Colorado Code § 12-245-202

Definitions
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As used in this article 245, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(1) "Board" includes the state board of psychologist examiners, the state board of social
work examiners, the state board of licensed professional counselor examiners, the state board of
marriage and family therapist examiners, the state board of unlicensed psychotherapists, and the
state board of addiction counselor examiners.
(2) "Certificate holder" means an addiction counselor certified pursuant to this article
245.
(3) "Certified addiction counselor" means a person who is an addiction counselor
certified pursuant to this article 245.
(3.5) (a) "Conversion therapy" means any practice or treatment by a licensee, registrant,
or certificate holder that attempts or purports to change an individual's sexual orientation or
gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or
reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.
(b) "Conversion therapy" does not include practices or treatments that provide:
(I) Acceptance, support, and understanding for the facilitation of an individual's coping,
social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual-orientation-neutral
interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as the
counseling does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity; or
(II) Assistance to a person undergoing gender transition.
(4) "Dementia diseases and related disabilities" has the same meaning set forth in section
25-1-502 (2.5).
(5) "Licensed addiction counselor" means a person who is an addiction counselor
licensed pursuant to this article 245.
(6) "Licensed professional counselor" means a person who is a professional counselor
licensed pursuant to this article 245.
(7) "Licensed social worker" means a person who:
(a) Is a licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker; and
(b) Is licensed pursuant to this article 245.
(8) "Licensee" means a psychologist, social worker, clinical social worker, marriage and
family therapist, licensed professional counselor, or addiction counselor licensed pursuant to this
article 245.
(9) "Marriage and family therapist" means a person who is a marriage and family
therapist licensed pursuant to this article 245.
(10) "Professional relationship" means an interaction that is deliberately planned or
directed, or both, by the licensee, registrant, or certificate holder toward obtaining specific
objectives.
(11) "Provisional license" means a license or certification issued pursuant to section 12-
245-208.
(12) "Provisional licensee" means a person who holds a provisional license pursuant to
section 12-245-208.
(13) "Psychologist" means a person who is a psychologist licensed pursuant to this
article 245.
(14) (a) "Psychotherapy" or "psychotherapy services" means the treatment, diagnosis,
testing, assessment, or counseling in a professional relationship to assist individuals or groups to
alleviate behavioral and mental health disorders, understand unconscious or conscious
motivation, resolve emotional, relationship, or attitudinal conflicts, or modify behaviors that
interfere with effective emotional, social, or intellectual functioning. Psychotherapy follows a
planned procedure of intervention that takes place on a regular basis, over a period of time, or in
the cases of testing, assessment, and brief psychotherapy, psychotherapy can be a single
intervention.
(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the definition of psychotherapy as used in
this article 245 be interpreted in its narrowest sense to regulate only those persons who clearly
fall within the definition set forth in this subsection (14).
(15) Repealed.
(16) "Registrant" means a psychologist candidate, clinical social worker candidate,
marriage and family therapist candidate, licensed professional counselor candidate, or addiction
counselor candidate registered pursuant to section 12-245-304 (3), 12-245-404 (4), 12-245-504
(4), 12-245-604 (4), or 12-245-804 (3.7), respectively, or an unlicensed psychotherapist.
(17) (a) "Unlicensed psychotherapist" means a person:
(I) Whose primary practice is psychotherapy or who holds himself or herself out to the
public as being able to practice psychotherapy for compensation; and
(II) Who is registered with the state board of unlicensed psychotherapists pursuant to
section 12-245-703 to practice psychotherapy in this state.
(b) "Unlicensed psychotherapist" also includes a person who:
(I) Is a licensed school psychologist licensed pursuant to section 22-60.5-210 (1)(b);
(II) Is practicing outside of a school setting; and
(III) Is registered with the state board of unlicensed psychotherapists pursuant to section
12-245-703.

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