N.Y. Education Law § 7701: Definitions

§ 7701. Definitions. 1. Practice of licensed master social work.

(a) The practice of licensed master social work shall mean the

professional application of social work theory, principles, and the

methods to prevent, assess, evaluate, formulate and implement a plan of

action based on client needs and strengths, and intervene to address

mental, social, emotional, behavioral, developmental, and addictive

disorders, conditions and disabilities, and of the psychosocial aspects

of illness and injury experienced by individuals, couples, families,

groups, communities, organizations, and society.

(b) Licensed master social workers engage in the administration of

tests and measures of psychosocial functioning, social work advocacy,

case management, counseling, consultation, research, administration and

management, and teaching.

(c) Licensed master social workers provide all forms of supervision

other than supervision of the practice of licensed clinical social work

as defined in subdivision two of this section.

(d) Licensed master social workers practice licensed clinical social

work in facility settings or other supervised settings approved by the

department under supervision in accordance with the commissioner's

regulations.

2. Practice of clinical social work. (a) The practice of clinical

social work encompasses the scope of practice of licensed master social

work and, in addition, includes the diagnosis of mental, emotional,

behavioral, addictive and developmental disorders and disabilities and

of the psychosocial aspects of illness, injury, disability and

impairment undertaken within a psychosocial framework; administration

and interpretation of tests and measures of psychosocial functioning;

development and implementation of appropriate assessment-based treatment

plans; and the provision of crisis oriented psychotherapy and brief,

short-term and long-term psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic treatment

to individuals, couples, families and groups, habilitation,

psychoanalysis and behavior therapy; all undertaken for the purpose of

preventing, assessing, treating, ameliorating and resolving psychosocial

dysfunction with the goal of maintaining and enhancing the mental,

emotional, behavioral, and social functioning and well-being of

individuals, couples, families, small groups, organizations, communities

and society.

(b) Diagnosis in the context of licensed clinical social work practice

is the process of distinguishing, beyond general social work assessment,

between similar mental, emotional, behavioral, developmental and

addictive disorders, impairments and disabilities within a psychosocial

framework on the basis of their similar and unique characteristics

consistent with accepted classification systems.

(c) Psychotherapy in the context of licensed clinical social work

practice is the use of verbal methods in interpersonal relationships

with the intent of assisting a person or persons to modify attitudes and

behavior which are intellectually, socially, or emotionally maladaptive.

(d) Development of assessment-based treatment plans in the context of

licensed clinical social work practice refers to the development of an

integrated plan of prioritized interventions, that is based on the

diagnosis and psychosocial assessment of the client, to address mental,

emotional, behavioral, developmental and addictive disorders,

impairments and disabilities, reactions to illnesses, injuries,

disabilities and impairments, and social problems.