The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the content clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Agency" means:

(a) An agency or facility operated, licensed, or certified by the state of Washington to provide a specific counseling service or services;

(b) A federally recognized Indian tribe located within the state; or

(2) "Agency affiliated counselor" means a person registered under chapter 18.19 RCW, and this chapter, who is engaged in counseling and employed by an agency listed in WAC 246-810-016 or an agency recognized under WAC 246-810-017 to provide a specific counseling service or services.

(3) "Certified adviser" means a person certified under chapter 18.19 RCW, and this chapter, who is engaged in private practice counseling to the extent authorized in WAC 246-810-021.

(4) "Certified counselor" means a person certified under chapter 18.19 RCW, and this chapter, who is engaged in private practice counseling to the extent authorized in WAC 246-810-0201.

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

(6) "Consultation" means the professional assistance and practice guidance that a certified counselor receives from a counseling-related professional credentialed under chapter 18.130 RCW. This may include:

(a) Helping the certified counselor focus on counseling practice objectives;

(b) Refining counseling modalities;

(d) Expanding the available decision-making resources; and

(e) Assisting in discovering alternative approaches.

(7) "Counseling" means employing any therapeutic techniques including, but not limited to, social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family 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 purpose of this chapter, nothing may be construed to imply that the practice of hypnotherapy is necessarily limited to counseling.

(8) "Counselor" means an individual who engages in the practice of counseling to the public for a fee, including for the purposes of this chapter, agency affiliated counselors, certified counselors, certified advisers, hypnotherapists, and until July 1, 2010, registered counselors.

(9) "Department" means the Washington state department of health.

(10) "Fee" as referred to in RCW 18.19.030 means compensation received by the counselor for counseling services provided, regardless of the source.

(11) "Hypnotherapist" means a person registered under chapter 18.19 RCW, and this chapter, who is practicing hypnosis as a modality.

(12) "Licensed health care practitioner" means a licensed practitioner under the following chapters:

(a) Physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW.

(b) Osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW.

(d) Naturopathic physician licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW.

(e) Psychologist licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW.

(f) Independent clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or advanced social worker licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW.

(13) "Private practice counseling" means the practice of counseling by a certified counselor or certified adviser as specified in WAC 246-810-0201 or 246-810-021.

(14) "Psychotherapy" means the practice of counseling using diagnosis of mental disorders according to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and the development of treatment plans for counseling based on diagnosis of mental disorders in accordance with established practice standards.

(15) "Recognized" means acknowledged or formally accepted by the secretary.

(16) "Recognized agency or facility" means an agency or facility that has requested and been recognized under WAC 246-810-017 to employ agency affiliated counselors to perform a specific counseling service, or services for those purposes only.

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

(18) "Supervision" means the oversight that a counseling-related professional credentialed under chapter 18.130 RCW provides.

(19) "Unprofessional conduct" means the conduct described in RCW 18.130.180.

PDFWAC 246-810-010

Definitions.