As used in this Act:
"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.
"Advertise" means, but is not limited to, issuing or causing to be distributed any card, sign or device to any person; or causing, permitting or allowing any sign or marking on or in any building, structure, newspaper, magazine or directory, or on radio or television; or advertising by any other means designed to secure public attention.
"Approved program" means an approved comprehensive program of study in marriage and family therapy in a regionally accredited educational institution approved by the Department for the training of marriage and family therapists.
"Associate licensed marriage and family therapist" means a person to whom an associate licensed marriage and family therapist license has been issued under this Act.
"Board" means the Illinois Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board.
"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
"Email address of record" means the designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file, as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.
"First qualifying degree" means the first master's or doctoral degree, as described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 40, that an applicant for licensure received.
"License" means that which is required to practice marriage and family therapy under this Act, the qualifications for which include specific education, acceptable experience and examination requirements.
"Licensed marriage and family therapist" means a person to whom a marriage and family therapist license has been issued under this Act.
"Marriage and family therapy" means the evaluation and treatment of mental and emotional problems within the context of human relationships. Marriage and family therapy involves the use of psychotherapeutic methods to ameliorate interpersonal and intrapersonal conflict and to modify perceptions, beliefs and behavior in areas of human life that include, but are not limited to, premarriage, marriage, sexuality, family, divorce adjustment, and parenting.
"Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, or body politic.
"Practice of marriage and family therapy" means the rendering of marriage and family therapy services to individuals, couples, and families as defined in this Section, either singly or in groups, whether the services are offered directly to the general public or through organizations, either public or private, for a fee, monetary or otherwise.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.
"Title or description" means to hold oneself out as a licensed marriage and family therapist or an associate licensed marriage and family therapist to the public by means of stating on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery, announcements, calling cards or other instruments of professional identification.
225 ILCS 55/10