§1103. Definitions
As used in this Part, 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, which shall include
telesupervision, 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) "Telesupervision" means clinical supervision conducted through the use of real
time, face-to-face synchronous interactive conferencing between the supervisee and
supervisor through electronic, visual, and audio means. Supervision of a licensed
professional counselor may be conducted in-person or remotely through telesupervision.
Telesupervision utilizes secure video conferencing platforms to adhere to the same standards
and guidelines as in-person supervision, ensuring regular contact, case review, and ongoing
professional development. The board shall establish rules and regulations regarding the
specific requirements and parameters for telesupervision, including technology standards,
documentation, and confidentiality measures.