Arizona Administrative Code
Title 4 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
Chapter 6 - Board Of Behavioral Health Examiners
Article 1 - DEFINITIONS
Section R4-6-101 - Definitions

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 4-6-101

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024

A. The definitions at A.R.S. § 32-3251 apply to this Chapter. Additionally, the following definitions apply to this Chapter, unless otherwise specified:

1. "Applicant" means:
a. An individual requesting a license by examination, temporary license, or a license by endorsement by submitting a completed application packet to the Board; or

b. A regionally accredited college or university seeking Board approval of an educational program under R4-6-307.

2. "Application packet" means the required documents, forms, fees, and additional information required by the Board of an applicant.

3. "ARC" means an academic review committee established by the Board under A.R.S. § 32-3261(A).

4. "Assessment" means the collection and analysis of information to determine an individual's behavioral health treatment needs.

5. "ASWB" means the Association of Social Work Boards.

6. "Behavioral health entity" means any organization, agency, business, or professional practice, including a for-profit private practice, which provides assessment, diagnosis, and treatment to individuals, groups, or families for behavioral health related issues.

7. "Behavioral health service" means the assessment, diagnosis, or treatment of an individual's behavioral health issue.

8. "CACREP" means the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

9. "Client record" means collected documentation of the behavioral health services provided to and information gathered regarding a client.

10. "Clinical social work" means social work involving clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals, couples, families, and groups.

11. "Clinical supervision" means direction or oversight provided either face to face or by video conference or telephone by an individual qualified to evaluate, guide, and direct all behavioral health services provided by a licensee to assist the licensee to develop and improve the necessary knowledge, skills, techniques, and abilities to allow the licensee to engage in the practice of behavioral health ethically, safely, and competently.

12. "Clinical supervisor" means an individual who provides clinical supervision.

13. "COAMFTE" means the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

14. "Clock hour" means 60 minutes of instruction, not including breaks or meals.

15. "Contemporaneous" means documentation is made within 10 business days.

16. "Continuing education" means training that provides an understanding of current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of behavioral health, as determined by the Board.

17. "Co-occurring disorder" means a combination of substance use disorder or addiction and a mental or personality disorder.

18. "CORE" means the Council on Rehabilitation Education.

19. "Counseling related coursework" means education that prepares an individual to provide behavioral health services, as determined by the ARC.

20. "CSWE" means Council on Social Work Education.

21. "Date of service" means the postmark date applied by the U.S. Postal Service to materials addressed to an applicant or licensee at the address the applicant or licensee last placed on file in writing with the Board.

22. "Day" means calendar day.

23. "Direct client contact" means, the performance of therapeutic or clinical functions related to the applicant's professional practice level of psychotherapy that includes diagnosis, assessment and treatment and that may include psychoeducation for mental, emotional and behavioral disorders based primarily on verbal or nonverbal communications and intervention with, and in the presence of, one or more clients. A.R.S. § 32-3251.

24. "Direct supervision" means responsibility and oversight for all services provided by a supervisee as prescribed in R4-6-211.

25. "Disciplinary action" means any action taken by the Board against a licensee, based on a finding that the licensee engaged in unprofessional conduct, including refusing to renew a license and suspending or revoking a license.

26. "Documentation" means written or electronic supportive evidence.

27. "Educational program" means a degree program in counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, or substance use or addiction counseling that is:
a. Offered by a regionally accredited college or university, and

b. Not accredited by an organization or entity recognized by the Board.

28. "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process that is attached to or logically associated with a record and that is executed or adopted by an individual with the intent to sign the record.

29. "Family member" means a parent, sibling, half-sibling, child, cousin, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, and present and former spouse, in-law, stepchild, stepparent, foster parent, or significant other.

30. "Gross negligence" means careless or reckless disregard of established standards of practice or repeated failure to exercise the care that a reasonable practitioner would exercise within the scope of professional practice.

31. "Inactive status" means the Board has granted a licensee the right to suspend behavioral health practice temporarily by postponing license renewal for a maximum of 48 months.

32. "Independent practice" means engaging in the practice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, social work, or substance abuse counseling without direct supervision.

33. "Indirect client service" means training for, and the performance of, functions of an applicant's professional practice level in preparation for or on behalf of a client for whom direct client contact functions are also performed, including case consultation and receipt of clinical supervision. Indirect client service does not include the provision of psychoeducation. A.R.S. § 32-3251.

