N.J. Admin. Code § 13:34-10.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 13:34-10.2 - Definitions

The following words and terms, as used in N.J.A.C. 13:34-10 through 19, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Counseling" means the application of mental health and human development principles in order to:

1. Facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the lifespan;

2. Clinically assess and evaluate, using currently accepted diagnostic classifications including, but not limited to, the DSM-IV, 4th ed., c1994, and future editions of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), incorporated by reference, as amended and supplemented, (obtainable from the American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825, Arlington, VA 22209-3901), mental, emotional, behavioral and associated distresses which interfere with mental health and development;

3. Conduct assessments and evaluations, within the scope of practice, for the purpose of establishing goals and objectives; and

4. Plan, implement and evaluate counseling interventions.

"Counseling interventions" means services specifically implemented in the context of a professional counseling relationship. Counseling interventions include, but are not limited to, developmental, preventive, facilitative and crisis intervention.

"Counseling procedures" means methods and techniques that may be performed only by a licensed professional counselor or a licensed associate counselor under supervision pursuant to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 13:34-13. Counseling procedures include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Appraisal and assessment, defined as:

i. Selecting, administering, scoring and interpreting instruments designed to assess an individual's aptitudes, attitudes, abilities, achievements, interests, personal characteristics, disabilities and mental, emotional and behavioral disorders; and

ii. Using methods and techniques for understanding human behavior in relation to coping with, adapting to or changing life situations;

2. Counseling, defined as assisting an individual or group through the counseling relationship to develop an understanding of intrapersonal and interpersonal problems, to define goals, to make decisions, to plan a course of action reflecting the client's needs, interests, and abilities, and to use informational and community resources as these methods are related to career development and adjustment and to mental, emotional, social, educational and existential issues;

3. Consulting, defined as applying scientific principles and procedures in counseling and human development to provide assistance in understanding and solving current or potential problems that the client(s) may have in relation to an individual, a group or an organization;

4. Referral, defined as evaluating and identifying needs of a client to determine the advisability of referral to other specialists, informing the client of such judgment and communicating as requested or deemed appropriate to such referral sources; and

5. Research, defined as the conduct of qualitative or quantitative investigations into the nature of human and organizational behavior.

"Direct supervision" means the ongoing process of supervision by a qualified supervisor who is immediately available to assist the licensed associate counselor.

"Group supervision" means the ongoing process of supervising no more than six mental health counselors at one time in a group setting by a qualified supervisor.

"Independent practice of counseling" means providing counseling services in a private-for-profit setting by a licensed professional counselor or a licensed associate counselor working under the direct supervision of a qualified supervisor consistent with the requirements of 13:34-10.3.

"One calendar year" means a maximum of 1,500 hours of supervised counseling experience over a period of 52 weeks, which is considered full-time or no less than 750 hours of supervised counseling experience in each of two 52-week periods for a total of 1,500 hours of supervised counseling experience, which is considered part-time. No more than 30 hours of supervised counseling experience shall be obtained in any one week. No more than 125 hours of supervised counseling experience shall be earned in any one month.

"Professional counseling experience" means the rendering of professional counseling services while under the direct supervision of a qualified supervisor.

"Professional counseling services" means the application of mental health and human development principles in order to facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the lifespan; clinically assess and evaluate mental, emotional and associated distresses, which interfere with mental health and development; conduct assessments and evaluations for the purpose of establishing goals and objectives; and plan, implement and evaluate counseling interventions.

"Qualified supervisor" means an individual who holds a clinical license to engage in the practice of professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, psychiatry, or social work for a minimum of three years in the state where the services are being provided, and who has:

1. A clinical supervisor's certificate from the National Board for Certified Counselors Center for Credentialing and Education or its successor;

2. An equivalent clinical supervisor credential recognized by the individual's respective professional healthcare licensing board; or

3. Completed a minimum of three graduate credits in clinical supervision from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

A "qualified supervisor" shall satisfy all requirements set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:34-13.1.

"Supervision" or "supervised" means the weekly interaction with a qualified supervisor who monitors the performance of the licensed associate counselor and provides weekly, documented, face-to-face consultation, guidance and instruction with respect to the counseling skills and competencies of the licensed associate counselor, which includes at least 50 hours of face-to-face supervision per one calendar year, at the rate of one hour per week, of which not more than 10 hours may be group supervision.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:34-10.2

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 655(a), effective 4/3/2017

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 538(b), effective 4/5/2021