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We hear about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) quite a bit in the news and on social media these days, and, thankfully, more and more of the civilian population is slowly beginning to understand it for the first time. It’s important that they do so because such a large percentage of the veteran population suffers from it on some level – almost 31 percent of Vietnam veterans, 10 percent of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans, and 11 percent of veterans of the war in Afghanistan. With these numbers, it’s likely that most people know someone who struggles with PTSD, most in silence. In order to bring greater awareness to the issue of PTSD, the United States Senate designated June as PTSD Awareness Month by the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), also naming June 27th as National PTSD Awareness Day. Through this designation, it is hoped that more people will be aware of the disorder and how it may affect the veterans they know, as well as encourage veterans to reach out for help if they need it. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) created a resource-filled website called About Face to assist veterans and loved ones struggling with the results of PTSD. The site includes a series of videos interviewing PTSDsufferers who finally sought help and saw great improvement in their lives. These relatable profiles are aimed at removing the stigma and anxiety of telling one’s doctor about the symptoms and asking for assistance. Sadly, many veterans consider or succumb to suicide after struggling for so long with the disorder. Showing that a veteran is not alone in what he or she has experienced, both during war and back at home, can be the lifeline they need. PTSD is a mental health problem that can occur after someone has been exposed to a single traumatic event or multiple traumatic events, including war-related combat stress. Symptoms of PTSD include ongoing (longer than a month without improvement): Persistent intrusive thoughts and distressing dreams about the traumatic event
Triggered emotional responses to reminders of the trauma Efforts to avoid thinking or talking about the trauma Persistent hypervigilance for cues that indicate additional danger or trauma re-occurring Numbness or detachment from others, activities, or surroundings The VA site also details the types of therapies that seem to help combat PTSD, including cognitive processing therapy (a process that helps a veteran get “unstuck” from obsessive thoughts about the trauma) and prolonged exposure therapy (confronting the memories head-on and learning effective coping mechanisms to work through them). Some veterans have also found relief through equine therapy and learning hobbies like veteran-focused fishing groups, both of which help the veteran escape to a quiet place and focus on a new activity that engages mind and body.
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Board of Directors 2016 - 2017
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“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
President Leonel Mesa, PsyD, LMHC lmesa@flmhca.o.rg President-Elect Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, LMHC lsutherland@flmhca.org Treasurer Jim Messina, PhD, CCMHC, NCC, DCMHS jmessina@flmhca.org Past President Michael Holler Mholler@flmhca.org Secretary Kathie Erwin, Ed.D, LMHC,
NCC, NCGC kerwin@flmhca.org Parliamentarian Frank Hannah, MS, LMHC fhannah@flmhca.org Member-at-Large Joe Skelly, MS, LMHC jskelly@flmhca.org
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My beloved FMHCA family, I want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to all for the great privilege and honor you bestowed upon me as President of our organization during this past year. It has truly been an extraordinary year! With specific strategic changes, our proactive effort of nurturing enthusiasm, promoting active member participation along with the pursuit of innovative initiatives has strengthened and positioned ourselves as the leading voice of Licensed Mental Health Counselors within our state and a premier organization throughout our nation. The following are several of our most notable accomplishments throughout this past year: We have restructured our organization into Regional Districts that fosters greater opportunities of access, mobility and engagement while promoting FMHCA as our leading state representative. Through our Government Relations Committee in collaboration with our lobbyist, Corinne Mixon, we have proactively followed and addressed numerous state and national legislative issues. We hosted our “Inaugural Legislative Day Event” in Tallahassee where FMHCA members had an opportunity to engage legislators and share our support of bills directed towards promoting the prevention and treatment of mental illness. We have actively pursued conversations with our state legislators regarding Medicare Inclusion of Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Additionally, we have engaged with our state licensing board to reaffirm the preservation of our licensing title. We continue are steadfast commitment and collaboration with universities in developing on-site FMHCA Student Associations. And, as our membership has expanded throughout this year, we continue to make the growth of our organization one of our top priorities. All of these accomplishments could not have been achieved if not for the effort of our distinguished leadership of our FMHCA Board, Executive officer and our efficient and effective office support team and the support of our FMHCA family. I thank you all for your tremendous efforts and continued dedication to our FMHCA family.
ebuabua@gmail.com
As my term as your President is closing, I have the great honor of passing the mantle to our incoming President, Louise Sutherland-Hoyt. I have the upmost confidence that she will continue to build on our accomplishments and the leadership legacy of our great organization.
