies and associations. On interstate practice, the committee discussed the difference between the BSRB’s regulatory authority and the limits created by other states’ licensure laws; Fye cautioned that some portability questions exceed the BSRB’s authority and require multi‑state coordination.

What’s next: members asked staff to convert draft survey reports to final versions and prepare a comparison report for the January board meeting; the committee also recommended adding AI guidance and improved communications to the 2026 agenda.