Separate Alabama boards for psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy

Checked steps and filing details to confirm

• Psychology: complete, sign and notarize its form, then mail to 100 N. Union Street, Suite 880, Montgomery, AL 36104. Include dates and supporting details.
• Counseling: provide a timeline, supporting copies, signed notarized complaint, and notarized adult/minor release. Use one release per child; divorced parents must include court evidence of custody or medical-decision rights. Email ma.davis@abec.alabama.gov or mail PO Box 305030, Montgomery, AL 36130.
• Social Work: sign the complaint and each added page, attach copies, and sign the witnessed treatment-record authorization. Send to PO Box 301620, Montgomery, AL 36130-1620. The release waives personal privilege over treatment information.
• Marriage/Family Therapy: sign its form and attach supporting documents; mail to 60 Commerce Street, Suite 1440, Montgomery, AL 36104. The form permits fax but prints no fax number; confirm at 334-395-7455.

Supporting guidance: Psychology: complaint instructions ↗Psychology: complaint and disclosure form ↗Counseling: March 2026 complaint form ↗Counseling: March 2026 instructions ↗Counseling: adult release ↗Counseling: July 2026 minor release ↗Social Work: complaint and authorization ↗MFT: consumer complaint form ↗Counseling: complaint documents ↗

What this route may not provide

Counseling offers administrative discipline, excludes ordinary fee disputes, and cannot represent clients seeking repayment or injury remedies. Its guidance also limits third-party complaints without legal standing. Monetary remedies at the other three boards were not established.

Supporting guidance: Counseling: March 2026 instructions ↗

Do not guess about confidentiality

Psychology, Counseling and Social Work reject anonymous complaints. Psychology’s form expressly permits disclosure to the practitioner, other agencies and public-records requesters; its procedure separately calls complaints confidential before probable cause. Ask about this distinction before attaching sensitive records. Counseling calls investigations confidential but seeks the counselor’s response. MFT anonymity and disclosure rules were not established.

Supporting guidance: Psychology: complaint and disclosure form ↗Psychology: complaint procedures ↗Counseling: March 2026 instructions ↗Social Work: complaint guidance ↗

Ask promptly; board-specific filing deadlines unverified

A filing deadline was not established by this check; ask each applicable board promptly. Counseling says investigation may take months and will not begin or proceed while related legal action is pending; this is not a filing extension.

Supporting guidance: Counseling: March 2026 instructions ↗

What may happen after filing

Psychology screens jurisdiction, investigates and may close, settle or hold a hearing. Counseling reviews evidence and responses; outcomes include closure, reprimand, consent agreement or hearing. Its consent agreements and hearing discipline are posted, while its described formal reprimand is not. Social Work and MFT review stages remain unverified.

Supporting guidance: Psychology: complaint procedures ↗Counseling: March 2026 instructions ↗

Prepare a reviewable submission

State the concern you want reviewed, give a short chronology and factual consequences, and explain your request. Keep supporting records and follow the receiving authority’s instructions before attaching or sending them.