Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-810-010 Definitions and 246-810-016 Agencies and facilities that can employ agency affiliated counselors (AAC), the definition of agency is amended to include counties, giving them the authority to employ ACCs.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The 2010 legislature passed SSB 6884 (chapter 20, Laws of 2010) that changed the definition of an agency to include counties. The definition of an AAC was also amended to include certain county juvenile court employees. These individuals who are engaged in counseling services can become a registered AAC.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The rules must be amended to include counties as an agency eligible to hire AACs so their juvenile court employees that engage in counseling services will be able to become registered AACs. This will provide the public greater access to counseling care. The expedited rule-making process is appropriate because the content adopts without material change a state statute.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.19.050.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 18.19.020.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of health, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Leann Yount, Program Manager, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 236-4856.

June 16, 2010

Mary C. Selecky

Secretary of Health

OTS-3234.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-15-041, filed 7/8/09, effective 7/8/09)

WAC 246-810-010   Definitions.   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; or

     (b) A county as listed in chapter 36.04 RCW.

     (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;

     (c) Providing support to progress in difficult or sensitive cases;

     (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 healthcare 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.

     (c) Psychiatric registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 18.79 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.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.050 and chapter 18.19 RCW. 09-15-041, § 246-810-010, filed 7/8/09, effective 7/8/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.050. 06-08-106, § 246-810-010, filed 4/5/06, effective 5/6/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.050(1). 97-17-113, § 246-810-010, filed 8/20/97, effective 9/20/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-810-010, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.060. 89-14-070 (Order PM 840), § 308-190-030, filed 6/30/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.050. 88-11-024 (Order PM 728), § 308-190-030, filed 5/11/88.]

OTS-3235.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-15-041, filed 7/8/09, effective 7/8/09)

WAC 246-810-016   Agencies ((or)), facilities, or counties that can employ agency affiliated counselors.   Agencies or facilities that may employ an agency affiliated counselor are:

     (1) Washington state departments and agencies listed in the Agency, Commission & Organization Directory available on the state of Washington web site.

     (2) Counties as listed in chapter 36.04 RCW.

     (3) Community and technical colleges governed by the Washington state board for community and technical colleges.

     (((3))) (4) Colleges and universities governed by the Washington state higher education coordinating board.

     (((4))) (5) Hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW.

     (((5))) (6) Home health care agencies, home care agencies, and hospice care agencies licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW.

     (((6))) (7) Agencies and facilities licensed or certified under chapters 71.05 or 71.24 RCW.

     (((7))) (8) Psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities, hospitals, and alcohol and chemical dependency entities licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW.

     (((8))) (9) Other agencies or facilities recognized by the secretary as provided in WAC 246-810-017.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.050 and chapter 18.19 RCW. 09-15-041, § 246-810-016, filed 7/8/09, effective 7/8/09.]

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