Article archive / August 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 3, No. 12. Source pages: 8.
Licensed Professional Counselors were able to remove a requirement that their clients had to be under the care of a professional who prescribes medications, wording that came about in the changes to the Mental Health Counselors Licensing Act in 2011, but that had caused the counselors to file emergency rules throughout the last year to deal with the requirement.
The prior law stated that “… nothing in the Mental Health Counselors Licensing Act shall be construed to authorize any person licensed under it to assess, diagnose, or provide treatment to any individual suffering from a serious mental illness, as defined by prior law, unless that individual is under the active care of a practitioner who is licensed by the La. State Board of Medical Examiners and is authorized to prescribe medications in the management of psychiatric illness, and only in the context of an ongoing consultation and collaboration with that practitioner.”
According to the digest, the new law, Act 636, allows a person licensed under prior law to assess, diagnose, or provide treatment to any individual suffering from a serious mental illness when medication may be indicated only when the counselor, in accordance with industry best practices, consults and collaborates with a practitioner who holds a license or permit with the La. State Board of Medical Examiners or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed by the La. State Board of Nursing who is certified as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Also the new law says that "serious mental illness" includes a diagnosis of major depressive disorder-moderate to severe.
The Louisiana Psychological Association did not object to the change.
Dr. Brenda Roberts (L) and Kaylyn Shaw at an LPA conference in Baton Rouge. Dr. Roberts is an LPC and has served as president of the Louisiana Counselors Association. She has been key in helping with legislative directions.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.