Colorado § 12-245-202 - Definitions.

§ 12-245-202. Definitions.

As used in this article 245, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Board" includes the state board of psychologist examiners, the state board of social work examiners, the state board of licensed professional counselor examiners, the state board of marriage and family therapist examiners, the state board of unlicensed psychotherapists, and the state board of addiction counselor examiners.

(2) "Certificate holder" means an addiction counselor certified pursuant to this article 245.

(3) "Certified addiction counselor" means a person who is an addiction counselor certified pursuant to this article 245.

(3.5) (a) "Conversion therapy" means any practice or treatment by a licensed mental health-care provider that seeks to direct a patient toward a predetermined sexual orientation or gender identity outcome, or eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of a particular sex or gender, regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity the patient is directed toward.

(b) "Conversion therapy" does not include:

(I) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2026.)

(II) Counseling or therapy that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a patient or facilitates a patient's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, without seeking to direct the patient toward a predetermined sexual orientation or gender identity outcome;

(III) Counseling or therapy that is neutral with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity and that does not seek to direct the patient toward a predetermined sexual orientation or gender identity outcome; or

(IV) Counseling or therapy related to a patient's sexual behaviors, practices, or relationships, provided that the counseling or therapy does not seek to direct the patient toward a predetermined sexual orientation or gender identity.

(4) "Dementia diseases and related disabilities" has the same meaning set forth in section 25-1-502 (2.5).

(5) "Licensed addiction counselor" means a person who is an addiction counselor licensed pursuant to this article 245.

(6) "Licensed professional counselor" means a person who is a professional counselor licensed pursuant to this article 245.

(7) "Licensed social worker" means a person who:

(a) Is a licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker; and

(b) Is licensed pursuant to this article 245.

(8) "Licensee" means a psychologist, social worker, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, or addiction counselor licensed pursuant to this article 245.

(9) "Marriage and family therapist" means a person who is a marriage and family therapist licensed pursuant to this article 245.

(10) "Professional relationship" means an interaction that is deliberately planned or directed, or both, by the licensee, registrant, or certificate holder toward obtaining specific objectives.

(11) "Provisional license" means a license or certification issued pursuant to section 12-245-208.

(12) "Provisional licensee" means a person who holds a provisional license pursuant to section 12-245-208.

(13) "Psychologist" means a person who is a psychologist licensed pursuant to this article 245.

(14) (a) "Psychotherapy" or "psychotherapy services" means the treatment, diagnosis, testing, assessment, or counseling in a professional relationship to assist individuals or groups to alleviate behavioral and mental health disorders, understand unconscious or conscious motivation, resolve emotional, relationship, or attitudinal conflicts, or modify behaviors that interfere with effective emotional, social, or intellectual functioning. Psychotherapy follows a planned procedure of intervention that takes place on a regular basis, over a period of time, or in the cases of testing, assessment, and brief psychotherapy, psychotherapy can be a single intervention.

(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the definition of psychotherapy as used in this article 245 be interpreted in its narrowest sense to regulate only those persons who clearly fall within the definition set forth in this subsection (14).

(15) Repealed.

(16) "Registrant" means a psychologist candidate, clinical social worker candidate, marriage and family therapist candidate, licensed professional counselor candidate, or addiction counselor candidate registered pursuant to section 12-245-304 (3), 12-245-404 (4), 12-245-504 (4), 12-245-604 (4), or 12-245-804 (3.7), respectively, or an unlicensed psychotherapist.

(17) (a) "Unlicensed psychotherapist" means a person:

(I) Whose primary practice is psychotherapy or who holds himself or herself out to the public as being able to practice psychotherapy for compensation; and

(II) Who is registered with the state board of unlicensed psychotherapists pursuant to section 12-245-703 to practice psychotherapy in this state.

(b) "Unlicensed psychotherapist" also includes a person who:

(I) Is a licensed school psychologist licensed pursuant to section 22-60.5-210 (1)(b);

(II) Is practicing outside of a school setting; and

(III) Is registered with the state board of unlicensed psychotherapists pursuant to section 12-245-703.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1221, § 1, effective October 1; (3.5) added, (HB 19-1129), ch. 378, p. 3411, § 7, effective October 1; (14)(a) amended, (HB 19-1120), ch. 197, p. 2150, § 6, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1) and (16) amended, (15) repealed, and (17) added, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, p. 1545, § 46, effective July 14. L. 2022: (16) amended, (HB 22-1307), ch. 207, p. 1372, § 3, effective August 10. L. 2026: (3.5) amended, (HB 26-1322), ch. 260, p. 1439, § 3, effective July 1.

Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 12-43-201 as it existed prior to 2019.

(2) (a) Before its relocation in 2019, this section was amended in HB 19-1129. Those amendments were superseded by the repeal and reenactment of this title 12, effective October 1, 2019. For those amendments to the former section in effect from August 2, 2019, to October 1, 2019, see HB 19-1129, chapter 378, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.

(b) Before its relocation in 2019, this section was amended in HB 19-1120. Those amendments were superseded by the repeal and reenactment of this title 12, effective October 1, 2019. For those amendments to the former section in effect from May 16, 2019, to October 1, 2019, see HB 19-1120, chapter 197, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.

(3) Section 4 of chapter 260 (HB 26-1322), Session Laws of Colorado 2026, provides that the act changing this section applies to a cause of action filed on or after July 1, 2026.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 19-1120, see section 1 of chapter 197, Session Laws of Colorado 2019. For the legislative declaration in HB 26-1322, see section 1 of chapter 260, Session Laws of Colorado 2026.