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Legal and regulatory advocacy

Office of Professional Legal & Regulatory Affairs

The Office of Professional Legal & Regulatory Affairs protects and enhances the professional practice of psychology and patient access to mental health care—with a focus on health equity—through active engagement in the legal, legislative, regulatory, and marketplace arenas. Our team of lawyers develop strategies to advocate on the issues below in collaboration with divisions; state, provincial, or territorial psychological associations; other parts of Practice/APA; and outside stakeholders.

Contact: Office of Professional Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Initiatives

  • Scope of practice, prescriptive authority, licensing, and deregulation/licensing board consolidation
  • Telehealth, PSYPACT, and interstate practice
  • New laws such as anti-gender-affirming care and antiabortion laws, and the No Surprises Act
  • Mental health parity and insurance/managed care abuses
  • HIPAA compliance and patient data privacy/security

Director

Deborah C. Baker, JD

Deborah C. Baker, JD
Head, Office of Professional Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Deborah Baker leads a dedicated team of attorneys, providing expert legal analysis and guidance on critical legislative, regulatory, and marketplace matters impacting professional psychology. Collaborating closely with APA leadership, members, state psychological associations, and external stakeholders, her team tackles both perennial and emerging issues, including data privacy and security, mental health technology, health equity, patient confidentiality, managed care practices, and scope of practice.

Before joining the APA in 2004, Baker was in private practice, specializing in commercial litigation and compliance. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Richmond and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and holds law licenses in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.

Staff

Charlene Harvey
Communications Manager

Charlene Harvey manages the operational needs of the Professional Legal & Regulatory Affairs team. She is the primary contact for the office and member inquiries. Prior to joining APA in 2013, Charlene worked as a legal secretary in law firms and the Department of Justice.

Sheila Kerr-Wilson, MA

Sheila Kerr-Wilson, MA
Program Director

Sheila Kerr-Wilson leads research and manages projects for the Office of Professional Legal and Regulatory Affairs. In her role, she reviews state laws and regulatory policies; monitors state legislation, coordinates partnerships with state psychological association leaders and responds to member inquiries related to the business of practice and patient confidentiality. With a background in psychology, Sheila is responsible for organizing and maintaining resources that steer PLRA's strategic efforts to advocate for and advance psychological practice.

Alan Nessman, JD
Senior Special Counsel

Alan Nessman collaborates with APA offices, state associations and outside stakeholders on advocacy around complex legal issues affecting practicing psychologists and their patients, as well as providing guidance to state associations and members on those issues. His areas of expertise include insurance, mental health parity and related antitrust issues; HIPAA and patient privacy; the No Surprises Act; and emerging legal issues facing psychologists. Alan joined APA in 2000, after 15 years as a law firm litigator. He received his JD from George Washington University and his BA from the University of Chicago.

Photograph of Rachael Soule

Rachael Soule, JD
Director of Business Regulations and Independent Practice

Rachael Soule focuses on Reproductive health Care legislation, Gender Affirming Care legislation and their implications. She also works on issues related to the No Surprises Act, mental health parity and privacy law. Rachael joined APA in 2022.

Last updated: May 2025Date created: February 2022

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