Mental health therapist: means an individual who is practicing within the scope of practice defined in the individual's respective licensing act and is licensed under this title as:
(a)
a physician and surgeon, or osteopathic physician engaged in the practice of mental health therapy;
(b)
an advanced practice registered nurse, specializing in psychiatric mental health nursing;
(c)
an advanced practice registered nurse intern, specializing in psychiatric mental health nursing;
(d)
a psychologist qualified to engage in the practice of mental health therapy;
(e)
a certified psychology resident qualifying to engage in the practice of mental health therapy;
Mental illness: means a mental or emotional condition defined in an approved diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders generally recognized in the professions of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (5). See Utah Code 58-60-102
Practice of mental health therapy: means treatment or prevention of mental illness, whether in person or remotely, including:
(a)
conducting a professional evaluation of an individual's condition of mental health, mental illness, or emotional disorder consistent with standards generally recognized in the professions of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (5);
(b)
establishing a diagnosis in accordance with established written standards generally recognized in the professions of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (5);
(c)
prescribing a plan for the prevention or treatment of a condition of mental illness or emotional disorder; and
(d)
engaging in the conduct of professional intervention, including psychotherapy by the application of established methods and procedures generally recognized in the professions of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (5). See Utah Code 58-60-102
(2)
(a)
“Practice as a social service worker” means performance of general entry level services under general supervision of a mental health therapist through the application of social work theory, methods, and ethics in order to enhance the social or psychosocial functioning of an individual, a couple, a family, a group, or a community, including:
(i)
conducting:
(A)
a non-clinical psychosocial assessment; or
(B)
a home study;
(ii)
collaborative planning and goal setting;
(iii)
ongoing case management;
(iv)
progress monitoring;
(v)
supportive counseling;
(vi)
information gathering;
(vii)
making referrals; and
(viii)
engaging in advocacy.
(b)
“Practice as a social service worker” does not include:
(i)
diagnosing or treating mental illness; or
(ii)
providing psychotherapeutic services to an individual, couple, family, group, or community.
(3)
“Practice of clinical social work” includes:
(a)
the practice of mental health therapy by observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, intervention, and treatment to effect modification of behavior by the application of generally recognized professional social work principles, methods, and procedures for the purpose of preventing, treating, or eliminating mental or emotional illness or dysfunction, the symptoms of any of these, or maladaptive behavior;
(b)
the application of generally recognized psychotherapeutic and social work principles and practices requiring the education, training, and clinical experience of a clinical social worker; and
(c)
supervision of the practice of a certified social worker or social service worker as the supervision is required under this chapter and as further defined by division rule.
(4)
“Practice of certified social work” includes:
(a)
the supervised practice of mental health therapy by a clinical social worker by observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, intervention, and treatment to effect modification of behavior by the application of generally recognized professional social work principles, methods, and procedures for the purpose of preventing, treating, or eliminating mental or emotional illness or dysfunctions, the symptoms of any of these, or maladaptive behavior;
(b)
the supervised or independent and unsupervised application of generally recognized professional social work principles and practices requiring the education, training, and experience of a certified social worker; and
(c)
supervision of the practice of a social service worker as the supervision is required under this chapter and as further defined by division rule.
(5)
“Program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education” means a program that:
(a)
was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education on the day on which the applicant for licensure satisfactorily completed the program; or
(b)
was in candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education on the day on which the applicant for licensure satisfactorily completed the program.
(6)
“Supervision of a social service worker” means supervision conducted by an individual licensed as a mental health therapist under this title in accordance with division rules made in collaboration with the board.
Amended by Chapter 78, 2010 General Session Amended by Chapter 214, 2010 General Session
