§ 3001. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Practice of psychology” means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups,
or organizations, for a consideration, any service involving the application of principles,
methods, and procedures of understanding, predicting, and influencing behavior that
are primarily drawn from the science of psychology. The science of psychology includes
assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and amelioration of adjustment problems and emotional
and mental disorders of individuals and groups.
(2) “Psychologist” or “practicing psychologist” means a person who is licensed to practice
psychology under this chapter.
(3) “Psychologist-doctorate” means a person who is so licensed under this chapter.
(4) “Psychologist-master” means a person who is so licensed under this chapter.
(5) “Board” means the Board of Psychological Examiners established under this chapter.
(6) “Disciplinary action” or “disciplinary cases” includes any action taken by a board
against a licensee, applicant, or person engaged in supervised practice toward licensure
as a psychologist, premised upon a finding of wrongdoing or unprofessional conduct
by that individual. It includes all sanctions authorized under this chapter, but excluding
obtaining injunctions.
(7) “Unprofessional conduct” means conduct prohibited by section 3016 of this title or by other statutes relating to the practice of psychology, whether or not taken
by a license holder.
(8) “Financial interest” means being:
(A) a psychologist;
(B) a person who deals in goods and services that are uniquely related to the practice
of psychology; or
(C) a person who has invested anything of value in a business that provides psychological
services.
(9) “Institution of higher education” means a university, professional school, or other
institution of higher learning that:
(A) in the United States, is regionally accredited by bodies approved by the Council on
Postsecondary Accreditation of the U.S. Department of Education;
(B) in Canada, holds a membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada;
or
(C) in any other country, is accredited by the respective official organization having
such authority.
(10) “Professional psychology training program” means a postgraduate training program that:
(A) is a planned program of study, defined by the Board by rule, that reflects an integration
of the science and practice of psychology and emphasizes assessment, intervention,
psychopathology, statistical methods, and professional ethics, including practice
and internship; or
(B) is designated as a doctoral program in psychology by the Association of State and
Provincial Psychology Boards and the National Register of Health Service Providers
in Psychology, or is accredited by the American Psychological Association or the Canadian
Psychological Association; or
(C) is a master’s program in psychology that is offered by an educational institution
that is a full member of the Council of Applied Master’s Programs in Psychology (CAMPP).
(11) “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.
(12) [Repealed.] (Added 1975, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1981, No. 241 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1993, No. 98, § 1; 1993, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 1a; 1997, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 1999, No. 52, § 23; 1999, No. 133 (Adj. Sess.), § 21; 2009, No. 35, § 38; 2009, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 20, eff. May 12, 2010; 2013, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 21; 2015, No. 38, § 29, eff. May 28, 2015; 2015, No. 97 (Adj. Sess.), § 61.)