03 - Scope of Non-Medical Counseling.docx

Military OneSource Program Policies and Procedures Attachment 03

SUBJECT: SCOPE OF NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING

DATE: 08/08/23

REFERENCE: DODI 6490.06 Counseling Services for DoD Military, Guard and Reserve, Certain Affiliated Personnel, and their Family Members

PURPOSE: To provide direction and guidance on the Scope of Non-Medical Counseling for the Military OneSource Program. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring Military OneSource staff and Network providers adhere to the intended scope of practice for Military OneSource Non-Medical Counseling in accordance with DODI 6490.06.

POLICY: Military OneSource provides confidential, non-medical, short-term counseling to members of the active force, the National Guard and Reserves, their families, and certain affiliated personnel up to 12 sessions per person, per issue at no cost.

PROCEDURE: Counseling is confidential, except for mandated reporting requirements per state, federal and military laws and regulations. The Military OneSource non-medical counseling providers are mandated to report situations that include harm to self or others, domestic abuse, child abuse or neglect, violence against any person, and any present or future illegal activity.

Military OneSource delivers non-medical counseling support with providers off the installation using a traditional 50-minute counseling session. This non-medical support is aimed at preventing the development or exacerbation of mental health conditions that may detract from military and family readiness.

1. Issues amenable to Military OneSource counseling include, but are not limited to the following:

a. Relationship issues

i. Communication

ii. Stress

iii. Grief and loss

iv. Anger management

v. Parenting skills

vi. Adjustment

vii. Separation

viii. Deployment

ix. Reintegration Life skills

x. Coping skills

b. Interpersonal skills

c. Academic or occupational problems

2. The following diagnosed conditions (V-Codes) are appropriate for Military OneSource non-medical counseling:

a. V15.81 Noncompliance with Treatment

b. V61.10 Partner Relational Problem

c. V61.20 Parent-Child Relational Problem

d. V61.8 Sibling Relational Problem

e. V61.9 Relational Problem Related to a Mental Disorder or General Medical condition

f. V62.2 Occupational Problem

g. V62.3 Academic Problem

h. V62.4 Acculturation Problem

i. V62.81 Relational Problem NOS

j. V62.82 Bereavement

k. V62.89 Phase of Life Problem; Religious or Spiritual Problem

l. V65.2 Malingering

m. V71.02 Child or Adolescent Antisocial Behavior

n. V71.09 No Diagnosis on Axis I or II (should always be indicated unless “Other” is selected)

o. Other - The provider shall write in the DSM diagnostic code

3. Issues not amenable to Military OneSource counseling include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Supportive family members of those experiencing the above not amenable issues, may be eligible for non-medical counseling.

b. Participants experiencing the above not amenable issues but who have requested non-medical counseling for an unrelated amenable issue may be eligible for non-medical counseling per clinical supervisor approval. The clinical supervisor will determine whether the situation for which the participant is calling is one that has the potential of being resolved through short-term, solution-focused counseling. If not, the supervisor will ensure the participant is provided a warm hand off to an appropriate resource. In some situations, a participant may be permitted to begin to receive non-medical counseling, and if once counseling begins, the counselor deems the issue not one that can be resolved through short-term counseling, the counselor will then connect the participant back with Military OneSource for more appropriate resources.

c. Situations meeting the diagnostic criteria for common mental disorders found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-V) or latest will be referred to military medical mental health care providers, TRICARE, or other providers of professional mental health care. These referrals will be tracked and reported upon as a metric to the Government. The metric will be provided by population group (for example: active duty, family member, transitioning veteran) as directed by the Government. Family members of those diagnosed with a mental disorder may be eligible for non-medical counseling support.

4. Military OneSource counselors are mandated reporters of duty-to-warn situations.

5. If issues are out of scope for non-medical counseling and the participant is determined to need clinical mental health counseling, treatment and/or therapy the Contractor is to provide a warm handoff or referral directly to TRICARE, a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) for Active Duty and their family members, or other providers of mental health care.

6. If a Participant’s issues are initially determined to be in scope and the participant is receiving Non-Medical Counseling in the provider network and is later determined to need clinical mental health counseling, treatment and/or therapy, the network provider and/or the Contractor is to provide a warm handoff or referral directly to TRICARE or the MTF or other providers of mental health care. Military OneSource Non-medical counselors may NOT self-refer for clinical mental health counseling, treatment and/or therapy. The non-medical counselors or Contractor will not imply or engage in self-promotion to secure clinical referrals from Military OneSource Participants. It is imperative appropriate support services be engaged when working with Military OneSource Participants.

EXCEPTIONS:

There are no exceptions to this policy without Government Military OneSource Program Office written approval.