2012 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 37 — Professions and occupations
RS 37:3386.1 — Definitions

§3386.1. Definitions

As used in this Chapter the following definitions shall apply:

(1) "Addiction counselor" means any person who is licensed or certified or registered in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and procedures established by the department and who by means of his special knowledge acquired through formal education or practical experience is qualified to provide addiction counseling services to those individuals afflicted with or suffering from an addictive disorder or certain co-occurring disorders. The counseling services provided shall be those which utilize KSA's or core functions, as determined by the department to be appropriate for the addictive disorder or disorders presented.

(2) "Addictive disorder" means the repeated pathological use of substances including but not limited to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, or repeated pathological compulsive behaviors including but not limited to gambling which cause physical, psychological, emotional, economic, legal, social or other harms to the individual afflicted with the addiction or to others affected by the individual's affliction. As used herein "addictive disorder" shall include not only those instances where withdrawal from or tolerance to the substance or behaviors are present but also those instances involving use and abuse of substances.

(3) "Board" means the Louisiana State Board of Certification for Substance Abuse Counselors through June 30, 2007. Effective July 1, 2007, "board" shall mean the governing body of the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority.

(4) "Certified clinical supervisor" means any person holding the necessary credential of licensed, certified, or registered addiction counselor who has satisfied the requirements established by the department to provide clinical supervision.

(5) "Clinical supervision" means the interpersonal tutorial relationship between a certified clinical supervisor and other licensed, certified, or registered addiction counseling professionals centered on the goals of skill development and professional growth through learning and practicing. Through observation, evaluation, and feedback, clinical supervision enables the supervisee to acquire the competence needed to deliver effective patient care while fulfilling professional responsibility. Clinical supervision is understood to emphasize improvement of the counseling skills and effectiveness of the supervisee and is to be distinguished from administrative supervision.

(6) "Compulsive gambling counselor" means any person holding a necessary credential as a licensed, certified or registered addiction counselor, or a necessary credential as a qualified mental health professional, who is certified by the department, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, as possessing special knowledge acquired through formal education and clinical experience and thus is qualified to provide gambling addiction counseling to persons who have a gambling addiction disorder or who exhibit gambling addictive behaviors.

(7) "Co-occurring disorder" means a disorder in which individuals have at least one psychiatric disorder as well as an addictive disorder. While these disorders may interact differently in any one person at least one disorder of each type can be diagnosed independently of the other.

(8) "Core functions" means the screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports, and recordkeeping activities associated with counseling and consultation with other credentialed professionals.

(9) "Counselor-in-training" or "CIT" means any person who has not yet met the qualification to become a licensed, certified or registered counselor, but who has made application to the department in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and procedures established by the department.

(10) "Department" means the Department of Health and Hospitals, office for addictive disorders through June 30, 2007. Effective July 1, 2007, "department" shall mean the governing body of the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority.

(11) "KSA's" means the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes designated by the department as being necessary for effective addiction counseling and required by the department to be utilized by addictive disorders counselors in providing addiction counseling services.

(12) "Prevention" means those activities and services that prevent, reduce, or stabilize the incidence of addictive disorders and thereby prevent, reduce or stabilize the prevalence of addictive disorders. The activities contemplated by this definition include services to those at risk of developing an addictive disorder as well as those individuals who, though not necessarily at risk of developing an addictive disorder, are nonetheless appropriate for services. In addition, prevention shall be understood to include educational programs and activities that are designed to raise the awareness of and encourage healthy behaviors.

(13) Repealed by Acts 2006, No. 427, §3.

(14) "Prevention specialist-in-training" or "PSIT" means any person who has not yet met the qualifications to become a licensed, certified, or registered prevention professional, but who has made application to the department in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and procedures established by the department.

(15) "Qualified mental health professional" means:

(a) A psychiatrist licensed pursuant to R.S. 37:1261 et seq.

(b) A psychologist licensed pursuant to R.S. 37:2351 et seq., or a medical psychologist licensed pursuant to R.S. 37:1360.51 et seq.

(c) A licensed clinical social worker licensed pursuant to R.S. 37:2701 et seq.

(d) A mental health counselor licensed pursuant to R.S. 37:1101 et seq.

(16) "Substance abuse" means the repeated pathological use of drugs, including alcohol, which causes physical, psychological, economic, legal or social harm to the individual user or to others affected by the user's behavior.

Acts 2004, No. 803, §3, eff. July 8, 2004; Acts 2006, No. 427, §§2 and 3; Acts 2009, No. 251, §8, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.