37-22-102. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Board" means the board of behavioral health established in 2-15-1744.

(2) "Department" means the department of labor and industry.

(3) "Licensee" means a person licensed under this chapter as a licensed baccalaureate social worker, a licensed master's social worker, or a licensed clinical social worker.

(4) "Psychotherapy" means the use of psychosocial methods within a professional relationship to assist a person to achieve a better psychosocial adaptation and to modify internal and external conditions that affect individuals, groups, or families in respect to behavior, emotions, and thinking concerning their interpersonal processes.

(5) "Social work" means the professional practice directed toward helping people achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive social adjustments. The practice of social work involves special knowledge of social resources, human capabilities, and the roles that individual motivation and social influences play in determining behavior and involves diagnoses and the application of social work techniques, including:

(a) counseling and using psychotherapy with individuals, families, or groups;

(b) providing information and referral services;

(c) providing, arranging, or supervising the provision of social services;

(d) explaining and interpreting the psychosocial aspects in the situations of individuals, families, or groups;

(e) helping communities to organize to provide or improve social and health services;

(f) research or teaching related to social work; and

(g) administering, evaluating, and assessing tests if the licensee is qualified to administer the test and make the evaluation and assessment.

(6) "Social worker licensure candidate" means a person who is registered pursuant to 37-22-313 to engage in social work and earn supervised work experience necessary for licensure.

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 544, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 572, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 129, Ch. 483, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 199, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 130, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 288, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 390, L. 2019.