Code of Massachusetts Regulations
262 CMR - BOARD OF ALLIED MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROFESSIONS
Title 262 CMR 2.00 - Requirements For Licensure As A Mental Health Counselor
Section 2.02 - Definitions

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

Approved Supervisor. A practitioner with three years of Full Time or the equivalent Part Time post-licensure clinical Mental Health Counseling experience who is also:

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 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. A Clinical Field Experience Site does not include individual private practice or group private practice.

Contact Hour. The unit of measurement of Direct Client Contact Experience of at least 45 minutes which may be composed of segments of at lest 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 at 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.

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.

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 practicum provides for the development of clinical Mental Health Counseling and group work skills under supervision. A practicum may take place on the academic campus or in 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.

Related 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 Related Field.

Supervised Clinical Field Experience. Supervision 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.