Member-at-Large
In appreciation for the opportunity to serve,
Member-at-Large Erica Whitfield
Hassiem Kambui, PhD, LMHC hkambui@flmhca.org Member-at-Large Judith Roberts, Ph.D., LMHC JRoberts@flmhca.org Executive Director Darlene Silvernail, PhD,
Leonel “Dr. Leo” Mesa, Jr., Psy.D, LMHC, CAP, CEAP FMHCA President
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ED Corner Thank you to our loyal and wonderful members! If you are not yet a member, I encourage you to join our organization and let your voice be heard! Our organization offers so many great resources for our members, including education (such as FREE WEBINARS), legislative oversight, networking, and FMHCA member discounts with partner organizations. There is so much we are doing, and so much more we can do! We will to continue advocate for mental health counselors in Florida by supporting legislation that promotes our profession. We need YOU to make that happen. If you are already a member of FMHCA, we thank you. If you are not, please consider joining. Your support makes it possible for FMHCA to continue to grow and promote our profession, to maintain a strong voice and to promote change. Have you ever wondered who promotes the legislation that recognizes and advances mental health counseling in Florida? YOU do, by supporting FMCHA! FMHCA wants to empower you to help make your professional dreams come true. You can read about what FMHCA is doing for mental health counselors in our bylaws. Do you want to take a more active role in FMHCA? Consider volunteering to serve on one of our committees! https://fmhca.wildapricot.org/Committees We are already looking forward to our 2018 Annual Conference. It will be held in Lake Mary, Florida at the Orlando Marriott - Lake Mary (the same hotel this year's conference was held at). Please visit our new website, https://fmhca.wildapricot.org/ to register for the 2018 Annual Conference. Sincerely, Darlene Silvernail PhD, LMHC, CAP Executive Director Watch out for other local events coming to you soon!!
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Become a FMHCA Member : FMHCA invites all mental health professionals to become a part of our organization so your voice can be heard and you can enjoy a strong network of professionals in our state. Join by Clicking Here! by downloading a membership form and mailing it with your payment, or you may make a payment directly through our website. Keep in mind we have a few membership options: $65.00 Clinical - All LMHC's or CCMHC's $55.00 Regular - All registered interns or non-licensed professionals $25.00 Retired Clinicians - License Retired $Free Student (Free for the first year and there after $20.00) - Full time graduate, postgraduate, or undergraduate student Membership Renewal If your FMHCA membership has expired, we encourage you to and hope you will you to renew today by visiting our FLMHCA.ORG
Thank You to our Amazing Sponsors! Advertise On Our Website & In Our Newsletter! Increase your professional exposure by becoming a FMHCA sponsor! FMHCA's website gets hundreds of hits a day from members, nonmembers, and prospective members. Becoming a sponsor with FMHCA lets other professionals know that you're out there - it's a terrific way to network and grow as a professional. There are two ways to becoming a sponsor - you can purchase a flashing banner across the top of our pages or one of the sponsor blocks at the bottom of our website pages. Best of all, you get a full year of sponsorship for one low price! Artwork must be submitted in one of the following formats: png, jpg, tif, tiff, or psd. After you have completed payment, submit your artwork to us at
office@flmhca.org
FRANK HANNAH STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP Any graduate student enrolled in an accredited counseling program is eligible to apply for this scholarship. *Please submit your application by the end of the day on October 15 Click Here or Visit FMHCA.org for additional Information
FMHCA Annual Conference
Adolescent and Family
February 1st-3rd, 2018 in Lake Mary, Orlando
Evidence Base Documentation Skills
PRESENTER PROPOSALS DUE BY
And Many More!
