                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 54.1-3500)

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#8220;Appraisal activities&#8221; means the exercise of professional judgment
based on observations and objective assessments of a client&#8217;s behavior to
evaluate current functioning, diagnose, and select appropriate treatment
required to remediate identified problems or to make appropriate referrals.
		&#8220;Art therapist&#8221; means a person who has (i) completed a
master&#8217;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 Board; and
(iii) been issued a license for the independent practice of art therapy by the
Board.
		&#8220;Art therapy&#8221; 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.
		&#8220;Art therapy associate&#8221; means a person who has (i) completed a
master&#8217;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 Board; and
(iii) been issued a license to practice art therapy under an approved clinical
supervisor in accordance with regulations of the Board.
		&#8220;Behavioral health technician&#8221; means a person who has completed,
at a minimum, an associate degree and registered with the Board to practice in
accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-3518 and regulations of the Board and
provides collaborative behavioral health services. A &#8220;behavioral health
technician&#8221; 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.
		&#8220;Behavioral health technician assistant&#8221; means a person who has
completed a high school diploma or equivalent, at a minimum, and registered with
the Board to practice in accordance with the regulations of the Board and the
provisions of § 54.1-3519 to provide collaborative behavioral health services.
A &#8220;behavioral health technician assistant&#8221; 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.
		&#8220;Board&#8221; means the Board of Counseling.
		&#8220;Certified substance abuse counseling assistant&#8221; means a person
certified by the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of §
54.1-3507.2.
		&#8220;Certified substance abuse counselor&#8221; means a person certified by
the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-3507.1.
		&#8220;Collaborative behavioral health services&#8221; means those supportive
services that are provided by a registered behavioral health technician,
registered behavioral health technician assistant, registered qualified mental
health professional, or registered qualified mental health professional-trainee
under the direction of and in collaboration with either a mental health
professional licensed in the Commonwealth or a person under supervision as a
prerequisite for licensure who has been approved by the Board of Counseling,
Board of Psychology, or Board of Social Work.
		&#8220;Counseling&#8221; 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.
		&#8220;Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner&#8221; means a person
who: (i) is trained in and engages in the practice of substance abuse treatment
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 substance abuse treatment
and independent, direct, and unsupervised treatment to such individuals or
groups of individuals, and to plan, evaluate, supervise, and direct substance
abuse treatment provided by others.
		&#8220;Marriage and family therapist&#8221; 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.
		&#8220;Marriage and family therapy&#8221; 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.
		&#8220;Practice of counseling&#8221; 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 referral activities.
		&#8220;Practice of marriage and family therapy&#8221; 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 referral activities.
		&#8220;Practice of substance abuse treatment&#8221; means rendering or
offering to render substance abuse treatment to individuals, groups,
organizations, or the general public.
		&#8220;Professional counselor&#8221; means a person trained in the application
of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, including
counseling interventions designed to facilitate an individual&#8217;s
achievement of human development goals and remediating mental, emotional, or
behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health
and development.
		&#8220;Qualified mental health professional&#8221; means a person who has (i)
completed, at a minimum, a bachelor&#8217;s degree; (ii) registered with the
Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-3520 and the
regulations of the Board; and (iii) a combination of work, training, or
experience in providing collaborative behavioral health services for youth or
adults. A &#8220;qualified mental health professional&#8221; includes a
qualified mental health professional-adult and qualified mental health
professional-child. A &#8220;qualified mental health professional&#8221; 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.
		&#8220;Qualified mental health professional-trainee&#8221; means a person who
is receiving supervised training to qualify as a qualified mental health
professional in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-3521 and is registered
with the Board. A &#8220;qualified mental health professional-trainee&#8221;
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.
		&#8220;Referral activities&#8221; means the evaluation of data to identify
problems and to determine advisability of referral to other specialists.
		&#8220;Registered peer recovery specialist&#8221; means a person who by
education and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the Board
to provide collaborative services to assist individuals in achieving sustained
recovery from the effects of addiction or mental illness, or both. A registered
peer recovery specialist 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.
		&#8220;Residency&#8221; means a post-internship supervised clinical experience
registered with the Board.
		&#8220;Resident&#8221; means an individual who has submitted a supervisory
contract to the Board and has received Board approval to provide clinical
services in professional counseling under supervision.
		&#8220;Substance abuse&#8221; and &#8220;substance dependence&#8221; mean a
maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant
impairment or distress.
		&#8220;Substance abuse treatment&#8221; means (i) the application of specific
knowledge, skills, substance abuse treatment theory, and substance abuse
treatment 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.
		&#8220;Supervision&#8221; 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
Board-defined competency. Supervision 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 collaborative behavioral health services.

HISTORY: 1976, c. 608, §§ 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.