2013 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 37 - Professions and Occupations
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 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)(8), and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the mental health counseling profession. However, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to authorize any person licensed under the provisions of this Chapter to assess, diagnose, or provide treatment to any individual suffering from a serious mental illness, as defined by this Section, when medication may be indicated, except when a licensed professional counselor, in accordance with industry best practices, consults and collaborates with a practitioner who holds a license or permit with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing who is certified as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Moreover, except as provided in this Section, 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 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)(8), 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) "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) "Serious mental illness" means any of the following diagnoses:

(a) Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

(b) Bipolar disorder.

(c) Panic disorder.

(d) Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

(e) Major depressive disorder - moderate to severe.

(f) Anorexia/bulimia.

(g) Intermittent explosive disorder.

(h) Autism.

(i) Psychosis NOS (not otherwise specified) when diagnosed in a child under seventeen years of age.

(j) Rett's disorder.

(k) Tourette's disorder.

(l) Dementia.

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.