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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54880</law_id><section_number>54.1-3500</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-1102</reference><reference>13.1-543</reference><reference>16.1-273</reference><reference>18.2-251.01</reference><reference>37.2-311.1</reference><reference>54.1-2400.1</reference><reference>60.2-219</reference><reference>8.01-400.2</reference><reference>9.1-193</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="35">Professional Counseling</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Appraisal activities</span>&#x201D; means the exercise of professional <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> based on observations and objective assessments of a client&#x2019;s behavior to evaluate current functioning, diagnose, and select appropriate treatment required to remediate identified problems or to make appropriate referrals.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Art therapist</span>&#x201D; means a person who has (i) completed a master&#x2019;s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent course of study, from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>; and (iii) been issued a license for the independent practice of art therapy by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.
		&#x201C;Art therapy&#x201D; means the integrated use of psychotherapeutic principles, visual art media, and the creative process in the assessment, treatment, and remediation of psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, physical, and developmental disorders in children, adolescents, adults, families, or groups.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Art therapy associate</span>&#x201D; means a person who has (i) completed a master&#x2019;s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent course of study from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>; and (iii) been issued a license to practice art therapy under an approved clinical supervisor in accordance with regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Behavioral health technician</span>&#x201D; means a person who has completed, at a minimum, an associate degree and registered with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to practice in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of registered behavioral health technicians" href="/54.1-3518/">54.1-3518</a> and regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and provides <span class="dictionary">collaborative behavioral health services</span>. A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span>&#x201D; shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Behavioral health technician</span> assistant</span>&#x201D; means a person who has completed a high school diploma or equivalent, at a minimum, and registered with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to practice in accordance with the regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of registered behavioral health technician assistants" href="/54.1-3519/">54.1-3519</a> to provide <span class="dictionary">collaborative behavioral health services</span>. A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> assistant</span>&#x201D; shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Counseling.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Certified substance abuse counseling assistant</span>&#x201D; means a person certified by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to practice in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of certified substance abuse counseling assistants" href="/54.1-3507.2/">54.1-3507.2</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Certified substance abuse counselor</span>&#x201D; means a person certified by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to practice in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of certified substance abuse counselors" href="/54.1-3507.1/">54.1-3507.1</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Collaborative behavioral health services</span>&#x201D; means those supportive services that are provided by a registered <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span>, registered <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> assistant</span>, registered <span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span>, or registered <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span>-trainee</span> under the direction of and in collaboration with either a mental health professional licensed in the Commonwealth or a person under <span class="dictionary">supervision</span> as a prerequisite for licensure who has been approved by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Counseling, <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Psychology, or <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Social Work.
		&#x201C;Counseling&#x201D; means the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession in (i) conducting assessments and diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives and (ii) planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment plans using treatment interventions to facilitate human development and to identify and remediate mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Licensed <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> practitioner</span>&#x201D; means a person who: (i) is trained in and engages in the <span class="dictionary">practice of <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span></span> with individuals or groups of individuals suffering from the effects of substance abuse or dependence, and in the prevention of substance abuse or dependence; and (ii) is licensed to provide advanced <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> and independent, direct, and unsupervised treatment to such individuals or groups of individuals, and to plan, evaluate, supervise, and direct <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> provided by others.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Marriage and family therapist</span>&#x201D; means a person trained in the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Marriage and family therapy</span>&#x201D; means the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques and delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families, singularly or in groups, for the purpose of treating such disorders.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Practice of counseling</span>&#x201D; means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public any service involving the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, which shall include appraisal, counseling, and <span class="dictionary">referral activities</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Practice of <span class="dictionary">marriage and family therapy</span></span>&#x201D; means the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques, which shall include assessment, treatment, and <span class="dictionary">referral activities</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Practice of <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span></span>&#x201D; means rendering or offering to render <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Professional counselor</span>&#x201D; means a person trained in the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, including counseling interventions designed to facilitate an individual&#x2019;s achievement of human development goals and remediating mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health and development.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Qualified mental health professional</span>&#x201D; means a person who has (i) completed, at a minimum, a bachelor&#x2019;s degree; (ii) registered with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to practice in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of qualified mental health professionals" href="/54.1-3520/">54.1-3520</a> and the regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>; and (iii) a combination of work, training, or experience in providing <span class="dictionary">collaborative behavioral health services</span> for youth or adults. A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span>&#x201D; includes a <span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span>-adult and <span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span>-child. A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span>&#x201D; shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Qualified mental health professional</span>-trainee</span>&#x201D; means a person who is receiving supervised training to qualify as a <span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span> in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of qualified mental health professional-trainees" href="/54.1-3521/">54.1-3521</a> and is registered with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span>-trainee</span>&#x201D; shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Referral activities</span>&#x201D; means the evaluation of data to identify problems and to determine advisability of referral to other specialists.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Registered peer recovery specialist</span>&#x201D; means a person who by education and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to provide collaborative services to assist individuals in achieving sustained recovery from the effects of addiction or mental illness, or both. A <span class="dictionary">registered peer recovery specialist</span> shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a practitioner licensed by or holding a permit issued from the Department of Health Professions, or a facility licensed by the Department of Health.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Residency</span>&#x201D; means a post-internship supervised clinical experience registered with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Resident</span>&#x201D; means an individual who has submitted a supervisory <span class="dictionary">contract</span> to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and has received <span class="dictionary">Board</span> approval to provide clinical services in professional counseling under <span class="dictionary">supervision</span>.
		&#x201C;Substance abuse&#x201D; and &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">substance dependence</span>&#x201D; mean a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Substance abuse treatment</span>&#x201D; means (i) the application of specific knowledge, skills, <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> theory, and <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action regarding substance abuse or dependence prevention, education, or treatment in the substance abuse or dependence recovery process and (ii) referrals to medical, social services, psychological, psychiatric, or legal resources when such referrals are indicated.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Supervision</span>&#x201D; means the ongoing process, performed by a supervisor, of monitoring the performance of the person supervised and providing regular, documented individual or group consultation, guidance, and instruction with respect to the clinical skills and competencies of the person supervised. Supervisors may only supervise activities within their scope and area of <span class="dictionary">Board</span>-defined competency. <span class="dictionary">Supervision</span> provided by nonlicensed supervisors shall not be a replacement for the direction of services and collaboration with the licensed mental health professional or licensed eligible mental health professional required to perform <span class="dictionary">collaborative behavioral health services</span>.</p></section></text><history>1976, c. 608, &#xA7;&#xA7; 54-924, 54-932; 1983, c. 115; 1986, cc. 64, 464; 1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 342; 1995, c. 820; 1997, c. 901; 2000, c. 473; 2001, c. 460; 2013, c. 264; 2017, cc. 418, 426; 2018, cc. 171, 375, 803; 2019, cc. 101, 217; 2020, c. 301; 2024, c. 595.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
