Colorado § 12-245-303 - Practice of psychology defined.

§ 12-245-303. Practice of psychology defined.

(1) For the purposes of this part 3, the "practice of psychology" means the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, or modification of human behavior by the application of psychological principles, methods, or procedures, for the purpose of:

(a) Preventing, eliminating, evaluating, assessing, or predicting symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior;

(b) Evaluating, assessing, or facilitating the enhancement of individual, group, or organizational effectiveness, including personal effectiveness, adaptive behavior, interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment, health, and individual, group, or organizational performance; or

(c) Providing clinical information to be utilized in legal proceedings.

(2) The practice of psychology includes:

(a) Psychological testing and the evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intelligence; personality; cognitive, physical, or emotional abilities; skills; interests; aptitudes; and neuropsychological functioning;

(b) Counseling, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, hypnosis, biofeedback, and behavior analysis and therapy;

(c) Diagnosis, treatment, and management of behavioral, mental, or emotional health disorders or disabilities; substance use disorders; and disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the psychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or disability;

(d) Psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, and remediation;

(e) Consultation with physicians, other health-care professionals, and patients regarding all available treatment options with respect to provision of care for a specific patient or client;

(f) The provision of direct services to individuals or groups for the purpose of enhancing individual and thereby organizational effectiveness, using psychological principles, methods, or procedures to assess and evaluate individuals on personal characteristics for individual development or behavior change or for making decisions about the individual, such as selection; and

(g) The supervision of any of the practices described in this subsection (2).

(3) Psychological services may be rendered to individuals, families, groups, organizations, institutions, the public, and the courts.

(4) The practice of psychology shall be construed within the meaning of this definition without regard to whether payment is received for services rendered.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1259, § 1, effective October 1.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43-303 as it existed prior to 2019.