Mississippi Behavioral health Complaint Route

Authority and scope

Check the license and concern

Psychologists use the Psychology board; LPCs and P-LPCs use the professional-counselor board; social workers and marriage-and-family therapists share SW/MFT. DMH separately credentials mental-health and substance-use therapists working in its certified, funded, or operated system. July 2026 rules rename the former Addictions Therapist credential Substance Use Therapist. DMH credentials are not general private-practice licenses.

Supporting guidance: Psychology complaint instructions ↗LPC complaint instructions ↗SW/MFT complaint entry ↗DMH professional credentialing rules, July 2026 ↗

Match the route to the credential

Use the license listed in the practitioner's records or official license lookup. A psychiatrist is a physician; psychiatric nurses have nursing credentials. Some psychologists have prescribing authority, so medication alone does not identify the licensing board.

Choose the right licensing authority

Psychologists

Psychology board: notarized written investigation request and release.

Open this official route ↗

LPC and P-LPC

Professional-counselor board: online complaint link and signed/notarized form instructions; confirm online signature requirements.

Open this official route ↗

Social workers and marriage-and-family therapists

Shared SW/MFT board: notarized mailed form; anonymous complaints rejected.

Open this official route ↗

DMH mental-health and substance-use therapist credentials

DMH state-system credentials; approved sworn/notarized complaint form. Confirm current mailing suite.

Open this official route ↗

Submission

How the official source says to file

Psychology requires its written, notarized investigation request and release. Mail the packet as directed; the board says it cannot act on telephone, email, or other informal complaints. Attach specific events, dates, supporting copies, and relevant court documents.
LPC: use the board’s online complaint link or request its official form. Its instructions refer to a signed, notarized form; confirm how that requirement applies if you use the online route. Provide detailed facts and supporting information.
SW/MFT: complete and notarize its form, agree to testify, and mail it to PO Box 4508, Jackson, MS 39296-4508. Describe dates, locations, conduct, and the alleged professional violation.
DMH PLACE: the current rules require the approved sworn, notarized form. Its linked form asks for dates, witnesses, supporting information, and attempted settlement. Confirm the mailing suite at 601-359-5360: the current rules/page list Suite 1001, but the older linked form lists 1101, at 239 North Lamar Street, Jackson.

Supporting guidance: Psychology complaint instructions ↗Psychology investigation request and release ↗LPC complaint instructions ↗SW/MFT complaint form ↗DMH PLACE complaint form ↗DMH professional credentialing rules, July 2026 ↗DMH PLACE credentialing ↗

Limits

What this route may not provide

Identify the individual credential and the program separately. This guide covers professional complaints; a program complaint may need separate routing. Psychology and SW/MFT can consider professional discipline; DMH can restrict, suspend, or revoke its credentials. The checked sources do not establish compensation or refund remedies. Psychiatrist and psychiatric advanced-practice-nurse concerns use the medical and nursing guides.

Supporting guidance: Psychology complaint instructions ↗SW/MFT complaint procedures ↗DMH professional credentialing rules, July 2026 ↗

Anonymity

Do not guess about confidentiality

SW/MFT does not investigate anonymous complaints. LPC warns anonymity or incomplete information may hinder action. Psychology’s packet requires identity and notarization; its confidentiality/public-disclosure rules were not fully established. DMH’s form requires identity, authorizes access to information about services received, and consents to testimony; disciplinary hearings are public. These rules are not interchangeable.

Supporting guidance: SW/MFT complaint procedures ↗LPC complaint instructions ↗Psychology investigation request and release ↗DMH PLACE complaint form ↗

Complaint timing

Ask promptly; agency and practitioner response windows are not patient deadlines.

A filing deadline was not established by this check; ask promptly. DMH considers whether delay justifies excluding a charge. SW/MFT’s 20-day response period and DMH’s notice/response periods concern case administration, not the patient’s incident-to-filing deadline.

Supporting guidance: SW/MFT complaint procedures ↗DMH professional credentialing rules, July 2026 ↗

Process

What may happen after filing

Psychology reviews the request; LPC assigns a complaint number and investigator and seeks a response. SW/MFT reviews, investigates, and may pursue charges, settlement, or a hearing. DMH screens jurisdiction and evidence, obtains the credential holder’s response, and may proceed to a hearing or agreed resolution.

Supporting guidance: Psychology complaint instructions ↗LPC complaint instructions ↗SW/MFT complaint procedures ↗DMH professional credentialing rules, July 2026 ↗

Evidence

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.