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Rule R156-60. Mental Health Professional Practice Act Rules.

As in effect on November 1, 2008

Table of Contents

R156-60-101. Title.

These rules are known as the "Mental Health Professional Practice Act Rules."

R156-60-102. Definitions.

In addition to the definitions in Title 58, Chapters 1 and 60, as used in Title 58, Chapters 1 and 60, or these rules:

(1) "Approved diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders" means the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, or the ICD-10- CM published by Medicode, the American Psychiatric Association, or Practice Management Information Corporation in conjunction with the World Health Organization.

(2) "Client or patient" means an individual who, when competent requests, or when not competent to request is lawfully provided professional services by a mental health therapist when the mental health therapist agrees verbally or in writing to provide professional services to that individual, or without an overt agreement does in fact provide professional services to that individual.

(3) "Employee" means an individual who is working or providing services for compensation paid in the form of wages or salary from which there is withheld or should be withheld income taxes or social security taxes under applicable law; or who meets any other definition of an employee established by the Industrial Commission of the State of Utah or the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Government.

(4) "General supervision" means that the supervisor is available for consultation with the supervisee by personal face to face contact, or direct voice contact by telephone, radio, or some other means within a reasonable time consistent with the acts and practices in which the supervisee is engaged.

R156-60-103. Authority - Purpose.

These rules are adopted by the division under the authority of Subsection 58-1-106(1) to enable the division to administer Title 58, Chapter 60.

R156-60-104. Organization - Relationship to Rule R156-1.

The organization of this rule and its relationship to Rule R156-1 is as described in Section R156-1- 107.

R156-60-502. Unprofessional Conduct.

"Unprofessional conduct" includes:

(1) to engage with a client/patient in any romantic, any sexual, or any intimate personal relationship, or in a business relationship in which the licensee receives any unilateral benefit or disproportionate benefit; or to engage in any such activity or relationship with a former client/patient during a two year period following the formal and properly documented termination of the professional relationship between the client/patient and the mental health therapist; except under no circumstances shall a licensee at any time engage in any such activity or relationship with a client/patient or former client/patient who is especially vulnerable or susceptible to being disadvantaged because of the client's/patient's personal history, the client's/patient's current mental status, or any condition which could reasonably be expected to place the client/patient at a disadvantage recognizing the power imbalance which exists or may exist between the mental health therapist and the client/patient; and

(2) to engage with a former client/patient in any romantic, any sexual, or any intimate personal relationship, which is not unprofessional conduct under the provision of Subsection (1) without first obtaining professionally documented counseling from another competent mental health therapist with respect to that relationship, and without exercising all reasonable effort to ensure that the relationship is not adverse to the former client's/patient's best interests.

KEY

licensing, mental health, therapists

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment

1994

Notice of Continuation

October 21, 2004

Authorizing, Implemented, or Interpreted Law

58-1-106(1); 58-1-202(1); 58-60-101


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