Wyo. Code R. 078-0001-7
Effective Date: 02/10/1994 to 07/01/1997
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 078.0001.7.02101994
Date Filed 02/10/94 Expr Date Repeal Date
Supr Date
Document Type RULES
(a) Professional Counseling: The practice of professional counseling is the rendering to individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, corporations, institutions, government agencies or the general public a service that integrates a wellness, pathology and multicultural model of human behavior. This model applies a combination of mental health, psychotherapeutic, and human development principles and procedures to help clients achieve effective mental, emotional, physical, social, moral, educational, spiritual or career development and adjustment throughout the life span, and includes the diagnostic description and treatment of mental disorders or disabilities within the range of the professional's preparation.
(b) Clinical Social Work: The practice of clinical social work is the application of social work theory and methods to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of psychosocial dysfunction, disability or impairment, including emotional and mental disorders. It is based on knowledge of one or more theories of human development within a psychosocial context. The perspective of person-in-situation is central to professional social work practice. Professional clinical social work includes, but is not limited to, interventions directed to interpersonal interactions, intrapsychic dynamics, and life-support and management issues. Professional clinical social work services consist of assessment; diagnosis; treatment, including psychotherapy and counseling; client-centered advocacy; case management; consultation and evaluation.
(c) Marriage and Family Therapy: The practice of marriage and family therapy is the rendering of professional marital and family therapy services and treatment to individuals, family groups and marital pairs, singly or in groups. Marital and family therapy includes, but is not limited to, the diagnosis and treatment, including psychotherapy, of nervous, emotional, and mental disorders, whether cognitive, affective or behavioral, within the context of marital and family systems. Marital and family therapy involves the professional application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, marital pairs and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
(d) Addictions Therapy: The practice of addictions therapy is providing services based on theory and methods of counseling, psychotherapy, and addictionology to persons who are experiencing cognitive, affective or behavioral psychosocial dysfunction as a direct or indirect result of addiction, chemical dependency, abuse of chemical substances or related disorders. The practice of addictions therapy includes, but is not limited to, addiction prevention, crisis intervention, diagnosis, referral, direct treatment, and follow-up treatment which is rendered to individuals, families, groups, organizations, schools, and communities who are adversely affected by addictions or related disorders.
Section 2. Ethical Standards. The following ethical standards are adopted and incorporated herein by the Board:
(a) The protection of the public health, safety and welfare and the best interest of the public shall be the primary guide in determining the appropriate professional conduct of all persons whose activities are regulated by the Board.
(b) Ethical standards incorporate and are based on the Code of Ethics of the professional organizations. The published Code of Ethics of the appropriate professional organization are adopted by reference herein and shall be used by the Licensee and the Board to provide additional guidelines to ethical standards.
(c) Persons licensed by the Board shall:
(i) Practice in a manner that is in the best interest of the public and does not endanger the public health, safety or welfare.
(ii) Be able to justify all services rendered to clients as necessary for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
(iii) Practice only within the competency areas for which they are trained and experienced. Passing specialization examinations or completing other specialization requirements of each discipline shall be an indication of special competency within a discipline area.
(iv) Report to the Board known or suspected violations of the laws and regulations governing the practice of licensed professionals.
(v) Use only those educational credentials in association with their licensure and practice as a professional that have been earned at an acceptable educational institution as defined by this act and that are professional in nature, including, but not limited to M.Ed., M.A., M.S., M.S.S.W., M.S.W., D.S.W., Ph.D., and Ed.D., and shall include the designation of licensure as an LAT, LCSW, LMFT or LPC.
(vi) Use only indicators of current discipline-related credentials such as Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified Mental Health Counselor or such indicators as awarded by independent credentialing agencies such as the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., the National Academy of Drug and Alcohol Counselors, and the National Association of Social Workers in association with their licensure and practice.
(vii) Ensure that clients are aware of fees and billing arrangements before rendering services. Barter is not an acceptable fee arrangement.
(viii) Provide clients with accurate and complete information regarding the extent and nature of services available to them.
(ix) Respect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence all information obtained in the course of professional service.
(x) Keep confidential their professional relationships with clients.
(xi) Disclose client records to others only with the expressed written consent of the client or as required by law and shall inform clients fully about the limits of confidentiality in a given situation, the purposes for which information is obtained and how it may be used.
(xii) Ensure that the welfare of clients is in no way compromised in any experimentation or research involving those clients which would include but not be limited to informed consent of the client.
(xiii) Refrain from conflictual dual relationships with clients that might compromise the client's well-being or impair the counselor's objectivity and professional judgment including, but not limited to, the counseling of the professional's close friends or relatives, and engaging in sexual intimacies with a client for a period of not less than three (3) years after termination of the professional relationship.
(xiv) When advertising their services to the public, ensure that such advertising is neither fraudulent nor misleading.
(xv) Not practice, facilitate or condone discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, nation origin, marital status, political belief, mental or physical handicap or other preferences or characteristics.
(xvi) Clearly state the person's licensure status by the use of a title or initials such as 'licensed professional counselor' (LPC) or a statement such as 'licensed by the Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board' in any advertising, public directory or solicitation, including telephone directory listings, regardless of whether such a presentment is made under the Licensee's name, a fictitious business or group name or a corporate name.
(xvii) Terminate services when such services are no longer required and no longer serve the client's needs. Services are not withdrawn precipitously except in unusual circumstances and with care to minimize possible adverse effects. This includes providing referral and transfer of services as appropriate.
(xviii) Avoid using relationships with clients to promote, for personal gain or the profit of an agency, commercial enterprises of any kind.
(xix) Seek advice and counsel of colleagues and supervisors when such consultation is in the best interest of the client while taking care to protect the clients confidentiality.
(xx) Respond to all requests for information and all other correspondence from the Board.
(xxi) Conspicuously display a professional disclosure statement wherever their services are performed and provide a copy of the statement to each client before or during the first session and upon request. The professional disclosure statement shall contain the Licensee's name, title, business address and telephone number; listing of formal professional education with the name of the institution(s) attended and the specific degree(s) received; licensure status and areas of specialization; supervisor's name, phone number and address; statement of confidentiality; a statement that sexual intimacy with a client is never appropriate and a statement that the disclosure statement is required by the Mental Health Professions Licensing Act with the address and phone number of the Board.
(xxii) Display their license at all times in a conspicuous location readily accessible to all clients at the Licensee's place of business.
Section 3. Grounds for Disciplinary Proceedings. A violation by a license of the ethical standards adopted by the professional organizations or the Board shall constitute unprofessional conduct and grounds for disciplinary action.