Terms Used In Arizona Laws > Title 32 > Chapter 33 - Behavioral Health Professionals

• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• Board: means the board of behavioral health examiners. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Client: means a patient who receives behavioral health services from a person licensed pursuant to this chapter. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Direct client contact: means the performance of therapeutic or clinical functions related to the applicant's professional practice level of psychotherapy that includes diagnosis, assessment and treatment and that may include psychoeducation for mental, emotional and behavioral disorders based primarily on verbal or nonverbal communications and intervention with, and in the presence of, one or more clients, including through the use of telehealth pursuant to Title 36, Chapter 36, Article 1. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• dual relationship: means a licensee simultaneously engages in both a professional and nonprofessional relationship with a client that is avoidable and not incidental. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Equivalent: means comparable in content and quality but not identical. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• exploiting: means taking advantage of a professional relationship with a client, former client or supervisee for the benefit or profit of the licensee. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Housing: means any structure suitable for residence by an individual or family. See Arizona Laws 9-441
• Housing development area: means an area within a municipality that is declared by the local governing body to be in serious need of housing and that is declared to be in need of the expenditure of public monies to assist the development of housing in the area. See Arizona Laws 9-441
• Housing development project: means any undertaking related to real property, structures or improvements in a housing development area, for the purpose of establishing housing and other facilities necessary or incidental to the housing and primarily for the use of those residing in the housing. See Arizona Laws 9-441
• Indirect client service: means training for, and the performance of, functions of an applicant's professional practice level in preparation for or on behalf of a client for whom direct client contact functions are also performed, including case consultation and receipt of clinical supervision. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Letter of concern: means a nondisciplinary written document sent by the board to notify a licensee that, while there is insufficient evidence to support disciplinary action, the board believes that continuation of the activities that led to the investigation may result in further board action against the licensee. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• Licensee: means a person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Local governing body: means the council or legislative body charged with governing the municipality. See Arizona Laws 9-441
• Minor: means a person under eighteen years of age. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• Municipality: means an incorporated city or town. See Arizona Laws 9-441
• Obligee: includes any bondholder, any agents or trustees for any bondholders or any lessor demising to the municipality property used in connection with a housing development project, or any assignee or assignees of such lessor's interest or any part of the lessor's interest, and the federal government when it is a party to any contract with the municipality. See Arizona Laws 9-441
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Practice of behavioral health: means the practice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, social work and substance abuse counseling pursuant to this chapter. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Practice of marriage and family therapy: means the professional application of family systems theories, principles and techniques to treat interpersonal relationship issues and nervous, mental and emotional disorders that are cognitive, affective or behavioral. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Practice of professional counseling: means the professional application of mental health, psychological and human development theories, principles and techniques to:

  (a) Facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the human life span. See Arizona Laws 32-3251

• Practice of social work: means the professional application of social work theories, principles, methods and techniques to:

  (a) Treat mental, behavioral and emotional disorders. See Arizona Laws 32-3251

• Practice of substance abuse counseling: means the professional application of general counseling theories, principles and techniques as specifically adapted, based on research and clinical experience, to the specialized needs and characteristics of persons who are experiencing substance abuse, chemical dependency and related problems and to the families of those persons. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Process: means a citation, writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• Psychoeducation: means the education of a client as part of a treatment process that provides the client with information regarding mental health, emotional disorders or behavioral health. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Psychotherapy: means a variety of treatment methods developing out of generally accepted theories about human behavior and development. See Arizona Laws 32-3251
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Unprofessional conduct: includes the following, whether occurring in this state or elsewhere:

  (a) Being convicted of a felony. See Arizona Laws 32-3251