EFFECTIVE NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES 201 NAC
TITLE 201 CERTIFYING COMPULSIVE GAMBLING COUNSELORS
CHAPTER 1 DEFINITIONS
As used in these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:
Approved continuing education means courses, seminars, workshops, lectures, institutes, or training programs, that pertain to the clinical knowledge and skill base associated with compulsive gambling services, and which have been approved by the Division.
Assessment means the process used by a counselor to evaluate the nature and severity of the client’s gambling-related problems and behaviors. This will include, but is not limited to, use of interview and testing techniques to identify potential co-morbid and/or medical disorders for which consultation or referral may be appropriate.
Board means the Compulsive Gambling Counselor Certification Advisory Board.
Case management means the coordination of client care throughout the treatment process. This will frequently involve referral to other professionals or support systems to match client needs with appropriate resources.
Certification means the process by which the Division sets minimum standards for compulsive gambling counselors and grants recognition of individuals who have met those standards.
Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselor (CCGC) means a person who has documented the standards for certification under 201 NAC and holds a valid certification issued by the Division. An individual may not represent himself or herself as a Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselor unless he/she holds a valid certificate issued by the Division.
Clinical supervision means supervision directed towards enhancing the clinical skills and competencies of individuals providing compulsive gambling counseling.
Code of ethics means the mandatory behavioral guidelines set forth in 201 NAC 5 to govern the conduct of certified compulsive gambling counselors.
Complainant means a person who has filed a complaint pursuant to 201 NAC against any person who is seeking or has obtained certification.
Compulsive gambling client means a person with a diagnosis of pathological gambling or problem gambling. It also refers to any individual significantly impacted by another’s gambling behavior and who is the recipient of compulsive gambling counseling services.
Compulsive gambling counseling means rendering counseling services under clinical supervision to compulsive gambling clients for remuneration. Specific tasks must include, but not be limited to:
1. Responding to client needs during periods of acute emotional and/or physical distress via application of appropriate counseling skills.
2. Assisting individuals to evaluate their gambling habits, and to recognize compulsive/pathological gambling when it exists.
3. Assisting clients through the counseling relationship to develop understanding, define goals, plan action, and change the compulsive gambling behavior, taking into consideration the client’s interests, abilities, aptitudes, and needs.
Counselor performance domains means the duties required of a compulsive gambling counselor; namely, client, family, and community education, intake and assessment, counseling, case management, and professional responsibility.
Department means the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Division means the Division of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Addiction Services of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Education means formal classroom education/instruction in the form of workshops, seminars, institutes and college/university course work.
Gross incompetence means demonstrated lack of proficiency, skill or ability to perform the duties and functions of a compulsive gambling counselor to a high degree.
Hour of education means 60 minutes of instruction. One hour post secondary academic credit per semester constitutes 15 hours of education. An hour of post secondary academic credit per quarter constitutes 10 hours of education.
Intake means the process by which a client is oriented to the treatment process via review of therapeutic goals, costs, expectations, rights and responsibilities. This will also include the gathering of relevant client data for administrative, research, and clinical purposes with the client’s informed consent.
Inactive certification means the voluntary termination of the right or privilege to practice compulsive gambling counseling, and use of the title certified. The certificate holder retains the right or privilege to represent himself or herself as having an inactive certificate.
Lapsed certification means the termination of the right or privilege to represent oneself as a certified compulsive gambling counselor, and to practice compulsive gambling counseling. This is considered the same as expired certification.
Must means a mandatory statement. The only acceptable action.
NAC means Nebraska Administrative Code.
Professional means an individual who possesses specialized knowledge and skills in a particular field of endeavor, which is readily accepted and recognized by other practitioners in the profession and the public, and for which remuneration for services is received.
Professional responsibility means adherence to the code of ethics outlined in 201 NAC 5, maintaining appropriate clinical records, seeking consultation when needed, and completion of continuing education for professional growth.
Significant other treatment means the utilization of special skills and knowledge in the provision of counseling to those people who are in a family or family-like relationship with a compulsive gambling client who are either impacted by the compulsive gambling and/or, in turn, impact the gambler. It includes the process of exploring the dynamics of the family system and facilitating appropriate changes as related to the compulsive gambling.
