65-6302. Definitions. As used in the social workers licensure act, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Board" means the behavioral sciences regulatory board created by K.S.A. 74-7501, and amendments thereto.

(b) "Extenuating circumstances" means any condition or situation caused by events beyond a person's control that is sufficiently extreme in nature to result in the:

(1) Person's inability to comply with requirements; or

(2) inadvisability of requiring the person to comply with requirements.

(c) "Psychotherapy" means the use of psychological and social methods within a professional relationship to assist the person or persons to achieve a better psychosocial adaptation to acquire greater human realization of psychosocial potential and adaptation to modify internal and external conditions that affect individuals, groups or communities in respect to behavior, emotions and thinking and in respect to their intra-personal and inter-personal processes. Forms of "psychotherapy" include, but are not limited to, individual psychotherapy, conjoint marital therapy, family therapy and group psychotherapy.

(d) "Social work practice" means the professional activity of helping individuals, groups or communities enhance or restore their capacity for physical, social and economic functioning and the professional application of social work values, principles and techniques in areas such as psychotherapy, social service administration, social planning, social work consultation and social work research to one or more of the following ends: Helping people obtain tangible services; counseling with individuals, families and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services; and participating in relevant social action. The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior; of social, economic and cultural institutions and forces; and of the interaction of all these factors. Social work practice includes the teaching of practicum courses in social work and includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as authorized under K.S.A. 65-6306 and 65-6319, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 1974, ch. 372, § 2; L. 1980, ch. 242, § 15; L. 1982, ch. 371, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 11; L. 2023, ch. 90, § 9; July 1.