Services

Definition of Terms
Licensed Clinical Social Worker: 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.

Diagnosis: 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.

Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy in the content 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.

To be licensed as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in New York State
you must:

be of good moral character;
be at least 21 years of age;
have an education that includes a masters degree in social work (M.S.W.) with at least 12
semester hours of clinical coursework;
have at least 3 years of post M.S.W. supervised experience in clinical social work;
meet examination requirements; and
complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a
New York State approved provider.


		Supervision