JULY 14 2017! FMHCA’s goal is to provide education, legislative oversight, and networking opportunities, our Annual Conference provides an opportunity for advanced professional training.
Take advantage of this opportunity and present at the FMHCA 2018 Annual Conference!
Benefits of Presenting:
Presenters will receive a $50 discount on conference registration.
Promotion of your name and credentials on our website and in all electronic and print marketing materials, where appropriate.
Recognition of your expertise by FMHCA and by other industry professionals Networking opportunities.
Possible Dynamic Approaches May Cover:
Integrative System Care
Expressive and Creative Therapies
Presenter Eligibility:
Multicultural Counseling
Innovative Treatments and Skill Building
EMDR and Trauma Work
To be considered, presenters must have professional qualifications in good standing with their professional regulatory board, if applicable, possess the technical expertise necessary to present on a subject effectively, and meet one or more of the following:
Addiction Models
Military and Veteran Mental Health
Ethics
Have received specialized graduate or postgraduate level training in subject of presentation; and/or
Mediation
DBT
Have extensive experience including at least five years of practical application or research involving subject of presentation
F.A.S
Submit a Proposal to be a Presenter:
Evidence Based Interventions
Submit on-line at www.FLMHCA.org
Best Practice for Individuals with Autism
Please Submit Questions at office@FLmhca.org or
Practice
Spectrum Disorder
Call 561-228-6129
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NBFE is pleased to announce our 2017-2018 testing workshop, a 40-hour workshop that trains licensed mental health professionals to administer and interpret psychological tests used in forensic evaluations. Graduates are awarded a letter from Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR) certifying Level C qualification for testing. Testing for Forensic Populations: A Comprehensive Overview and Certification Program When: 18 Aug 2017 10:00 AM, EDT Where: Online (Gotowebinar) EVENT DETAILS: Testing and assessment instruments have become the rule rather than the exception these days. Research and best practices have shown that objective testing is more accurate, accessible, and accepted in the courtroom as well as other forensic settings. Unfortunately, many practitioners are woefully under educated and trained on these valuable tools. For this reason, we have decided to develop and offer a comprehensive certification program to aid CFMHE’s become more adept, confident, and practiced at utilizing these instruments. The goal is ensure these tools are used appropriately, consistently, and in a manner that affords the practitioner as well as the decider the best possible information in any forensic mental health setting. Fundamental to this course are explanations of theoretical concepts underlying testing and assessment. Content will include use of the scientific method as a basis for engaging in critical thinking and the evaluation of sources of information, a review of empirical studies in psychology to evaluate research findings and evaluate claims of reliability and validity, articulate controversial and ethical issues in psychological testing, use computer technology and appropriate software to complete assignments, and work effectively in small groups. In addition to discussion of theoretical concepts, Attendees will learn the history of psychological testing, learn how theories, principles and concepts are used in psychometric assessment and are applied in educational, clinical and employment settings, compute and interpret basic psychometric statistics, and create, pilot, analyze, and provide both a written report (in APA-style) and an oral presentation of the test development project.
JUNE
The Florida Practices of Substance Abuse Service Providers Act House Bill 807 (HB-807)
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The Florida legislature recently passed major legislation (2017 HB-807) with sweeping effects on the substance abuse industry. The new bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Rick Scott and go into effect on July 1, 2017. The law focuses on cracking down on perceived abuses in marketing and patient-brokering among treatment facilities to establish stricter marketing rules, stiffer penalties for patient-brokering and more state funding for prosecutions. The law also expands the licensing rules of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and places more of the costs directly on facilities themselves, changes the requirements of recovery residences and much more.
