2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 5 - Businesses and Professions › Chapter 5-63.2 - Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists › Section 5-63.2-2. - Definitions.

§ 5-63.2-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(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, radio, or television; or by advertising by any other means designed to secure public attention.
(2)
“Board” means the board of mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists.
(3)
“Clinical mental health counselor” means a person who is licensed pursuant to § 5-63.2-9, which license is in force and not suspended or revoked as of the particular time in question.
(4)
“Internship” means a part of an organized graduate program in counseling therapy and constitutes a supervised experience within a mental health and/or marriage and family setting.
(5)
“Marriage and family therapist” means a person who is licensed pursuant to § 5-63.2-10, which license is in force and not suspended or revoked as of the particular time in question.
(6)
“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, or body politic.
(7)
“Practice of clinical mental health counseling” means the rendering of professional services to individuals, families, or groups for monetary compensation. These professional services include:
(i)
Applying the principles, methods, and theories of counseling and/or psychotherapeutic techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action aimed toward the prevention, treatment, and resolution of social, mental, and emotional dysfunction and intra or interpersonal disorders in persons diagnosed at intake as non-psychotic and not presenting medical problems; and
(ii)
Engaging in psychotherapy of a nonmedical nature, utilizing supervision when appropriate, and making referrals to other psychiatric, psychological, or medical resources when the person is diagnosed as psychotic or presenting a medical problem.
(8)
“Practice of marriage and family therapy” means the rendering of professional services to individuals, family groups, couples, or organizations for monetary compensation. These professional services include applying principles, methods, and therapeutic techniques for the purpose of resolving emotional conflicts; modifying perceptions and behavior; enhancing communications and understanding among all family members; and the prevention of family and individual crisis. Individual marriage and family therapists shall also engage in psychotherapy of a nonmedical and non-psychotic nature with appropriate referrals to psychiatric resources.
(9)
“Practicum” means a part of an organized graduate program in counseling therapy and constitutes a supervised experience within the graduate counseling program.
(10)
“Qualified supervision” means the supervision of clinical services in accordance with standards established by the board under the supervision of an individual who has been recognized by the board as an approved supervisor.
(11)
“Recognized educational institution” means any educational institution that grants a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree and is recognized by the board of mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists or a recognized postgraduate clinical training program as specified in §§ 5-63.2-9 and 5-63.2-10.
(12)
“Use a title or description of” means to hold oneself out to the public as having a particular status by means of stating on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery, announcements, calling cards, or other instruments of professional identification.
History of Section.
P.L. 1996, ch. 85, § 2; P.L. 2022, ch. 167, § 1, effective June 27, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 168, § 1, effective June 27, 2022; P.L. 2023, ch. 395, art. 2, § 1, effective June 27, 2023.