Scope Of Practice

(1) The scope of practice of a Psychologist is prescribed and limited by Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 11 and the rules set forth in this chapter and Chapter 1180-01. (2) A license issued by the Board specifies licensure as a Psychologist. The Board may grant designation as a Health Service Provider to qualifying Psychologists. HSP designation will be displayed on the renewal certificate. (3) Psychologists shall limit their practices to the use of those techniques, and to providing services to those populations, for which they have formal education, formal professional training and supervised experience, and for which they hold licensure. (4) Health services may be provided only by Psychologists with HSP designation. The scope of practice of Psychologists with HSP designation is limited to those health services for which the licensee has obtained education and specific training to provide. (5) The practice of a Psychologist includes, but is not limited to: (a) Psychological testing and/or the evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics, such as intelligence, personality, mental status, psychopathology, abilities, achievement, interests, aptitudes and neuropsychological functioning; (b) Behavioral analysis; (c) Psychological evaluation or assessment or analysis of organizations and organizational functioning; (d) Counseling, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, group therapy, marital therapy, family therapy, hypnosis, hypnotherapy, biofeedback and behavior therapy; (e) Psychological diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional and nervous disorders or disabilities, developmental deviation or disability, alcoholism and substance abuse, disorders of habit or conduct, and the psychological aspect of physical illness, accident, injury or disability; (f) Psychoeducational evaluation, psychoeducational therapy, developmental therapy, remediation and consultation; and RULES GOVERNING PSYCHOLOGISTS CHAPTER 1180-02 (g) Case management and utilization review of services and psychological consultations, program planning, and psychological research to industrial, business and corporate organizations. (6) A Psychologist’s services may be rendered to individuals, families, groups, organizations and the public, without regard to whether payment is received for services rendered. (7) Standards for supervision of Psychologists, Psychological Examiners and Certified Psychological Assistants by Psychologists. (a) Supervision must meet minimum standards and a supervisor of record must be made known to the Board. When a Psychologist renews their license the Psychologist must list those Psychologists, Psychological Examiners, and Certified Psychological Assistants whom the Psychologist supervises and for whom the Psychologist is the supervisor of record. (b) Qualified supervision requires that a licensed Psychologist, qualified by experience and training to practice the overall supervised activity or activities, provide supervision on a regular and frequent basis. The supervising Psychologist for Psychological Examiners, Certified Psychological Assistants, and for Psychologists delivering health services must also be designated as a HSP. (c) The supervising Psychologist shall limit the number of supervisees in order to assure an adequate ratio of supervision hours to practice hours consistent with professional standards and guidelines which insure the welfare of the supervisees and their clients. (d) Specific case monitoring and skill training requires significant supervisory contact and must be in addition to overall administrative supervision. Supervision conducted via face-to-face video conferencing equipment and/or technology is acceptable, assuming compliance with subparagraphs (7)(a) through (7)(e) of this rule. “Face-to-face” means (a) can see one’s face and (b) occurring in real time via video conferencing equipment and/or technology. No more than seventy-five (75) percent of supervision can be obtained through video conferencing. 1. Supervision is to be conducted primarily on a one-on-one basis and shall be in addition to any group seminar or group consultations which are also deemed appropriate. Thus, adequate supervision will require considerable one-on-one contact and time with respect to each client. Records of the supervision process must be maintained by the supervisor covering the number of hours of supervision activities, the number and duration of one-on-one supervisory meetings and documentation of clients discussed at each supervisory session. 2. A supervisor, at the time of supervision, must not be in a dual relationship with the supervisee, e.g., be a spouse, other close relative or therapist. (e) In all cases the specific terms of the supervisory arrangement are the responsibility of the supervising Psychologist upon whom it is incumbent to assure supervisory time and service delivery. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the supervisee to obtain supervision. The education, training, experience, ongoing performance and level of licensure or certification of the supervisee must be considered by the supervisor. The arrangements for supervision must be agreed to by both the supervisor and the supervisee. In situations where supervision has been regular and frequent and one-on- one contact has occurred, the frequency and intensity of supervision may, at the discretion of the supervising Psychologist upon determination of the supervisee’s competence and readiness, be modified. Ultimately, the supervising Psychologist of RULES GOVERNING PSYCHOLOGISTS CHAPTER 1180-02 record must protect the welfare of the client and assure compliance with Tennessee law and professional ethics. 1. The standard for supervision of newly licensed individuals with a provisional license as a Psychologist with HSP designation and for Psychological Examiners is one (1) hour per week. 2. The standard for supervision of experienced (licensed for at least five [5] years) Psychological Examiners is that it shall occur no less than monthly. If an experienced Psychological Examiner changes supervisors, the experienced Examiner may follow the monthly supervision standard if agreed to by both the Psychologist supervisor and the experienced Psychological Examiner in question. 3. The standard for supervision of Certified Psychological Assistants is direct and frequent supervision to take place at the site of service, considering the number of hours worked per week and the experience level of the Certified Psychological Assistant. (8) Standards for supervision of Certified Psychological Testing Technicians by Psychologists. (a) Supervision must meet minimum standards and a supervisor of record must be made known to the Board. When a Psychologist renews the Psychologist’s license the Psychologist must list those Certified Psychological Testing Technicians whom the Psychologist supervises and for whom the Psychologist is a supervisor of record. (b) A supervisor, at the time of supervision, must not be in a dual relationship with the supervisee, e.g., be a spouse, other close relative, or treating therapist. (c) In all cases the specific terms of the supervisory arrangement are the responsibility of the supervising Psychologist upon whom it is incumbent to assure supervisory time and service delivery. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the supervisee to obtain supervision. The supervisor must consider the education, training, experience, ongoing performance, and level of licensure or certification of the supervisee. The arrangements for supervision must be agreed to by both the supervisor and the supervisee. In situations where supervision has been regular and frequent and one-on- one contact has occurred, the frequency and intensity of supervision may, at the discretion of the supervising Psychologist or Senior Psychological Examiner, upon determination of the supervisee’s competence and readiness, be modified. Ultimately, the supervising Psychologist or Senior Psychological Examiner of record must protect the welfare of the client and assure compliance with Tennessee law and professional ethics. (d) The standard for supervision of Certified Psychological Testing Technicians is ongoing indirect supervision with direct supervision available while the Certified Psychological Testing Technician is engaged in clinical activities. As such, the supervisor is available to come to the site of care in order to provide direct supervision or is immediately available via telephone or face-to-face video conferencing. “Face-to-face” means: (a) can see one’s face; and (b) occurring in real time via video conferencing equipment and/or technology. (9) The Board shall consider that an individual, either licensed or unlicensed, is violating these limits of practice if the individual’s conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following: RULES GOVERNING PSYCHOLOGISTS CHAPTER 1180-02 (a) Claiming expertise or using techniques or procedures of assessment or treatment for which the practitioner has not completed appropriate academic course work or supervised training experience; (b) Knowingly assigning, permitting or hiring any unqualified person(s) to perform functions of assessment or treatment or delegating the provisions of psychological services to unqualified person(s); (c) Failing to adequately supervise any assigned trainee or employee who is providing psychological services; (d) Aiding, abetting, assisting, or hiring any individual to violate or circumvent any law or duly promulgated rule intended to guide the conduct of psychological services; or (e) Providing or claiming to provide health services as a Psychologist without a designation as a HSP.