Maine Revised Statutes
Chapter 119: COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS
32 §13851. Definitions

§13851. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
1. Board.
[PL 1991, c. 263, §5 (RP); PL 1991, c. 263, §6 (AFF).]
1-A. Board. "Board" means the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure, established in section 13852.
[PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. EE, §1 (NEW).]
2. Clinical professional counselor. "Clinical professional counselor" means a professional counselor who renders or offers to render for a fee, monetary or otherwise, to individuals, families, groups, organizations or the general public, a counseling service involving the application of the principles and procedures of counseling to assess and treat intrapersonal and interpersonal problems and other dysfunctional behaviors and to assist in the overall development and adjustment of those served.
[PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
3. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation.
[PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
4. Conditional license. "Conditional license" means a license granted to an applicant for licensure who has met all the requirements defined in section 13858, except for supervised experience.
[PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 895, §2 (AMD).]
4-A. Counselor. "Counselor" means an individual who for a fee, monetary or otherwise, engages in any of the procedures of counseling defined in subsection 8.
[PL 1989, c. 895, §3 (NEW).]
5. Department. "Department" means the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.
[PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
6. Marital and family therapy services. "Marital and family therapy services" means the assessment and treatment of intrapersonal and interpersonal problems through the application of principles, methods and therapeutic techniques for the purpose of resolving emotional conflicts, modifying perceptions and behavior, enhancing communication and understanding among all family members, and preventing family and individual crises.
[PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
7. Marriage and family therapist. "Marriage and family therapist" means a person who renders or offers to render for a fee, monetary or otherwise, marital and family therapy services.
[PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
7-A. Pastoral counselor. "Pastoral counselor" means an individual who is trained and certified to provide for a fee, monetary or otherwise, pastoral counseling, which is ministry to individuals, families, couples, groups, organizations and the general public involving the application of principles and procedures of counseling to assess and treat intrapersonal and interpersonal problems and other dysfunctional behavior of a social and spiritual nature, and to assist in the overall development and healing process of those served.
[PL 1989, c. 895, §3 (NEW).]
8. Procedures of counseling. "Procedures of counseling" means methods and techniques that include, but are not limited to, the following.
A. "Assessment" means selecting, administering and interpreting instruments designed to assess personal, interpersonal and group characteristics. [PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
B. "Consulting" means the application of scientific principles and procedures in counseling to provide assistance in understanding and solving a current or potential problem that the client may have in relation to a 3rd party, be it an individual, a family, a group or an organization. [PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
C. "Counseling" means assisting individuals, families or groups through the counseling relationship to develop understanding of intrapersonal and interpersonal problems, to define goals, to make decisions, to plan a course of action reflecting their needs, and to use information and community resources, as these procedures are related to personal, social, educational and vocational development. [PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
D. "Referral" means the evaluation of information to identify needs or problems of the counselee and to determine the advisability of referral to other specialists, informing the counselee of that judgment, and communicating as requested or deemed appropriate with referral sources. [PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
8-A. Professional counseling. "Professional counseling" means providing counseling services, marital and family therapy services and pastoral counseling services, including any procedures of counseling.
[PL 2021, c. 233, §3 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 233, §6 (AFF).]
9. Professional counselor. "Professional counselor" means a person who, for a fee, monetary or otherwise, renders or offers to render to individuals, families, groups, organizations or the general public a service involving the application of principles and procedures of counseling to assist those served in achieving more effective personal, emotional, social, educational and vocational development and adjustment.
[PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 549, §§1,3 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 878, §A101 (RP). PL 1989, c. 895, §§1,22 (AFF). PL 1989, c. 895, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 263, §§5,6 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. EE, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 233, §3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 233, §6 (AFF).