Appendix B, Counseling

Revision 23-1, Effective Nov. 13, 2023

Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy

Vendor Qualifications

A cognitive rehabilitation therapist provides cognitive rehabilitation therapy.

Cognitive rehabilitation therapy focuses on the development of the cognitive skills such as the ability to perceive, recognize, conceive, judge, imagine and reason, that are lost or altered as a result of neurological damage. The aim of treatment is to enhance functional competence in real-world situations.

The therapy includes:

  • direct retraining;
  • use of compensatory strategies; or
  • use of cognitive tools.

The therapist must be licensed as one of the following:

  • A psychologist licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
  • A psychiatrist licensed by the State Board of Medical Examiners
  • An occupational therapist licensed by the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners
  • A speech and language pathologist certified by the State Committee of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists

Required Procedures

The required procedures are as follows:

  • Evaluation and recommendation by a psychologist or psychiatrist
  • Approved treatment plan limited to achieving independent living (IL) goals with specific intervention which is ordinarily no more than 12 sessions

Problem-centered Counseling

Vendor Qualifications and Required Procedures

A licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) provides goal-oriented or problem-centered counseling services.

An LMFT must be licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists.

The required procedures are as follows:

  • Evaluation and prescription by a psychiatrist or psychologist
  • Approved treatment plan limited to achieving IL goals with specific intervention which is ordinarily no more than 12 sessions

A licensed professional counselor provides goal-oriented or problem-centered counseling services. The counselor must be licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.

The required procedures are as follows:

  • Evaluation and prescription by a psychiatrist or psychologist
  • Approved treatment plan limited to achieving IL goals with specific intervention which is ordinarily no more than 12 sessions

A psychiatric-mental health advanced practice nurse provides evaluation, goal-oriented or problem-centered counseling services or medication management. The nurse must be licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing.

A psychologist provides or supervises the provision of psychological services. When a person under the supervision of the licensed psychologist provides services, the licensed psychologist must sign all reports. The psychologist must be licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists or licensed to practice in the state where the service is rendered, unless exempt.

A licensed clinical social worker provides goal-oriented or problem-centered counseling services. The social worker must be licensed by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners.

The required procedures are as follows:

  • Evaluation and prescription by a psychiatrist or psychologist
  • Approved treatment plan limited to achieving IL goals with specific intervention which is ordinarily no more than 12 sessions

Note: Community-based behavioral health and developmental disability services centers and some state agencies are exempt from the licensing act.

Mental Health Wellness and Recovery Action Planning

Vendor Qualifications

Wellness and Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) facilitators

The WRAP program is for adults with a severe mental health disability. The program's primary goal is to help people identify and learn to use wellness tools such as coping strategies and resources, when they experience triggers or early warning signs that their mental health is worsening or when things are breaking down.

WRAP facilitators must:

  • be well grounded and actively committed to his or her own recovery;
  • not be a family member of the person who receives peer support services;
  • have completed a 40-hour WRAP facilitator training provided by a qualified, current Advance Level WRAP facilitator recognized by the Copeland Center; and
  • have completed the Mental Health Recovery: WRAP Facilitator Certification from the Copeland Center. The prerequisites for the WRAP facilitator certification can be met by taking the Mental Health Recovery Correspondence Course.

Required Procedures

Provided only to adults who have a severe mental illness.

To be eligible, a person must meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Have a mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression, manic-depressive disorder (bipolar), or other severely disabling mental disorder that meets the diagnostic criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Substance abuse disorders and developmental disorders are excluded, unless they co-occur with another diagnosable severe mental illness.
  • Have functional impairments resulting from the mental illness that substantially interfere with or limit two or more major life activities.
  • Require crisis resolution and long-term support and treatment to manage the mental illness.

The primary deliverable for the session for the participant is a comprehensive action plan to help manage his or her own illness.

WRAP services can be delivered either individually or in a group setting. In a group setting, the ratio between WRAP facilitators and the group cannot be greater than one WRAP facilitator to eight people.

Facilitators must follow the Copeland Center's WRAP values and ethics, process, and concepts.

Facilitators must use the evidence-based model recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Facilitators follow the WRAP Facilitator's Training Manual and use the PowerPoint presentation slides and CD.