Definitions

Approved Supervisor. An individual who is at least one of the following: (a) A Massachusetts Licensed Mental Health Counselor or Massachusetts licensed marriage and family therapist with: 1. three years of Full Time, or the equivalent Part Time, experience as a practicing Massachusetts Licensed Mental Health Counselor or licensed Massachusetts marriage and family therapist; or 2. an approved Clinical Supervisor certification from the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association (MaCCS), American Mental Health Counselors Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, National Board for Certified Counselors, or a similar certificate approved by the board; or twelve continuing education hours in supervision provided by Entity-approved Sponsors, as defined in 262 CMR 7.02: Definitions, that cover legal and ethical issues, theories, and recordkeeping in supervision; (b) A Massachusetts licensed independent clinical social worker with three years of Full Time, or the equivalent Part Time, experience as a practicing licensed independent clinical social worker; or (c) A Massachusetts licensed psychologist with health service provider certification; or (d) A Massachusetts licensed physician with a sub-specialization in psychiatry; or (e) A Massachusetts licensed nurse practitioner with a sub-specialization in psychiatry; or (f) If a supervisee's training and supervision occur outside of Massachusetts, an Approved Supervisor is a licensed person who, as determined by the Board, has equivalent qualifications in that state to a licensed mental health practitioner in a category listed above. Board. The Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions established under M.G.L. c. 13, § 88. Board Examination. The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. Clinical Field Experience Site. A site providing pre and post- Master's clinical field experience training that is a public or private Recognized Educational Institution or health or mental health institution regulated by the state, or other appropriate entity regulated by the state or otherwise exempt from regulation, that has integrated programs for the delivery of clinical Mental Health Counseling and has established provisions for appropriate supervision. (Mass. Register #1579, 07/31/2026) Contact Hour. The unit of measurement of Direct Client Contact Experience of at least 45 minutes which may be composed of segments of at least 15 consecutive minutes. Contract Supervisor. A Licensed Mental Health Counselor with three years of Full Time or the equivalent Part Time post-licensure clinical Mental Health Counseling experience who has a written agreement with the individual receiving supervision and the Clinical Field Experience Site where supervision is occurring regarding the supervision to be provided. Direct Client Contact Experience. Direct, face-to-face, clinical Mental Health Counseling experience with a range of individuals, groups, couples, or families through Clinical Field Experience Sites that conforms to the Mental Health Counseling scope of practice as defined in 262 CMR 2.02: Mental Health Counseling. Such experience does not include vocational guidance services, academic school guidance counseling, industrial or organizational consulting services, teaching or conducting research. Emergency Contact. In school settings where individuals are working as school adjustment counselors, the school principal, a guidance counselor or a licensed educational psychologist who serves as the contact in the temporary absence of an Approved Supervisor. In certain health care facilities where Mental Health Counseling is provided, a licensed rehabilitation counselor, a licensed psychologist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner or a designated clinical administrator who serves as the contact in the temporary absence of an Approved Supervisor. Full Time. 35 hours per week, 48 weeks per year. The full time practice of clinical Mental Health Counseling must include at least ten Contact Hours per week of Direct Client Contact Experience. Graduate Level Course. A course consisting of graduate level academic work. For required courses, a Graduate Level Course is a minimum of three semester credits or four quarter credits. For elective courses, a Graduate Level Course may be one or more semester/quarter credits. Group Supervision. A regularly scheduled meeting of not more than ten mental health supervisees under the direction of an Approved Supervisor or Contract Supervisor for a period of at least one Supervisory Contact Hour. "Peer" supervision groups do not constitute Group Supervision. Individual Supervision. A meeting of one supervisee with an Approved Supervisor or Contract Supervisor for at least one Supervisory Contact Hour. Internship. A distinctly defined, post-Practicum, supervised curricular experience that totals a minimum of 600 clock hours. An internship enables the supervisee to enhance clinical Mental Health Counseling skills and integrate professional knowledge and skills appropriate to the supervisee's initial professional placement. An internship provides an opportunity for the individual to perform all the activities that a regularly employed staff member in the setting would be expected to perform. Licensed Mental Health Counselor. A person licensed as a mental health counselor under M.G.L. c. 112, § 165. Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselor. A person licensed as a supervised mental health counselor under M.G.L. c. 112, § 165. Mental Health Counseling. The rendering of professional services to individuals, families or groups for compensation, monetary or otherwise. These professional services include: applying the principles, methods, and theories of counseling, human development, learning theory, group and family dynamics, the etiology of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior and psychotherapeutic techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action aimed toward the prevention, treatment and resolution of mental and emotional dysfunction and intra or interpersonal disorders to all persons irrespective of diagnosis. The practice of Mental Health Counseling includes, but is not limited to, assessment, diagnosis and treatment, counseling and psychotherapy, of a nonmedical nature of mental and emotional disorders, psychoeducational techniques aimed at prevention of such disorders, and consultation to individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and communities. Post-Master's Degree Clinical Field Experience. Supervised work experience compliant with 262 CMR 2.07 and beginning after the candidate has earned all required education pursuant to 262 CMR 2.05. Part Time. Experience gained in less than 35 hours per week for the purpose of meeting the post-graduate clinical field experience requirement. Practicum. A distinctly defined, pre-Internship, supervised curricular experience that totals a minimum of 100 clock hours. A provides for the development of clinical Mental Health Counseling and group work skills under supervision. A may take place through the academic campus or through a Clinical Field Experience Site. Recognized Educational Institution. An educational institution licensed or accredited by the state regional accrediting body in which it is located which meets regional standards for the granting of a Master's or Doctoral degree. Relevant Field. Counseling, counselor education, expressive therapies, adjustment counseling, rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, or another Mental Health Counseling field determined by the Board to be a Relevant Field. Supervised Clinical Field Experience. Supervision compliant with 262 CMR 8.03(4) by an Approved Supervisor while in the practice of clinical Mental Health Counseling services. Supervisory Contact Hour. The unit of measurement of Individual Supervision, Group Supervision, or Supervised Clinical Field Experience lasting a minimum of 45 consecutive minutes.