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1. Expanding and empowering DCF. HB-807 creates a more powerful and better-funded Department of Children and Families in the following ways: Increases license application fees. Fees used to be designed to cover half the cost of regulating treatment providers, but they will now have to fund the full costs. Details of the exact amount of the new fees will be released in forthcoming regulations. Licensure process becomes much stricter. DCF will no longer issue more than one probationary license and will not allow any more extensions. DCF is also empowered to suspend a license in certain situations that pose danger to the safety of patients or the public. Operating without a license will now be subject to felony punishment. 2. Increasing oversight of clinical care and practitioners. The new law requires DCF to develop new rules regarding clinical best practices. By January 1, 2018, DCF will publish rules laying out a number of new regulations regarding clinical best practices, including: Procedures for record keeping, referrals, and financial management. Number of and qualifications for all personnel involved in treatment, including education, credentials, license, training, supervision and clinical hours. Maximum number of group therapy participants and staff-to-client ratios. Maximum number of facilities and patients per medical director. Safety and facility standards including space, sanitation and meals. 3. Increased regulation of marketing practices. HB-807 develops new rules and oversight for marketing while increasing the penalties for deceptive marketing practices in the following ways:
Prohibits deceptive marketing practices by a service provider, an operator of a recovery residence, or a third party who provides any form of advertising or marketing services. Violation is now a felony punishable by prison. Requires licensure of entities providing substance abuse marketing services and regulates them under the State's Division of Consumer Services as telemarketers are currently regulated. 4. Tightening recovery residence referral rules. Recovery residences and service providers will be much more limited in the referrals they are permitted to make back and forth. Service providers are prohibited from accepting referred patients (including prospective and discharged patients) from a recovery residence unless that residence and its administrator both have a certificate of compliance. The law already prohibits them from making referrals to uncertified recovery residences. Effective January 1, 2018, the law will remove the exception that allows service providers to refer patients to mutually owned and operated uncertified recovery residences, unless the recovery residence does not benefit from the referral or the provider is under contract with a behavioral health managing entity. 5. Crackdown on patient brokering. The House Bill severely comes down on patient brokering, by both expanding its definition and increasing the penalties for violations: Provides funding through the Office of Statewide Prosecution to prosecute patient brokering crimes and makes it up to a first-degree felony to engage in patient brokering, depending on the number of patients affected punishable by lengthy prison sentences. Adds the word "benefit" to the list of prohibited inducements for patient referral, widely expanding the scope of what is prohibited to induce patient referrals.
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“Kudo” Article Bob Decker, Ph.D., LMHC
Dr. Bob Decker is the very first name that came to mind when I received a request to select a member of our local FMHCA chapter, MHCCF, for commendation. I have known Dr. Decker for fourteen years. I have observed his tireless dedication to his clients, colleagues, and the Mental Health Counseling profession. Dr. Decker has actively volunteered on behalf of our profession for over 20 years. He started off with the Mental Health Association of Central Florida. I remember seeing him as the “face” of the Mental Health Association for many years before I had the opportunity to get to know him. One example was when I worked for the University of Central Florida, Dr. Decker arranged to have Kurt Cobain’s Aunt Mari Earl speak to the student body about suicide during National Depression Awareness Month. He did a great job of coordinating a renowned speaker that students could relate to with the purpose of educating about depression and pointing towards help. He began volunteering with MHCCF in 2002. He served two terms as President. He has worn multiple hats over the years, including Education Chair; and most recently, he took on the role of our chapter's Legislative Chair for our revived Legislative Committee. He has put together continuing education courses such as “Medical Errors,” “Ethics,” and most recently, the new “Laws and Rules Update” which he graciously provides to our community so our colleagues can obtain these required courses at a discount. It would be difficult to add up all of the time he’s spent donating to his colleagues. In summary, Dr. Decker cares deeply for those affected by mental illness; he cares for his colleagues; and he cares for our profession. I am honored to serve alongside him, and it is a privilege to acknowledge Dr. Decker for his steadfast and unwavering work for the Mental Health Counseling profession.
By Laura Peddie-Bravo, LMHC, NCC, President of MHCCF
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Gov. Scott declares state of emergency to combat opioid epidemic! TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott ordered the state Surgeon General and Health Secretary Celeste Philip to declare the ongoing opioid epidemic a public health emergency, so that he can tap into more than $27 million in federal funding for the prevention, treatment and recovery support services, his office announced Wednesday. Scott also directed Philip to issue a standing order for Naloxone to ensure that responders have immediate access to this lifesaving drug to respond to opioid overdoses. Meanwhile, the Legislature has been at odds over funding for Vivitrol, also known as naltrexone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction. While the latest Senate budget offer includes $2.5 million for naltrexone, the House cuts funding for Naltrexone treatment by $5.5 million.