34. "Individual clinical supervision" means clinical supervision provided by a clinical supervisor to one supervisee.

35. "Informed consent for treatment" means a written document authorizing treatment of a client that:
a. Contains the requirements of R4-6-1101;

b. Is dated and signed by the client or the client's legal representative, and

c. Beginning on July 1, 2006, is dated and signed by an authorized representative of the behavioral health entity.

36. "Legal representative" means an individual authorized by law to act on a client's behalf.

37. "License" means written authorization issued by the Board that allows an individual to engage in the practice of behavioral health in Arizona.

38. "License period" means the two years between the dates on which the Board issues a license and the license expires.

39. "NASAC" means the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission.

40. "Practice of behavioral health" means the practice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, social work and substance abuse counseling pursuant to this Chapter. A.R.S. § 32-3251.

41. "Practice of marriage and family therapy" means the professional application of family systems theories, principles and techniques to treat interpersonal relationship issues and nervous, mental and emotional disorders that are cognitive, affective or behavioral. The practice of marriage and family therapy includes:
a. Assessment, appraisal and diagnosis.

b. The use of psychotherapy for the purpose of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of individuals, couples, families and groups. A.R.S. § 32-3251.

42. "Practice of professional counseling" means the professional application of mental health, psychological and human development theories, principles and techniques to:
a. Facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the human life span.

b. Assess and facilitate career development.

c. Treat interpersonal relationship issues and nervous, mental and emotional disorders that are cognitive, affective or behavioral.

d. Manage symptoms of mental illness.

e. Assess, appraise, evaluate, diagnose and treat individuals, couples, families and groups through the use of psychotherapy. A.R.S. § 32-3251.

43. "Practice of social work" means the professional application of social work theories, principles, methods and techniques to:
a. Treat mental, behavioral and emotional disorders.

b. Assist individuals, families groups and communities to enhance or restore the ability to function physically, socially, emotionally, mentally and economically.

c. Assess, appraise, diagnose, evaluate and treat individuals, couples, families and groups through the use of psychotherapy. A.R.S. § 32-3251.

44. "Practice of substance abuse counseling" means the professional application of general counseling theories, principles and techniques as specifically adapted, based on research and clinical experience, to the specialized needs and characteristics of persons who are experiencing substance abuse, chemical dependency and related problems and to the families of those persons. The practice of substance abuse counseling includes the following as they relate to substance abuse and chemical dependency issues:
a. Assessment, appraisal, and diagnosis.

b. The use of psychotherapy for the purpose of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of individuals, couples, families and groups. A.R.S. § 32-3251.

45. "Progress note" means contemporaneous documentation of a behavioral health service provided to an individual that is dated and signed or electronically acknowledged by the licensee.

46. "Psychoeducation" means the education of a client as part of a treatment process that provides the client with information regarding mental health, emotional disorders or behavioral health." A.R.S. § 32-3251.

47. "Quorum" means a majority of the members of the Board or an ARC. Vacant positions do not reduce the quorum requirement.

48. "Regionally accredited college or university" means the institution has been approved by an entity recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a regional accrediting organization.

49. "Significant other" means an individual whose participation a client considers to be essential to the effective provision of behavioral health services to the client.

50. "Supervised work experience" means practicing clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, or substance abuse counseling for remuneration or on a voluntary basis under direct supervision and while receiving clinical supervision as prescribed in R4-6-212 and Articles 4 through 7.

51. "Telepractice" means providing behavioral health services through interactive audio, video or electronic communication that occurs between a behavioral health professional and the client, including any electronic communication for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment, including distance counseling, in a secure platform, and that meets the requirements of telemedicine pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-3602. A.R.S. § 32-3251.

52. "Treatment" means the application by a licensee of one or more therapeutic practice methods to improve, eliminate, or manage a client's behavioral health issue.

53. "Treatment goal" means the desired result or outcome of treatment.

54. "Treatment method" means the specific approach a licensee used to achieve a treatment goal.

55. "Treatment plan" means a description of the specific behavioral health services that a licensee will provide to a client that is documented in the client record, and meets the requirements found in R4-6-1102.

B. For the purposes of this Chapter, notifications or communications required to be "written" or "in writing" may be transmitted or received by mail, electronic transmission, facsimile transmission or hand delivery and may not be transmitted or received orally. Documents requiring a signature may include a written signature or electronic signature as defined in subsection (A)(28).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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