For purposes of this chapter:

1. (1) “Board” means the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists established in this chapter.

2. (2) “Conversion therapy” means any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, as “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are defined in § 710 of Title 19, including any effort to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. “Conversion therapy” does not mean any of the following:

   1. a. Counseling that provides assistance to an individual who is seeking to undergo a gender transition or who is in the process of undergoing gender transition.
   2. b. Counseling that provides an individual with acceptance, support, and understanding without seeking to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
   3. c. Counseling that facilitates an individual’s coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including counseling in the form of sexual orientation-neutral interventions or gender identity-neutral interventions provided for the purpose of preventing or addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
3. (3) “Doctoral-level psychological assistant” means an individual who is registered with the Board to perform only the specific functions within the practice of psychology that are listed in the statement submitted under § 3509(a)(1) of this title, only under the direct supervision of a supervising psychologist, and who is authorized by the Board to use the title “doctoral-level psychological assistant.”
4. (4) “Excessive use or abuse of drugs” means any use of narcotics, controlled substances, or illegal drugs without a prescription from a licensed physician, or the abuse of alcoholic beverages such that it impairs the individual’s ability to perform the work of a psychologist, licensed psychology associate, doctoral-level psychological assistant, or master’s-level psychological assistant.
5. (5) “Licensed psychology associate” means an individual who licensed and authorized to engage on the practice of psychology under § 3508B of this title.
6. (6) “Licensee” means an individual who is licensed as a psychologist or a licensed psychology associate under this chapter.
7. (7) “Master’s-level psychological assistant” means an individual who is registered with the Board to perform only the specific functions within the practice of psychology that are listed in the statement submitted under § 3509B(a)(1) of this title, only under the direct supervision of a supervising psychologist or a supervising licensed psychology associate, and who is authorized by the Board to use the title “master’s-level psychological assistant”, while attaining further requirements for licensure, as specified by the Board.

8. (8) a. “Practice of psychology” means observing, describing, evaluating, testing, assessing, interpreting, and modifying human behavior by applying psychological principles, methods, and procedures that are grounded in a scientific orientation toward psychological knowledge and methods, for 1 or more of the following purposes:

   1. 1. Preventing, evaluating, assessing, or treating any symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior, emotion, cognition, physical condition, or social barrier.
   2. 2. Evaluating, assessing, treating, or facilitating the enhancement of individual, family, or group effectiveness, including adaptive behavior, interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment, personal effectiveness, behavioral health, mental health, and individual or group performance.

   3. b. The practice of psychology includes all of the following:

      1. 1. Psychological testing.
      2. 2. The evaluation or assessment of individual or group performance.
      3. 3. Conducting evidence-based assessments or evaluations of personal characteristics, such as intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, behavior, achievement, and neuropsychological function.
      4. 4. Providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive rehabilitation, counseling, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, hypnosis, biofeedback, and behavior analysis and therapy to improve cognitive, mental, behavioral, physical, functional, and sociocultural health and wellness.
      5. 5. Diagnosing, treatment planning, treating, and managing psychological function; mental and emotional disorders; mental, developmental, or intellectual disabilities; substance misuse; substance use disorders; disorders of habit or conduct; and the psychological functional, and sociocultural aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or and disability.
      6. 6. Providing psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, remediation, and consultation.
      7. 7. Providing psychological screening, interviewing, and diagnostic assessment to carry out the psychological services listed under paragraph (8)b.3. of this section.
      8. 8. Consulting and collaborating with other professionals on patient or family diagnoses, impairment, treatment planning, and removing barriers to health or care.
      9. 9. Conducting psychological testing.
      10. 10. Supervising a doctoral-level psychological assistant, subject to § 3509 of this title.
      11. 11. Supervising a master’s-level psychological assistant, subject to § 3509B of this title.
   4. c. The “practice of psychology” is grounded in a scientific orientation towards psychological methods, including using, to the extent possible, existing evidence-based literature or, if relevant evidence-based literature does not exist, a scientific orientation to guide professional activities and decision-making.
   5. d. The “practice of psychology” occurs regardless of whether payment is received for services rendered.

9. (9) “Psychological testing” includes administration and interpretation of all of the following:

   1. a. Standardized intelligence and neuropsychological tests that yield an intelligence quotient or are the basis for a diagnosis of brain-based disorders for the purposes of classification or disability determination.
   2. b. Psychological tests that are the basis of a diagnosis of mental or emotional disorder.
10. (10) “Psychologist” means an individual who makes representations to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words “psychology,” “psychological,” “psychologist,” or who engages in the practice of psychology.
11. (11) “Registrant” means an individual who is registered as a doctoral-level psychological assistant or master’s-level psychological assistant under this chapter.
12. (12) “Substantially related” means the nature of the criminal conduct, for which an individual is convicted, has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability to perform 1 or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the practice of psychology.
13. (13) “Supervising licensed psychology associate” means a licensed psychology associate licensed in this State who supervises a master’s-level psychological assistant, as provided by § 3509B of this title.
14. (14) “Supervising psychologist” means a psychologist licensed in this State who supervises a doctoral-level psychological assistant, as provided by § 3509 of this title, or a master’s-level psychological assistant, as provided by § 3509B of this title.
15. (15) “Supervision” means the face-to-face consultation between a doctoral-level psychological assistant or master’s level psychological assistant and the supervising psychologist or supervising licensed psychology associate, as required by the nature of the work of the doctoral-level psychological assistant or master’s-level psychological assistant.

24 Del. C. 1953, § 3501; 58 Del. Laws, c. 380; 62 Del. Laws, c. 314, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 262, § 72; 80 Del. Laws, c. 80, § 18; 81 Del. Laws, c. 340, § 8; 82 Del. Laws, c. 261, §§ 13, 16; 83 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 17; 85 Del. Laws, c. 317, § 1