SB188 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Marriage and Family Therapy Board, practice of marriage and family therapy further defined to include diagnosis of mental and emotional problems, certain limitations deleted, Sec. 34-17A-3 am'd.

Summary

SB 188 would expand the scope of practice for Alabama marriage and family therapists to include diagnosing mental and emotional disorders and remove some existing restrictions.

What This Bill Does

It adds diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders to the defined scope of the practice of marriage and family therapy. It deletes certain limitations on what marriage and family therapists may do, potentially broadening their professional activities. It retains safeguards that therapists must not perform acts outside their education and training (such as prescribing drugs or administering certain tests).

Who It Affects

• Licensed marriage and family therapists in Alabama, whose scope of practice would explicitly include diagnosing mental and emotional disorders and who may experience changes to certain practice limitations.
• Clients and families receiving marriage and family therapy, who could be diagnosed by a licensed MFT and served within the updated scope of practice.

Key Provisions

• Explicitly includes diagnosing mental and emotional disorders within the practice of marriage and family therapy.
• Deletes certain limitations on the practice of marriage and family therapy, potentially broadening scope of practice.
• Preserves safeguards that licensed therapists may not perform medical or highly specialized acts outside their training (e.g., prescribing medications, hospital admissions, or administering complex tests).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Marriage and Family Therapy, Board of Examiners in