In this Act:

"Administrative support" means tasks performed to assist a licensed professional in the delivery of therapy or psychotherapy services that do not involve communication. "Administrative support" includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. (1) managing appointment scheduling and reminders;
2. (2) processing billing and insurance claims; and

3. (3) drafting general communications related to therapy logistics that do not include therapeutic advice. "Artificial intelligence" has the meaning given to that term in Section 2-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

   "Consent" means a clear, explicit affirmative act by an individual that: (i) unambiguously communicates the individual's express, freely given, informed, voluntary, specific, and unambiguous written agreement, including a written agreement provided by electronic means, and (ii) is revocable by the individual. "Consent" does not include an agreement that is obtained by the following:

4. (1) the acceptance of a general or broad terms of use agreement or a similar document that contains descriptions of artificial intelligence along with other unrelated information;
5. (2) an individual hovering over, muting, pausing, or closing a given piece of digital content; or

6. (3) an agreement obtained through the use of deceptive actions.

   "Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

   "Licensed professional" means an individual who holds a valid license issued by this State to provide therapy or psychotherapy services, including:

7. (1) a licensed clinical psychologist;
8. (2) a licensed clinical social worker;
9. (3) a licensed social worker;
10. (4) a licensed professional counselor;
11. (5) a licensed clinical professional counselor;
12. (6) a licensed marriage and family therapist;
13. (7) a certified alcohol and other drug counselor authorized to provide therapy or psychotherapy services;
14. (8) a licensed professional music therapist;
15. (9) a licensed advanced practice psychiatric nurse as defined in Section 1-101.3 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code; and

16. (10) any other professional authorized by this State to provide therapy or psychotherapy services, except for a physician. "Peer support" means services provided by individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions or recovery from substance use that are intended to offer encouragement, understanding, and guidance without clinical intervention.

    "Religious counseling" means counseling provided by clergy members, pastoral counselors, or other religious leaders acting within the scope of their religious duties if the services are explicitly faith-based and are not represented as clinical mental health services or therapy or psychotherapy services.

    "Supplementary support" means tasks performed to assist a licensed professional in the delivery of therapy or psychotherapy services that do not involve therapeutic communication and that are not administrative support. "Supplementary support" includes, but is not limited to, the following:

17. (1) preparing and maintaining client records, including therapy notes;
18. (2) analyzing anonymized data to track client progress or identify trends, subject to review by a licensed professional; and

19. (3) identifying and organizing external resources or referrals for client use.

    "Therapeutic communication" means any verbal, non-verbal, or written interaction conducted in a clinical or professional setting that is intended to diagnose, treat, or address an individual's mental, emotional, or behavioral health concerns. "Therapeutic communication" includes, but is not limited to:

20. (1) direct interactions with clients for the purpose of understanding or reflecting their thoughts, emotions, or experiences;
21. (2) providing guidance, therapeutic strategies, or interventions designed to achieve mental health outcomes;
22. (3) offering emotional support, reassurance, or empathy in response to psychological or emotional distress;
23. (4) collaborating with clients to develop or modify therapeutic goals or treatment plans; and
24. (5) offering behavioral feedback intended to promote psychological growth or address mental health conditions. "Therapy or psychotherapy services" means services provided to diagnose, treat, or improve an individual's mental health or behavioral health. "Therapy or psychotherapy services" does not include religious counseling or peer support.

(Source: P.A. 104-54, eff. 8-1-25.)