§ 3001 - Definitions - Vermont Statutes

§ 3001. Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Practice of psychology" means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups or organizations, for a consideration, any service involving the application of principles, methods and procedures of understanding, predicting and influencing behavior which are primarily drawn from the science of psychology. The science of psychology includes, but is not restricted to, assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and amelioration of adjustment problems and emotional and mental disorders of individuals and groups.

(2) "Psychologist" or "practicing psychologist" means a person who is licensed to practice psychology under this chapter.

(3) Psychologist-doctorate means a person who is so licensed under this chapter.

(4) Psychologist-master means a person who is so licensed under this chapter.

(5) "Board" means the board of psychological examiners established under this chapter.

(6) "Disciplinary action" or "disciplinary cases" includes any action taken by a board against a licensee or applicant premised upon a finding of wrongdoing or unprofessional conduct by the licensee or applicant. It includes all sanctions authorized under this chapter, but excluding obtaining injunctions.

(7) "Unprofessional conduct" means conduct prohibited by section 3016 of this title or by other statutes relating to the practice of psychology, whether or not taken by a license holder.

(8) "Financial interest" means being:

(A) a psychologist;

(B) a person who deals in goods and services which are uniquely related to the practice of psychology; or

(C) a person who has invested anything of value in a business which provides psychological services.

(9) "Institution of higher education" means a university, professional school, or other institution of higher learning that:

(A) in the United States, is regionally accredited by bodies approved by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation of the United States Department of Education;

(B) in Canada, holds a membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada; or

(C) in any other country, is accredited by the respective official organization having such authority.

(10) "Professional psychology training program" means a postgraduate training program that:

(A) is a planned program of study, defined by the board by rule, which reflects an integration of the science and practice of psychology and emphasizes assessment, intervention, psychopathology, statistical methods and professional ethics, including practice and internship; or

(B) is designated as a doctoral program in psychology by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards and the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, or is accredited by the American Psychological Association or the Canadian Psychological Association; or

(C) is a master's program in psychology that is offered by an educational institution that is a full member of the Council of Applied Master's Programs in Psychology (CAMPP).

(11) "Psychotherapy" means the provision of treatment, diagnosis, evaluation or counseling services to individuals or groups, for a consideration, for the purpose of alleviating mental disorders. "Psychotherapy" involves the application of therapeutic techniques to understand unconscious or conscious motivation, resolve emotional, relationship or attitudinal conflicts, or modify behavior which interferes with effective emotional, social or mental functioning. "Psychotherapy" follows a systematic procedure of psychotherapeutic intervention which takes place on a regular basis over a period of time, or, in the case of evaluation and brief psychotherapies, in a single or limited number of interventions. If a person is employed by or under contract with the agency of human services, this definition does not apply to persons with less than a master's degree, to persons providing life skills training or instruction, such as learning to make friends, to handle social situations, to do laundry and to develop community awareness, or interactions of employees or contracted individuals with clients whose job description or contract specifications do not specifically mention "psychotherapy" as a job responsibility or duty. (Added 1975, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1981, No. 241 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1993, No. 98, § 1; 1993, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 1a; 1997, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 1999, No. 52, § 23; 1999, No. 133 (Adj. Sess.), § 21; 2009, No. 35, § 38.)