There were more than 3,900 opioid deaths in Florida in 2015. According to Scott’s executive order, Florida will be able to access $27.1 million in federal dollars for two years, but that the state must tap into the money before July 1. His press office claims that, without the order, “it would have taken months for the state to distribute these funds to local communities. “ Scott directed the state department of Children and Families, state department of Health and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to visit Palm Beach, Manatee, Duval and Orange Counties to identify additional strategies to fight the rising opioid usage cases in the state. The opioid crisis has drawn national attention. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is part of a national commission created last month by President Donald Trump and led by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to combat the country's opioid problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control, opioids — prescription and illicit — are the main driver of drug overdose deaths. Opioids were involved in 33,091 deaths in 2015, and opioid overdoses have quadrupled since 1999. To view online: http://www.politico.com/states/florida/whiteboard/2017/05/03/scott-declares-state-of-emergency-to-combatopioid-epidemic-8611972 By Christine Sexton
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Dear FMHCA Members, Jackson’s ALL WELLness Services, LLC hosts a meeting every other month with professionals in the area. These professional meetings are coordinated and facilitated by Dr. Daniella Jackson, and they are composed by other professionals, which may include Florida Mental Health Counselor Interns, independent researchers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed social workers, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, university professors, , and/or other healthcare professionals. The main objectives of these professional meetings include building peer support, professional development, and the strengthening of a list for professional resources that may be useful to our clients. When professionals have the opportunity to connect with each other on a regular basis, they are able to gain a better understanding of other professionals’ philosophies, areas of expertise, and the services they offer within our community. Our next Professional Meeting will be held on Saturday 06/10/17 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at our location. Please bring business cards to share. You will also be given an opportunity to inform others about your expertise and niche. For these professional meetings, snacks and light refreshments are provided. There is no cost to attend any of our professional meetings.
If you are interested in being a part of our network, please feel free to contact us at any time. Additionally, we hope you LIKE our Facebook page, and please check out our website for detailed information about all our services and upcoming events.
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How To Get Through Social Events When You’re In Recovery When you’re in recovery for substance abuse, going to any social event can be extremely difficult. In fact, many experts believe it’s best for those who are new to recovery to stay away from social events altogether, at least for the first several months, because it’s so hard to be in that situation and refrain from using drugs or alcohol. Possible relapse isn’t the only reason a person in recovery should be careful about attending social events, however; it can also be difficult to be around particular family members or old friends, especially if they weren’t supportive or don’t understand all the things that come with recovery. If you have battled substance abuse but feel you’re ready to attend parties and other events, it’s important to come armed with a plan and have assistance from a friend or sponsor who can help you get out should you want to leave early. Here are some of the best ways to get through a social event. Consider getting a service animal Service animals are wonderful companions and can really help relieve anxiety and depression. Many studies have shown that simply petting a dog can help a person who is battling mood disorders or a disability, and the bonus is that you can take the animal with you anytime you feel you need extra help at an event or just in public. Come prepared If you know there will be substances at the event, it’s a good idea to come prepared with a “script” of sorts in order to avoid awkward or difficult questions. Think about what you’ll say if someone offers you a drink, but don’t feel the need to explain your situation, especially if you don’t know the person well. Be firm but polite and refuse their offer. It’s also a good idea to bring your own bottled water or soda to the event. Not only will this prevent you from having to go near the bar or beverage area, but having a drink in your hand will keep well-intentioned party goers from asking if you need a drink. Bring a friend If possible, bring a friend along to the party who can help you make a quick exit if need be. Try to make it someone who simply doesn’t drink or partake in the festivities, because having a friend with you who is in recovery might impede their own progress. Work out a signal so that you can let the friend know you’re ready to leave without announcing it to the entire party. Try to have fun The point of these social occasions--birthday parties, barbecues, and wedding receptions--is to have fun, so try your best to relax and visit with friends and family. It may help to keep an incentive in mind; for instance, tell yourself that if you stay at the party for a certain length of time, you can treat yourself to a massage or a simple milkshake later. Practice self-care Self-care is extremely important for anyone who is in recovery, and it can help give you the right tools to deal with a difficult situation. Taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical health is a big job, but there are several ways you can go about it. Exercising daily, eating well-balanced meals, attending counseling or therapy, or simply doing things that make you relaxed and happy can all have a profound effect on your mood and general wellbeing. It can also be helpful to use art therapy during recovery. Writing in a journal, making art, or finding another way to express yourself creatively can really help you get out some of those negative emotions and work toward a more positive goal. Remember that recovery is your own path, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Staying in recovery is hard work, but if you have a plan and some friends who can support you, getting through social events will get easier and easier.
