§ 34-17A-3 — Definitions

Alabama § 34-17A-3

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 34: Professions and Businesses
• Ch. 17A: Marriage and Family Therapists

Text

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) ADVERTISE. The issuing or causing to be distributed any card, sign, or device to any person; or the causing, permitting, or allowing any sign or marking on or in any building, radio or television, transmission or broadcast, or advertising by any media or other means designed to secure public attention.
(2) BOARD. The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy.
(3) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST. A person to whom a valid, current license has been issued pursuant to this chapter.
(4) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY ASSOCIATE. An individual who has graduated from a program that meets the board course requirements, has completed the required internship, and is continuing training in marriage and family therapy under a board approved supervisory arrangement to complete a minimum two-year postgraduate supervision requirement prior to applying for his or her marriage and family therapist license.
(5) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY INTERN. An individual who is training for designation as a marriage and family therapy associate in accordance with board requirements and under a board approved supervisory arrangement.
(6) PERSON. Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, political body, or other entity.
(7) PERSON IN TRAINING. An individual who is preparing for the practice of marriage and family therapy under qualified supervision in a training institution or facility.
(8) PRACTICE OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY. The process of providing professional marriage and family therapy to individuals, couples, and families, either alone or in a group. The practice of marriage and family therapy utilizes established principles that recognize the interrelated nature of the individual problems and dysfunctions in family members in order to diagnose, assess, and treat mental and emotional disorders within a marriage and family therapy treatment context. Marriage and family therapy includes, without being limited to, individual, group, couple, sexual, family, and divorce therapy and psychotherapy, whether the services are offered directly to the general public or through organizations, either public or private, for a fee or other compensation. Marriage and family therapy is a specialized mode of treatment for the purpose of resolving mental and emotional disorders and modifying intrapersonal and interpersonal dysfunctions. The terms “diagnose,” “assess,” and “treat,” as used in this subdivision, when considered in isolation or in conjunction with the rules of the board, shall not be construed to permit the performance of any act which marriage and family therapists are not educated and trained to perform, including, but not limited to, administering and interpreting psychological tests, intellectual, neuropsychological, personality, and projective instruments, admitting persons to hospitals for treatment for the foregoing conditions, treating persons in hospitals without medical supervision, prescribing medicinal drugs, authorizing clinical laboratory procedures or radiological procedures, or use of electroconvulsive therapy. In addition, this definition shall not be construed to permit any person licensed pursuant to this chapter to describe or label any test, report, or procedure as “psychological,” or as a “psychological evaluation.” A licensed marriage and family therapist may diagnose and develop treatment plans, but shall not attempt to diagnose, treat, or advise a client with reference to problems or complaints falling outside the boundaries of marriage and family therapy services. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize persons licensed under this chapter to practice medicine.
(9) QUALIFIED SUPERVISION. The supervision of clinical services in accordance with standards established by the board. The supervisor shall be recognized by the board as an approved supervisor or other designation indicating an approved supervisory position.
(10) RECOGNIZED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. Any educational institution that grants a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree and that is recognized by the board and by a regional educational accrediting body or a postgraduate training institute accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
(11) USE A TITLE OR DESCRIPTION. To hold oneself out to the public as having a particular status by means of stating on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery announcements, calling cards, or other instruments of professional identification.

Legislative History

(Acts 1997, No. 97-170, p. 247, §3; Act 2006-540, p. 1243, §1; Act 2018-285, §1; Act 2022-238, §1.)