§ 3261. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Allied Mental Health Practitioners established under this chapter.

(2) “Clinical mental health counseling” means providing, for a consideration, professional counseling services that are primarily drawn from the theory and practice of psychotherapy and the discipline of clinical mental health counseling, involving the application of principles of psychotherapy, human development, learning theory, group dynamics, and the etiology of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior to individuals, couples, families, and groups, for the purposes of treating psychopathology and promoting optimal mental health. The practice of clinical mental health counseling includes diagnosis and treatment of mental conditions or psychiatric disabilities and emotional disorders, psychoeducational techniques aimed at the prevention of such conditions or disabilities, consultations to individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities, and clinical research into more effective psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.

(3) “Clinical mental health counselor” means a person who is licensed to practice clinical mental health counseling under this chapter.

(4) “Disciplinary action” includes any action taken by the Board against a licensed clinical mental health counselor or applicant premised on a finding that the licensed clinical mental health counselor or applicant has engaged in unprofessional conduct. The term includes all sanctions of any kind, including obtaining injunctions, refusing to grant or renew a license, suspending or revoking a license, and issuing warnings.

(5) “Allied mental health fields” include those fields for which training includes coursework in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

(6) “Psychotherapy” means the provision of treatment, diagnosis, evaluation, or counseling services to individuals or groups, for a consideration, for the purpose of alleviating mental disorders. “Psychotherapy” involves the application of therapeutic techniques to understand unconscious or conscious motivation, resolve emotional, relationship, or attitudinal conflicts, or modify behavior that interferes with effective emotional, social, or mental functioning. “Psychotherapy” follows a systematic procedure of psychotherapeutic intervention that takes place on a regular basis over a period of time, or, in the case of evaluation and brief psychotherapies, in a single or limited number of interventions. If a person is employed by or under contract with the Agency of Human Services, this definition does not apply to persons with less than a master’s degree; to persons providing life skills training or instruction, such as learning to make friends, to handle social situations, to do laundry, and to develop community awareness; or to interactions of employees or contracted individuals with clients whose job description or contract specifications do not specifically mention “psychotherapy” as a job responsibility or duty. (Added 1987, No. 245 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(b), (d); 1993, No. 98, § 8; 1993, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), § 9; 1997, No. 40, § 50; 1997, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 22; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 177.)