Colorado § 12-245-503 - Marriage and family therapy practice defined.

§ 12-245-503. Marriage and family therapy practice defined.

(1) For the purposes of this part 5, "marriage and family therapy practice" means the rendering of professional marriage and family therapy services to individuals, couples, and families, singly or in groups, whether the services are offered directly to the general public or through organizations, either public or private, for a monetary fee. Marriage and family therapy utilizes established principles that recognize the interrelated nature of individual problems and dysfunctions to assess, understand, diagnose, and treat emotional problems; behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders; and domestic violence, and modify intrapersonal and interpersonal dysfunctions.

(2) Professional marriage and family therapy practice may include, but is not limited to:

(a) Assessment and testing;

(b) Diagnosis;

(c) Treatment planning and evaluation;

(d) Therapeutic individual, marital, family, group, or organizational interventions;

(e) Psychotherapy;

(f) Client education;

(g) Consultation; and

(h) Supervision.

(3) Professional marriage and family therapy practice includes practicing within the values and ethics of the marriage and family therapy profession.

(4) The definition of marriage and family therapy practice is to be interpreted in a manner that does not impinge upon or otherwise limit the scope of practice of other mental health professionals licensed under this article 245.

(5) Marriage and family therapy practice includes the clinical supervision by a licensed marriage and family therapist of a person working toward certification as a certified addiction technician or a certified addiction specialist pursuant to section 12-245-804 (3.5), if the licensed marriage and family therapist has met the education requirements for a licensed addiction counselor, or the equivalent, as specified in rules promulgated by the state board of human services pursuant to section 27-80-108 (1)(e.5) or 27-50-107 (3)(e)(II), as applicable.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1278, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2022: (4) amended, (HB 22-1307), ch. 207, p. 1375, § 8, effective August 10. L. 2024: (5) added, (HB 24-1045), ch. 470, p. 3278, § 4, effective August 7.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43-503 as it existed prior to 2019.