H-3751.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2498

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Representatives Cody, Dyer, Backlund, Conway, Cooke, Kenney and Murray

Read first time 01/14/98.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Recognizing a title for recreational therapists.

    AN ACT Relating to registration of counselors; and amending RCW 18.19.020 and 18.19.090.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 18.19.020 and 1991 c 3 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

    (1) "Certified marriage and family therapist" means a person certified to practice marriage and family therapy pursuant to RCW 18.19.130.

    (2) "Certified mental health counselor" means a person certified to practice mental health counseling pursuant to RCW 18.19.120.

    (3) "Certified social worker" means a person certified to practice social work pursuant to RCW 18.19.110.

    (4) "Client" means an individual who receives or participates in counseling or group counseling.

    (5) "Counseling" means employing any therapeutic techniques, including but not limited to social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, recreational therapy, and hypnotherapy, for a fee that offer, assist or attempt to assist an individual or individuals in the amelioration or adjustment of mental, emotional, or behavioral problems, and includes therapeutic techniques to achieve sensitivity and awareness of self and others and the development of human potential.  For the purposes of this chapter, nothing may be construed to imply that the practice of recreational therapy and hypnotherapy is necessarily limited to counseling.

    (6) "Counselor" means an individual, practitioner, therapist, or analyst who engages in the practice of counseling to the public for a fee, including for the purposes of this chapter, recreational therapists or hypnotherapists.

    (7) "Department" means the department of health.

    (8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department or the secretary's designee.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 18.19.090 and 1991 c 3 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:

    The secretary shall issue a registration to any applicant who submits, on forms provided by the secretary, the applicant's name, address, occupational title, name and location of business, and other information as determined by the secretary, including information necessary to determine whether there are grounds for denial of registration or issuance of a conditional registration under this chapter or chapter 18.130 RCW.  Applicants for registration shall register as counselors or may register as hypnotherapists or recreational therapists if employing hypnosis or recreational therapy as a modality.  Applicants shall, in addition, provide in their titles a description of their therapeutic orientation, discipline, theory, or technique.  Each applicant shall pay a fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250, which shall accompany the application.

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