Verified means that the accuracy and truth of the statement or contents of a document are sworn before a notary public.
CHAPTER 2 REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATION
2-001 Authority: The Division of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Addiction Services of the Department of Health and Human Services has statutory authority to establish certification standards for compulsive gambling counselors per Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 83-162.01 to 83-167.
2-002 Scope of Practice: Scope of practice for compulsive gambling counseling is the application of general counseling theories and treatment methods adapted to specific compulsive gambling theory and research, for the express purpose of treating compulsive gambling problems. The practice consists of the following activities:
2-002.01 Client, Significant Other, and Community Education
2-002.01A Educating the client on the pathology of pathological gambling, theoretical approaches to treatment, self-help options, the recovery process, and available literature on the subject of pathological gambling.
2-002.01B Educating the significant others of a compulsive gambler on impulse control disorders and pathological gambling, family dynamics and the impact of pathological gambling, self-help organizations, and the recovery process.
2-002.01C Educating the community on pathological gambling issues, the social impact of the disorder, available resources for assistance, and opportunities for community involvement.
2-002.02 Intake and Assessment
2-002.02A Gathering relevant client data for administrative, research, and clinical purposes with informed client consent.
2-002.02B Use of appropriate interview and testing techniques and processes to determine the nature and severity of an individual’s gambling related problems and behaviors.
2-002.02C Recognition of potential co-morbid disorders and/or medical conditions which warrant referral and /or concurrent treatment interventions.
2-002.02D Coordination of services with other professionals/agencies/organizations via exchange of assessment information within the guidelines of the code of ethics and local, State, and federal laws.
2-002.03 Counseling
2-002.03A Development of an appropriate treatment plan, in collaboration with the client, which establishes therapeutic goals to be obtained from the counseling relationship.
2-002.03B Use of appropriate therapeutic interventions to assist the client in attainment of identified treatment goals.
2-002.03C Use of crisis identification and intervention techniques.
2-002.03D Continual monitoring of potential co-morbid disorders which require referral and/or consultation.
2-002.04 Case Management
2-002.04A Development of a professional relationship with a variety of community resource systems.
2-002.04B Evaluation of the clients financial status and selection of therapeutically appropriate resources for financial recovery.
2-002.04C Educating community resource systems on the recovery process and the ability of the disorder to be effectively treated.
2-002.04D Maintenance of appropriate documentation which facilitates coordination of services across disciplines.
2-002.05 Professional Responsibility
2-002.05A Maintenance of professional relationships with clients, co-workers, and the community.
2-002.05B Appropriate documentation and record keeping of interactions with clients.
2-002.05C Identification of issues/disorders beyond a counselors scope of practice and referral of the client to appropriate resources to meet client needs.
2-003 Certification Standards: An applicant may apply for certification under the following standards. An applicant must document the requirements set forth below:
2-003.01 Education
2-003.01A A high school diploma or GED.
2-003.01B Seventy-two hours of education related to the knowledge and skills of compulsive gambling counseling which must include:
2-003.01B1 A minimum of 12 hours in basic compulsive gambling knowledge. Basic knowledge must consist of education on the history and social impact of gambling in the U.S., the historical and theoretical approaches to treating compulsive gamblers, and the predominant effects of compulsive gambling on the client and their significant others.
2-003.01B2 A minimum of 12 hours in intake and assessment of compulsive gambling clients. Training must consist of education on the indicators of the presence of compulsive gambling, identification of client needs, and matching identified needs with appropriate treatment modalities. Training must also include education on identification of common co-morbid disorders and medical conditions that warrant referral and/or consultation.
2-003.01B3 A minimum of 12 hours in significant other treatment of compulsive gambling, including education on general family dynamics, effects of compulsive gambling on family systems, and facilitating appropriate changes as related to the compulsive gambling.
2-003.01B4 A minimum of 12 hours in case management for compulsive gambling clients, including education on working with compulsive gambling clients to establish therapeutic goals, measuring treatment effectiveness, and utilization of resources to effectively accomplish identified goals.