Green Cross of Traumatology, Partnering with FMHCA this February JUNE
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We have found that relationships are the most important aspect of working with traumatized populations. This is also true, however, when working with organizations. Recently, the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology (GCAT) has had the pleasure of partnering with the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) in offering an annual conference to its membership. FMHCA has agreed to develop a Green Cross track, starting February of 2018 to provide membership of Green Cross with a location for an annual conference, and networking with other mental health and outreach professionals. FMHCA has a long history of offering workshops in compassion fatigue, field trauma, and counseling interventions, in a wide variety of training situations, as well as disaster or mental health related discussions. The partnering of Green Cross with FMHCA allows their organization to offer trauma related programming every year at their annual conference. Green Cross Members will also be invited along with members of FMHCA to attend any programming in any conference track, and a track designed especially by Green Cross to address the work of traumatology and disaster relief. We’ve included call for papers and information to our members who would like to present research from their area of study, or work related to compassion fatigue, field trauma, or counseling in areas of trauma. We are thrilled to join you for this fabulous opportunity February 1st-3rd, 2018 in Lake Mary, Florida. Dr. Charles Figley, founder of Green Cross, has agreed to be a keynote speaker for the entire conference, and will discuss the work of Green Cross and traumatology. We are thrilled about this opportunity to meet with Dr. Figley, renew old friendships, and develop new ones,within and throughout the organizations of Green Cross and FMHCA. We look forward to this opportunity for Green Cross to be enriched as an organization, and for membership to congregate and grow together, in partnering with the membership of FMHCA. Dr. Figley’s wife Kathy will also be a presenter, who is responsible alongside Dr. Figley for the development of Green Cross Academy trainings. Our organization owes much to the Figley’s, and we’re so very excited that they have agreed to participate; bringing our Green Cross family together as we aid first responders and victims of trauma. We are urging our members, “Don’t stay home because you “can’t afford” this wonderful opportunity! Work with us, because we want you there too.” We’re looking forward to meeting many of you in February in bright and sunny Orlando, Florida. -Dr. Benjamin Keyes, Executive Director of Green Cross
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Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, LMHC, CCMHC, NCC, MAC President-Elect FMHCA Chairman, Government Relations Committee There is a very ancient saying: You cannot step into the same river twice. For it is not the same river, and you are not the same person. This is a truth that implies both good news and other news as FMHCA moves toward the new year beginning July 1. We have undergone enormous changes in our structure that has led to growing pains and yet at the same time has opened doors to exciting ventures as we formulate our vision for the future of FMHCA. The Government Relations Committee embarked upon a path that led us through a swirl of activity and growth as we engaged the legislature, took a stand on key bills affecting mental health in Florida, and initiated efforts to forge relationships with like-minded organizations to strengthen our voice in support of better access to Mental Health services in this state. Looking ahead, our newly developed regions have the potential to play a vital role in advocating for the profession, vis a vis, lobbying those legislators within each region, and a visible presence in regional communities. The GRC has set forth a comprehensive, yet achievable, list of objectives that will be implemented as of July 1. Currently, the committee is in recess and taking a much-needed breather in order to hit the ground running come July. As I look toward stepping into the role of President, I envision taking strides in the direction of unity among regions, and strengthening bonds between “the Mother Ship�, that is the state organization, and the elected leaders through quarterly get-togethers called Coffee Klatches. This where we will exchange ideas and feedback that will contribute vastly to the direction of FMHCA, a key element in building cohesiveness. We will seek and find creative solutions to expand our membership and we will be a presence at public forums involving matters of our profession and the status of Mental Health in Florida. To all FMHCA members, wishing you a summer of wellness and wholesome adventures.
