2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 37:1103 — Definitions

§1103.  Definitions

(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 assessment and treatment of individuals, couples, and families.

(7)  "Mental health counseling services" means those acts and behaviors coming within the practice of mental health counseling as defined in this Chapter, including the diagnosis and treatment of conditions or disorders requiring mental health counseling as defined in Subparagraph (10)(c) of this Section.  However, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to authorize any person licensed hereunder to administer or interpret tests in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 37:2352(5), except as provided by Title 46, Part LXIII, Chapter 17, Section 1702(E) of the Louisiana Administrative Code, or engage in the practice of psychology or to prescribe, either orally or in writing, distribute, dispense, or administer any medications.

(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 services 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.

(10)  "Practice of mental health counseling" means rendering or offering to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public by a licensed professional counselor, any service consistent with his professional training as prescribed by R.S. 37:1107(A)(8), and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the mental health counseling profession which include but are 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 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)  "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.

(12)  "Recognized educational institution" for a licensed marriage and family therapist means a post-graduate training institute or any regionally accredited educational institution which grants a master's or doctoral degree which meets the standards established by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education or, until June 30, 2003, the standards for marriage and family counseling or therapy established by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

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.