Prohibited Acts by Nonlicensed Therapists — Penalties

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  1. Except as specifically provided in § 63-22-204, beginning January 1, 2004, no person who is not licensed as a clinical pastoral therapist under this part shall:
    1. Advertise that the performance of clinical pastoral therapy services is by a licensed clinical pastoral therapist; or
    2. Use the title “licensed clinical pastoral therapist” to denote that the person is a licensed clinical pastoral therapist.
  2. Any person who engages in any unlawful act enumerated in this section commits a Class B misdemeanor.
  3. The department of health may institute appropriate proceedings, in law or equity, to enjoin any person from engaging in any unlawful act enumerated in this section, such action or proceeding to be brought in the circuit or chancery court of the county in which the unlawful act occurs or in which the defendant resides.
  4. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting any person certified as a clinical pastoral therapist to engage in the practice of licensed psychological examiner, licensed senior psychological examiner, certified psychological assistant, licensed psychologist, or licensed social worker, as defined in the laws of this state.
  5. Nothing in this section, except in subsection (b), applies to any person regulated by the board of nursing.
  6. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting a certified clinical pastoral therapist to prescribe medications or to interpret psychological tests intended to measure and/or diagnose mental illness.
  7. Certified clinical pastoral therapists shall establish and maintain effective working relationships with an interdisciplinary network of professionals, including at least one (1) psychologically oriented physician, usually a psychiatrist, with an unlimited license to practice the healing arts in Tennessee, in order to make provision for referral for the diagnosis and treatment of medical or mental conditions falling outside the scope of clinical pastoral therapy as defined in § 63-22-201.


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