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Member Mental Health Professionals Apps: DSM-5 Criteria This is the mobile app for clinicians to utilize in diagnosing their clients. It is an easy to use system which lists the criteria for all of the DSM-5 diagnostic catagories with the criteria listed for each diagnosis (this is not a free app).Read more about this app at: http://www.appi.org/Pages/DSM5Mobile.aspx
ICD-9-CM Codes ICD 9 Consult puts the complete, current ICD9-CM on your iPhone or iPod Touch, instantly smart-searchable and browsable. Read more about it at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icd9-consult-2014free/id358845668?mt=8 ICD-10-CM Codes ICD 10 Helps you to Quickly look up diagnosis codes using the new ICD-10 coding system. All codes are downloaded to your device - no downloading is necessary as you are looking up your code. Read more about it at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stat-icd-10coder/id467916561?mt=8 Provider Resilience Provider Resilience gives health care providers tools to guard against burnout and compassion fatigue as they help their clients be they civilians or service members, veterans, and their families. Providers can take a self assessment to determine if they are at risk and steps they can take to ward off such burnout and fatigue. Read more about it at: https://www.t2health.org/apps/provider-resilience Courtesy from Coping.US. com and James Messina
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Explaining Narcissism as Personality Trait and Disorder Narcissists can be very charming and positive, but they’re just looking for people to feed into their narcissistic supply and help build their ego, said Patricia Watson, M.D., interim head of the Department of Humanities in Medicine at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. “Narcissists have the ability to cultivate relationships,” Watson said. “People have narcissism as a trait, some more than others, but a smaller group of people have Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or NPD.” Like the story of Narcissus, narcissism is characterized by a general grandiose belief about oneself. Those with more of a tendency toward narcissism will have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and often a tendency to be manipulative. “Narcissism exists on a spectrum,” Watson said. “You have people who have low to moderate amounts of narcissism, where it’s still apparent, but not really a disorder; then you have the high end where it’s a full personality disorder.” Narcissism can be seen as the evil twin of high self-esteem. Both are born of a person’s accomplishments and how they truly see themselves. “Everyone has self-esteem and self-worth,” Watson said. “It’s when those become exaggerated and there is an unhealthy drive to keep their beliefs intact that it becomes a problem.” The causes for NPD are not completely clear; while home life and upbringing can certainly play a role, there may be some genetic factors that can determine where someone stands on the narcissism spectrum, she said. If developing narcissism is a learned trait, then normal social activity at school or daycare can help break the mindset that may be normal early on. “We are all born with a type of learned narcissism,” Watson said. “From birth, the world revolves around us. We cry, and food appears or we are held, but then we grow out of that mindset and start learning that it won’t always be the case.” Studies have often shown that narcissists are more likely to step into positions of power. In the short-term, they can be perceived as confident and very skillful, which makes them a favorable candidate for a new promotion at work or a leader in the classroom. However, they may use some dirty tactics to achieve this goal. Their line between confidence and arrogance is a lot thinner than others, and they may belittle someone if they perceive their own views are threatened. In contrast, a leader with very low levels of narcissism can be poor leaders too, just like someone with high levels, but in a different way. Click Here To Continue Reading
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A Qualified Supervisors Lesson Learned Ahh!!! Graduation with your masters and ready to enter the therapy field by storm with your education, excitement, and vigor. But with that comes the daunting task of getting hours needed for licensure, take the state test, and find a supervisor to guide you through both. For those of you who are just beginning this process or can reflect on this time, I wanted to share my experience and give some tips for future interns and supervisors. My supervision experience for licensure was a struggle. I had heard of people paying for supervision but thought I may find a supervisor that would do it for no cost but still get the guidance I wanted. Here I remember the old saying, “You get what you pay for”. My boss at the time knew a qualified supervisor who was beginning to build an assessment team for a detox center and was willing to supervise me if I was to offer assessments to incoming clients who were coming off detox. I made my own hours and could go after working a