§ 3271. Unprofessional conduct

(a) Unprofessional conduct means the following conduct and conduct set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 129a:

(1) using dishonest or misleading advertising;

(2) misusing a title in professional activity;

(3) conduct that evidences unfitness to practice clinical mental health counseling;

(4) engaging in any sexual conduct with a client, or with the immediate family member of a client, with whom the licensee has had a professional relationship within the previous five years;

(5) harassing, intimidating, or abusing a client;

(6) entering into an additional relationship with a client, supervisee, research participant, or student that might impair the licensed clinical mental health counselor's objectivity or otherwise interfere with the clinical mental health counselor's professional obligations;

(7) independently practicing outside or beyond a clinical mental health counselor's area of training, experience, or competence without appropriate supervision; or

(8) using conversion therapy as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 8351 on a client younger than 18 years of age.

(b) After hearing, and upon a finding of unprofessional conduct, the Board may take disciplinary action against a licensed clinical mental health counselor or applicant.