Online Services | Commonwealth Sites | Help | Governor

Virginia Board of Counseling
Guidance Documents

The Code of Virginia requires annual publication of lists of guidance documents from state agencies. A guidance document is defined as "...any document developed by a state agency or staff that provides information or guidance of general applicability to the staff or public to interpret or implement statutes or the agency's rules or regulations..." Agencies are required to maintain a complete, current list of all guidance documents and make the full text of such documents available to the public.

Copies of the following documents may be viewed during regular work days from 8:15 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the offices of the Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico Virginia 23233-1463 . Copies may also be downloaded by clicking on the links below or from the Regulatory Townhall at www.townhall.state.va.us or requested by email at coun@dhp.virginia.gov. Questions regarding interpretation or implementation of these documents or requests for copies may be directed to Evelyn Brown, Executive Director of the board at the address above or by telephone at (804) 367-4610. Copies are free of charge.

To view the PDF files below you'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader 
For the other files you'll need Microsoft Word or the free viewer.

115-1.1: Possible Disciplinary or Alternative Actions for Non-Compliance with Continuing Education Requirements, February 17, 2006

115-1.2: Bylaws, effective June 3, 2005

115-1.3: Guidance on Meeting Degree Program Requirements for Professional Counseling Licensure, adopted August 8, 2008

115-1.4: Guidance on Technology-Assisted Counseling and Technology-Assisted Supervision, adopted August 8, 2008

115-1.5: Sanctioning Reference Points, adopted June 5, 2009 (pdf)

115-2 Newsletters

115-2.1: 1987. Resolution that hypnosis is an appropriate counseling tool, an opinion that the term “psychotherapy” can be used by licensed professional counselors, and guidance in the use of educational credentials and unlicensed counselors.

115-2.2: Guidance on participation by substance abuse counselors in interventions

115-4 Minutes of Board Meetings

115-4.2:May 19, 1995. Guidance that criminal history not be considered as a point of rejection for a certified substance abuse counselor, and that the Board refer the application to the Credentials Review Committee to determine eligibility.

115-4.6:Authorization for the Executive Director to review discipline cases and make a recommendation to a member of the Discipline Committee for appropriate disposition or to close certain cases

115-4.11: Board guidance on use of confidential consent agreements, adopted February 27, 2004

115-4.12: Board guidance on the process of conducting informal fact-finding proceedings by an agency subordinate, November 5, 2004