Section 48.1. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

AAMFT—The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

AMFTRB—The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.

Accredited educational institution—A graduate school which is recognized as an institution of higher education or which is accredited by a regional accrediting association recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Act—The Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act (63 P. S. § § 1901—1922).

Board—The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.

COAMFTE—The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

Client/patient—An individual, group or family for whom a licensed marriage and family therapist provides marriage and family therapy services. In the case of an individual with a legal guardian, such as a minor or legally incapacitated adult, the individual is the client/patient.

Doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy—A doctoral degree which is awarded upon successful completion of a program in marriage and family therapy which is either accredited by COAMFTE, or, which includes coursework that meets the criteria in § 48.2 (relating to educational requirements).

Field closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy— Includes the fields of social work, psychology, counseling, child development and family studies, medicine, nursing, pastoral counseling, ministry, theology, education and sociology.

Graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the Board—Coursework that meets the criteria in § 48.2.

Immediate family member—A parent/guardian, child, sibling, spouse or other family member with whom the client/patient resides.

Institution of higher education—An independent institution of higher education, a community college, a State-related institution or a member institution of the State System. (See 22 Pa. Code § 33.102 (relating to definitions)).

Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy—A master’s degree which is awarded upon successful completion of a program in marriage and family therapy which is either accredited by COAMFTE, or, which includes coursework that meets the criteria in § 48.2.

MFT—Marriage and family therapist.

Planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours which is closely related to marriage and family therapy—A program which includes coursework that meets the criteria in § 48.2.

Professional relationship—A therapeutic relationship which is deemed to exist for the period of time beginning with the first professional contact or consultation between a licensed marriage and family therapist and a client/patient and continuing thereafter until the last date of a professional service. If a licensed marriage and family therapist sees a client/patient on an intermittent basis, the professional relationship is deemed to start anew on each date that the licensed marriage and family therapist provides a professional service to the client/patient.

Program recognized by a National accrediting agency—A master, doctor or postgraduate degree training program accredited by COAMFTE.

Related field—Includes the fields of psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, human services and counseling education.

Sexual intimacies—Romantic, sexually suggestive, sexually demeaning or erotic behavior. Examples of this behavior include the following:

(i) Sexual intercourse, or any touching of the sexual or intimate parts of the person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire in either person.

(ii) Nontherapeutic verbal communication or inappropriate nonverbal communication of a sexual or romantic nature.

(iii) Sexual invitations.

(iv) Soliciting or accepting a date from a client/patient.

(v) Masturbating in the presence of a client/patient or encouraging a client/patient to masturbate in the presence of the licensed marriage and family therapist.

(vi) Indecent exposure, kissing, hugging, touching, physical contact or self-disclosure of a sexual or erotic nature.

Supervisee—An individual who is fulfilling the supervised experience requirement for licensure.

Supervision—The act of overseeing, directing or instructing the activity or course of action of another.

Supervisor—An individual providing supervision to a supervisee who meets the criteria in § 48.3 (relating to qualifications for supervisors).

The provisions of this § 48.1 amended August 11, 2006, effective August 12, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 4469. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (294169) to (294170).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 48.13 (relating to licensed MFT); and 49 Pa. Code § 48.15 (relating to exemption from licensure examination).