§1103. Definitions

As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section:

(1) "Advertise" means but is not limited to the issuing or causing to be distributed any card, sign, or device to any person, or the causing, permitting, or allowing any sign or marking on or in any building, or by advertising on radio or television, or any other means designed to secure public attention.

(2) "Advisory committee" means the Marriage and Family Therapy Advisory Committee.

(3) "Board" means the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners.

(4) "Licensed marriage and family therapist" means a person to whom a license has been issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, which license is in force and not suspended or revoked.

(5) "Licensed professional counselor" means any person who holds himself out to the public for a fee or other personal gain, by any title or description of services incorporating the words "licensed professional counselor" or any similar term, and who offers to render professional mental health counseling services denoting a client-counselor relationship in which the counselor assumes responsibility for knowledge, skill, and ethical considerations needed to assist individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public, and who implies that he is licensed to practice mental health counseling pursuant to this Chapter.

(6) "Marriage and family therapy" means the professional application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the prevention, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in an individual and relational disorders in couples and families.

(7) "Mental health counseling services" means rendering or offering prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, which includes psychotherapy, of mental, emotional, behavioral, and addiction disorders to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public by a licensed professional counselor, that is consistent with his professional training as prescribed by R.S. 37:1107(A)(6), by a provisional licensed professional counselor, that is consistent with the requirements as prescribed by R.S. 37:1107(F), and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the mental health counseling profession. Moreover, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to authorize any person licensed hereunder to administer or interpret intellectual, personality, developmental, or neuropsychological tests in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 37:2352(7), except as provided by LAC 46:LXIII.1702(E), or engage in the practice of psychology or to prescribe, either orally or in writing, distribute, dispense, or administer any medications. If intellectual, personality, developmental, or neuropsychological tests are deemed necessary, the licensed professional counselor or provisional licensed professional counselor shall make an appropriate referral.

(8) "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, or body politic.

(9) "Practice of marriage and family therapy" means the rendering of professional marriage and family therapy and psychotherapy services, limited to prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral, relational, and addiction disorders to individuals, couples, and families, singly or in groups, whether such services are offered directly to the general public or through either public or private organizations for a fee, monetary or otherwise, in accordance with professional training as prescribed by R.S. 37:1116 and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the marriage and family therapy profession.

(10) "Practice of mental health counseling" means rendering or offering prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, which includes psychotherapy, of mental, emotional, behavioral, and addiction disorders to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public by a licensed professional counselor, which is consistent with his professional training as prescribed by R.S. 37:1107(A)(6), by a provisional licensed professional counselor, that is consistent with the requirements as prescribed by R.S. 37:1107(F), and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the mental health counseling profession which includes but is not limited to:

(a) "Appraisal", which means the use or administration of tests of language, educational and achievement tests, adaptive behavioral tests, and symptoms screening checklists or instruments, as well as tests of abilities, interests, and aptitudes for the purpose of counseling persons in coping with or adapting to, changing life situations that are due to problems in living.

(b) "Consulting", which means interpreting or reporting scientific fact or theory to provide assistance in solving current or potential problems of individuals, groups, or organizations.

(c) "Mental health counseling", which means assisting an individual or group, through psychotherapy and the counseling relationship, to develop an understanding of personal problems, to define goals, and to plan actions reflecting his or their interests, abilities, aptitudes, and needs as these are related to personal and social concerns, educational progress, and occupations and careers.

(d) "Referral activities", which means the evaluating of data to identify problems and to determine the advisability of referral to other specialists.

(e) "Research activities", which means reporting, designing, conducting, or consulting on research in counseling with human subjects.

(11) "Provisional licensed marriage and family therapist" means any person who has completed the requirements provided in R.S. 37:1116(C) and in applicable rules of the board and who has been issued a provisional license pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, and such provisional license is in force and not suspended or revoked. Provisional licensed marriage and family therapists may use the title "provisional licensed marriage and family therapist" only under the direction and active supervision of a board-approved supervisor and only while obtaining the post-graduate degree experience required for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. A provisional licensed marriage and family therapist shall not, under any circumstances, provide or advertise that he is authorized to provide marriage and family therapy independently.

(12) "Provisional licensed professional counselor" means any person who has completed the requirements provided in R.S. 37:1107(F) and in applicable rules of the board, and who has been issued a provisional license to provide mental health counseling services and to practice mental health counseling. Provisional licensed professional counselors may use the title "provisional licensed professional counselor" and shall practice mental health counseling only under the direction and active supervision of a board-approved supervisor and only while obtaining the post-graduate degree experience required for licensure as a professional counselor. A provisional licensed professional counselor shall not, under any circumstances, practice mental health counseling independently or advertise that he is authorized to practice independently.

(13) "Qualified supervision" means the supervision for a licensed marriage and family therapist of clinical services, in accordance with standards developed by the advisory committee, and approved by the board by an individual who has been recognized by the advisory committee as an approved supervisor.

(14) Repealed by Acts 2017, No. 235, §2, effective June 14, 2017.

Acts 1987, No. 892, §1, eff. July 20, 1987; Acts 1989, No. 415, §1; Acts 1993, No. 544, §1; Acts 1999, No. 72, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1195, §1; Acts 2007, No. 206, §1, eff. June 27, 2007; Acts 2009, No. 311, §1; Acts 2010, No. 613, §2; Acts 2011, No. 320, §1, eff. June 28, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 636, §1, eff. June 7, 2012; Acts 2014, No. 484, §1, eff. May 1, 2015; Acts 2014, No. 736, §1; Acts 2017, No. 235, §§1, 2, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2018, No. 206, §3.