ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
REVISED
behavioral health; board;
definitions
Clarifies the use of
psychotherapy is within the scope of practice for all certified behavioral
health examiners.
The Board of Behavioral
Health Examiners (BBHE) regulates, through certification, social workers,
professional counselors, marriage and family therapists and substance abuse
counselors. The statutes governing behavioral health examiners define
“psychotherapy” as a variety of treatment methods developing out of generally
accepted theories about human behavior and development. While the statutory scope of practice for
certified social workers includes the use of psychotherapy to diagnose,
evaluate and treat patients, this authority does not appear within the scope of
practice for professional counselors, marriage and family therapists and
substance abuse counselors.
A.R.S. §32-2084 prohibits
the use of “psychotherapist” or other derivations of the root work “psycho” by
anyone other than a licensed psychologist.
Recently, the Board of Psychologist Examiners (Board) began enforcing
this statute by issuing cease and desist orders to certain certified behavioral
health examiners who use the term “psychotherapy” or “psychotherapist” in their
advertising. The BBHE maintains its
definition of psychotherapy was intended to encompass services provided by
behavioral health examiners in all four disciplines that it regulates, all of
whom use a variety of treatment methods developing out of generally accepted
counseling theories to effect behavioral changes to improve the lives of their
clients.
S.B. 1156 adds the use of
psychotherapy within the scope of practice for certified professional
counselors and marriage and family therapists.
Additionally, this bill adds a definition for the “practice of substance
abuse counseling.” This term is
currently defined in rule only. There
is no discernable impact to the state general fund relating to this
legislation.
1. Includes the use of psychotherapy within the scope of practice for certified professional counselors and marriage and family therapists.
2. Defines the practice of “substance abuse counseling,” which includes the use of psychotherapy.
3. Makes conforming and technical changes.
4. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
·
Makes a clarifying change.
Senate Action
HEA 2/5/02 DPA 7-1-0-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 6, 2002