__________________________________ Laws, Regulations, and Ethics for Florida Psychologists, 2nd Edition
psychophysical survival, the practice of psychology and school psychology by unqualified persons presents a danger to public health, safety, and welfare.
INTRODUCTION Psychologists often work with vulnerable individuals in sensi- tive situations. An important aspect of being a mental health professional, whether you conduct research or provide thera- peutic services, is being aware of the ethical issues faced by all psychologists. If you provide psychological s ervices, you are obligated to remain informed about current laws and regulations in your jurisdiction as well as to remain aware of ethical standards and issues. THE 2025 FLORIDA STATE STATUTES AND FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODES The Florida Statutes and the Florida Administrative Code are legislative documents that detail the standards of practice, guidelines for licensing and renewal, and other important factors related to the practice of Florida psychology profes- sionals. Multiple Florida Statutes are particularly applicable to psychologists. Because of space constraints, the entirety of these statutes and rules will not be included in this update. Instead, this update will provide a general summary of each of these legislative documents with links to the full text. You are encouraged to visit these websites regularly to note changes that apply to you as a Florida psychology professional. The current Florida legislative session ended on June 17, 2025. As of May 3, 2025, the Florida Board of Psychology’s website lists the following new legislation impacting psychology: THE 2025 FLORIDA STATUTES: CHAPTER 490 PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES This Chapter details the standards of practice for Florida psy- chologists (Florida Legislature, 2024, including 2025 Special Session C). Throughout this course, laws and statutes will be highlighted with links to the complete text to review in full. The full text can be found at: https://www.leg.state.fl.us/ Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400- 0499/0490/0490ContentsIndex.html&StatuteYear=2024&T itle=%2D%3E2024%2D%3EChapter%20490 . 490.002 INTENT The Legislature finds that as society becomes increasingly complex, emotional survival is equal in importance to physical survival. Therefore, in order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public, the Legislature must provide privileged communication for members of the public or those acting on their behalf to encourage needed or desired psychological services to be sought out. The Legislature further finds that, since such psychological services assist the public primarily with emotional survival, which in turn affects physical and
490.003 DEFINITIONS (4)
“Practice of psychology” means the observations, description, evaluation, interpretation, and modification of human behavior, by the use of scientific and applied psychological principles, methods, and procedures, for the purpose of describing, preventing, alleviating, or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior and of enhancing interpersonal behavioral health and mental or psychological health. The ethical practice of psychology includes, but is not limited to, psychological testing and the evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intel- ligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning, including evaluation of mental competency to manage one’s affairs and to participate in legal proceedings; counseling, psychoanalysis, all forms of psycho- therapy, sex therapy, hypnosis, biofeedback, and behavioral analysis and therapy; psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, remediation, and consultation; and use of psychological methods to diagnose and treat mental, nervous, psychological, marital, or emotional disorders, illness, or disability, alcohol- ism and substance abuse, and disorders of habit or conduct, as well as the psychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or disability, including neuropsychological evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, etiology, and treatment. “Practice of school psychology” means the render- ing or offering to render to an individual, a group, an organization, a government agency, or the public any of the following services: (a) Assessment, which includes psychoeduca- tional, developmental, and vocational assess- ment; evaluation and interpretation of intelligence, aptitudes, interests, academic achievement, adjustment, and motivations, or any other attributes, in individuals or groups, that relate to learning, educational, or adjust- ment needs. (b) Counseling, which includes short-term situ- ation-oriented professional interaction with children, parents, or other adults for ameliora- tion or prevention of learning and adjustment problems. Counseling services relative to the practice of school psychology include verbal interaction, interviewing, behavior techniques, developmental and vocational intervention, environmental management, and group pro- cesses.
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