Article archive / June 1, 2011
Originally published: . Volume 2, No. 10. Source pages: 1, 3.
SB 268, a bill to clarify scope of practice for Licensed Professional Counselors, was passed in the Senate today and is pending introduction into the House. The bill will require that LPCs work in consultation with an MD or medical psychologist (but not a licensed psychologist) if treating individuals with “serious mental illness.”
SB 268 replaces Senator Willie Mount’s omnibus board proposal that would have dissolved the psychology and LPC boards, a move that was strongly opposed by both groups.
SB 268 sets out certain limitations when counselors diagnose and treat a patient with a “serious mental illness.” The bill notes that the patient of an LPC must also be “…under the active care of a practitioner who is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and is authorized to prescribe medications in the management of psychiatric illness…” And that the LPC will diagnose and treat “…only in the context of an ongoing consultation and collaboration with that practitioner.”
In the present language licensed psychologists are not included in those authorized to provide this ongoing consultation and collaboration to LPCs.
SB 268 proposes new language in the section on definitions of mental health counseling services: “…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…”
This replaces the existing language of “…those acts and behaviors coming within the practice of mental health counseling as defined in this Chapter, including diagnosis and treatment, which includes psychotherapy, of conditions or disorders requiring mental health counseling…”
The existing language has been a source of conflict between the psychology board and the LPC board for a number of years. Confusing text in the LPC law created conflicting interpretations. Mount introduced the replacement bill at the May 25th Senate Health & Welfare Committee meeting, saying “We also provided for limitations to the scope of practice for individuals suffering from serious mental illness so that LPCs can only access, diagnose, and treat an individual suffering from a serious mental illness if that individual is under the active care of a practitioner licensed by the board of medical examiners who’s authorized to prescribe medication in the management of psychiatric illness and only in the context of ongoing consultation and collaboration with that practitioner.”
Serious mental illnesses in the bill are listed as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, anorexia/bulimia, intermittent explosive disorder, autism, psychosis (not otherwise specified) when diagnosed in a child under 17 years of age, Rett’s Disorder, Tourette’s Disorder, and dementia.
SB 268 also lists new language in requirements for increasing graduate semester hours from 48 to at least 60, beginning in 2015, and a course in each of eight required subject areas, and the completion of a supervised internship in mental health counseling.
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