This bill makes communication between a licensed professional counselor and a patient privileged if the communication was received during the course of professional counseling services. A patient can be a person, couple, family or group who consults or is examined or interviewed by a licensed counseling professional.

This bill makes an exception from this privilege for an instance in a proceeding:

1. When the licensed counseling professional determines the patient needs to be hospitalized due to mental illness;

2. When a court orders the examination of a patient to determine the emotional or mental condition of the patient;

3. When a patient raises the patient's mental or emotional condition as a defense in a proceeding at law or in equity;

4. When the communication is to a person who is present or participating in the professional service, including 3rd party reimbursors and clinical or peer supervisors; or

5. When the communication is necessary to further the best interest of the patient or is reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communication.