La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LX-2118

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section LX-2118 - Appendix-Declaration of Practices and Procedures for Licensed Professional Counselors and Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors

A. The following comprises the information that must be available in writing for each client seen by a licensed professional counselor or provisional licensed professional counselor in the state of Louisiana. Licensed professional counselors or provisional licensed professional counselors must read and incorporate the Code of Conduct for Professional Counselors in their declaration statement.

1. Licensed professional counselor or provisional licensed professional counselors name, mailing address, and telephone number.

2. Qualifications

a. Include degrees earned and institution(s) attended.

b. Give your license number, specifying the LPC Board of Examiners including address and telephone number as the grantor of your license or provisional license.

c. An individual under supervision must refer to him/herself as a provisional licensed professional counselor and include the name and address of his/her board-approved supervisor.

3. Counseling Relationship

a. Provide a general statement about the dynamics of the counseling relationship.

b. Include general goals for clients.

4. Areas of Focus

a. List your areas of focus such as career counseling, marriage and family counseling, adolescents, etc.

b. List your national certifications in counseling.

5. Fee Scales

a. List your fees and describe your billing policies.

b. Describe your policy on scheduling and breaking appointments.

c. State your policy on insurance payments.

6. Explanation of the Types of Services Offered and Clients Served

a. Include the theoretical basis and the type of techniques and/or strategies that you use in therapy.

b. Specify the modality you use such as group and/or individual therapy.

c. Specify the type(s) of clients you serve.

7. Code of Conduct: State that you are required by state law to adhere to a Code of Conduct for your practice which is determined by the Louisiana Licensing Board, and a copy of this code is available on request.

8. Privileged Communication. Describe the rules governing privileged communication and include the limits of confidentiality.

9. Emergency Situations. Describe your policy for emergency client situations.

10. Client Responsibilities. List client responsibilities, e.g., clients are expected to follow office procedures for keeping appointments, clients must pay for services at the time of each visit, and clients must terminate the counseling relationship before being seen by another mental health professional and/or notify the licensee of any other ongoing professional mental health relationship. If a client is seeing another mental health professional (psychologist, board certified social worker, etc.), then permission must be granted by the first therapist for the second to work with the same client. (See Code of Conduct).

11. Physical Health. Suggest that client have a complete physical examination if he/she has not had one within the past year. Also have client list any medications that he/she may be taking.

12. Potential Counseling Risks. Indicate that as a result of mental health counseling, the client may realize that he/she has additional issues which may not have surfaced prior to the onset of the counseling relationship. The licensee may also indicate possible risk within specific specialty areas (i.e., marriage and family: as one partner changes, additional strain may be placed on the martial relationship if the other partner refuses to work).

13. It is also required that a place be provided for the date and signatures of the licensee, the client(s) and, if warranted, the date and signatures of the parent/guardian and the licensees supervisor. A general statement is required indicating that the client has read, understands, and agrees to the conditions set forth by the declaration statement. Minor clients must have an accompanying parent/guardian signature which provides consent for their treatment.

B. To practice mental health counseling in Louisiana the licensed professional counselor or provisional licensed professional counselor must have a current copy of his/her declaration statement on file in the LPC Board office. The provisional licensed professional counselor must include a copy of his/her declaration statement with each application for or change in supervision. The Code of Conduct can be duplicated for clients and additional copies are available from the board.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LX-2118

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, LR 15:627 (August 1989), amended LR 20:544 (May 1994), LR 29:152 (February 2003), LR 39:1806 (July 2013), LR 41737 (4/1/2015).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1101-1123.