2-003.01B5 A minimum of 12 hours in individual and group counseling skills with compulsive gamblers, including education that will enhance the counselor’s ability to engage, elicit feelings, and facilitate awareness in the therapeutic relationship with compulsive gambling clients.
2-003.01B6 A minimum of six hours in special populations counseling course work, including education which assists the counselor in working with clients from a variety of racial, ethnic, age, gender and socio-economic populations.
2-003.01B7 A minimum of six hours in legal/financial aspects of compulsive gambling, including education which promotes understanding of legal, financial, and occupational issues related to compulsive gambling and effective resources to appropriately resolve these issues.
2-003.02 Practicum: An applicant must document a practicum that includes a minimum of 200 hours of supervised compulsive gambling counseling working with diagnosed compulsive gambling clients in the counselor performance domains in a work setting.
2-003.02A A minimum of 40 hours must be documented in the area of intake and assessment.
2-003.02B A minimum of 40 hours must be documented in the area of case management.
2-003.02C A minimum of 80 hours must be documented in the area of counseling.
2-003.02D A minimum of 20 hours must be documented in the area of client, family, and community education.
2-003.02E A minimum of 20 hours must be documented in the area of professional responsibility.
2-003.03 Supervisor: The supervisor must be a Nebraska certified compulsive gambling counselor or other Division-approved supervisor. The supervisee may not be related to the supervisor by blood or by marriage.
2-003.03A A minimum of one hour of evaluative face-to-face supervision to ten hours of counselor performance must be documented.
2-003.03B Methods of supervision must include, but are not limited to; individual supervisory sessions, formal case staffing, and conjoint/co-therapy sessions. Supervision must be directed toward teaching the knowledge and skills of professional compulsive gambling counseling.
2-003.04 Substitution for Practicum: Current certification at the national level may be substituted for the 200 hours of Practicum experience.
2-003.05 Reference: One reference must be sent to the Division from the applicant’s practicum supervisor. The reference must include a rating of the applicant’s compulsive gambling counseling knowledge and skills.
2-003.06 Code Of Ethics: The applicant must attest to having read and agreed to be bound to the code of ethics set forth in 201 NAC 5, and sign a statement to that effect as part of the application process.
2-003.07 Knowledge Demonstration: An applicant must pass a Division-approved written examination for Compulsive Gambling Counselors.
CHAPTER 3 APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATION
3-001 Application: There are two sequential parts to the application process for Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselors. An applicant must pass portfolio review to be eligible to take the written examination.
3-002 Portfolio Review
3-002.01 Individuals desiring certification must submit an application to the Division.
3-002.01A The Division must establish application submittal deadline dates, and other time lines as are necessary for application processing.
3-002.01B The effective date of the application is the date of receipt at the Division. This date is used when calculating counseling experience, education, and training. Only counseling experience, education, and training gained prior to this date, and included in the application, will be considered.
3-002.02 The Division must conduct an administrative review of complete applications.
3-002.02A Only a complete application will be eligible for review during any given review cycle. A complete application is one in which the application and all other required documents are received at the Division by the application deadline date. Incomplete applications will be held over to the next application deadline date and review cycle.
3-002.03 Complete applications are reviewed by the Compulsive Gambling Counselor Certification Advisory Board.
3-002.03A The Board may request additional information or clarification in writing and/or in person and defer action on the application until the next Board meeting.
3-002.03B The Board forwards its recommendations to the Division Director.
3-002.04 The Division must notify the applicant of its findings in writing within 60 days of the Board meeting in which the application packet was reviewed. The notice is deemed received three days after being mailed to the last known address of the applicant.
3-002.05 An applicant denied certification may do one of the following:
3-002.05A Submit to the Division a request for deferral within 15 days of receipt of the denial notice. This will allow the application on file to be held over until the next application deadline date, and avoid the submittal of a new application. The applicant may submit new information by the next application deadline date to support the application.
3-002.05B Contest the decision under procedures detailed in 201 NAC 5-004.
3-002.05C Elect to take no action. The individual will be required to submit a new application should he/she elect to seek certification in the future.