Are Assistants in Speech-Language Pathology allowed to provide counseling?

Assistants in Speech-Language Pathology are not permitted to provide counseling as it typically requires a higher level of training and expertise than what is provided to assistants. Counseling involves addressing emotional and psychological factors that can impact a person's ability to communicate and may require a nuanced understanding of those issues beyond the scope of practice for assistants. They are designed to support licensed Speech-Language Pathologists in their tasks, focusing primarily on implementing treatment plans and delivering therapy under supervision, rather than engaging in counseling.

The distinction emphasizes that the role of an assistant is to facilitate therapy under the direction of a licensed professional rather than to address the deeper psychological aspects involved in counseling. Therefore, without the necessary qualifications, they should not engage in counseling activities, reaffirming that option indicating they cannot provide counseling is accurate.