Scope Of Practice

(1) The following shall be considered necessary when addressing the scope of practice for professional counselors: (a) Assisting an individual, through the counseling relationship, in a manner intended to facilitate normal human growth and development, using a combination of mental health and human development principles, methods and techniques, to achieve mental, emotional, physical, social, moral, educational, spiritual and/or career development and adjustment through the lifespan. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS CHAPTER 0450-01 (b) Rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public any service involving the application of principles, techniques, methods or procedures of the counseling profession, including appraisal activities, counseling, consulting and referral activities. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the treatment of any mental, emotional or adjustment disorder other than marital problems, parent-child problems, child and adolescent antisocial behavior, adult antisocial behavior, other specified family circumstances, other interpersonal problems, phase of life problems, other life circumstance problems, occupational problems, and uncomplicated bereavement. (c) Selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting instruments designed to assess an individual’s aptitudes, achievements, or interests, which are used to understand, measure or facilitate such individual’s normal human growth and development, but shall not include the use of projective techniques in the assessment of personality, nor the use of psychological or clinical tests designed to identify or classify abnormal or pathological human behavior, nor the use of individually administered intelligence tests. Consistent with each counselor’s formal education and training, licensed or certified professional counselors may administer and utilize appropriate assessment instruments which measure and/or diagnose problems and/or dysfunctions within the context of human growth and development as part of the counseling process or in the development of a treatment plan. (2) In addition to the provisions of paragraph (1), the following shall be considered necessary when addressing the scope of practice for professional counselors as a mental health service provider: (a) Facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the life span; (b) Prevent, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional or behavioral disorders and associated disorders which interfere with mental health; (c) Conduct assessments and diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives within the limitations prescribed in T.C.A. § 63-22-150(1); and (d) Plan, implement, and evaluate treatment plans using counseling treatment interventions. “Counseling treatment interventions” means the application of cognitive, affective, behavioral and systemic counseling strategies which include principles of development, wellness, and pathology that reflect a pluralistic society. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to permit the performance of any act which licensed professional counselors designated as mental health service providers are not educated and trained to perform, nor shall it be construed to permit the designation of testing reports as “psychological.” (3) Any person who engages in any unlawful act enumerated in these rules and T.C.A. §§ 63-22- 101, et seq., is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. (4) Nothing in these rules shall be construed as permitting individuals registered with the board to administer or prescribe drugs or in any manner engage in the practice of medicine as defined by Tennessee law.