full day as a counselor at a clinic. In the beginning the supervisor was engaged but as time went on he became less due to the challenges of opening his business. I was calling him for weekly meetings but could only get together every few weeks and it became an hour of bantering about his future hope for the facility he was starting and less about guiding me through clinical skills and therapeutic training. One benefit is that it led me to desire something more which was part of the reason I moved to Florida, to seek out better supervision. As a beginning intern, I remember wanting: --Clinical guidance on difficult cases and clients --Education of therapeutic skills and innovative skills to help clients with issues they were struggling through at that moment --Support and training for the license exam that I was terrified of, knowing that this exam was the deal breaker for my future. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any of these and grew frustrated with the process and concerned that I would not get the training needed to be a successful therapist. In my present practice as a supervisor, I now make a point to offer these in my supervision sessions with my interns. But now being a supervisor for some time I have recognized even more that an intern needs to be successful at: --Not only clinical guidance on difficult cases and clients but the ability to process cases at length to see the different perspectives on how they are serving the client and their needs and offering insight into managing the issues with the client. --Not only education of therapeutic skills and innovative skills to help clients with issues but use the plethora of professionals in the field and their perspective. I offer each intern a year’s subscription to Psychotherapy Networker, to address current trends in the field. I use this journal along with other journals that I belong to give professional guidance from the innovators in the field of therapy. --Not only support for the license exam but confidence and guidance through case presentation that mirrors the exam questions and clinical guidance with the exam in mind to give a sense of clarity for the exam. Now being on the FMHCA Intern committee board I get to have direct influence on the supervisor and supervisee relationship. The hope is that the future supervisors of our field will have the best training, guidance, and preparation, in turn, creating our future interns. For you the intern it’s a financial investment that you’re giving to yourself and your future clients to pay for quality supervision as opposed to what I learned, “You get what you pay for”. Some helpful sites to seek out a qualified supervisor are: --Meetmysupervisor.com --FMHCA website --Supervisordirectory.com I am on all three of these websites, and available for face to face supervision in the Orlando area and on the internet through a confidential website at Breakthrough.com Scott Jones Psychotherapist LMHC CAP (Certified Addictions Specialist) New Directions Counseling
Orlando FL Newdirections3623@gmail.com
Be Active in FMHCA - Join A Committee Interested in becoming more active with FMHCA but not sure how to get started? Consider joining a
committee!
Participating in a FMHCA committee allows you to Interact with professionals who share your passions while providing a valuable service to FMHCA. Let's face it - change doesn't happen by itself. We need YOU to help us make a difference! There are several opportunities for you to get involved - consider any of the following committees:
Ethics Committee
Membership Committee
Graduate Students & Registered Interns Committee
Chapter Relations Committee
Finance Committee
Nominations & Elections Committee
Governmental Relations Committee
Conference Planning Committee
Education, Training, Standards, & Continuing
Military Service Committee
Research Committee
Education Training Committee
Feeling especially interested in any of those topics? Consider being a committee chair - you'll be surprised how rewarding it can be to help make things happen! Email office@flmhca.org to express your interest. Thank you!
FMHCA is seeking Graduate Students and Registered Interns to contribute monthly articles for our newsletter. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your point of view and your journey to licensure with others while getting professional exposure. We're looking specifically for articles that will you're your peers navigate the journey to graduation and licensure - study tips, resources, how-tos... there are so many relevant topics worthy of investigation and discussion. These articles will also help you train yourself on best practices - it's a win-win! Please email office@flmhca.org if you're interested in this opportunity.
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Member Perk
Session 7: Maternal Mental Health: What Therapists Need to Know Date:Friday, 6/23/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 8: Working with Kinky Clients Date:Friday, 7/28/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 9: Multicultural Counseling: A Mosaic, Not a Melting Pot Date:Friday, 8/25/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 10: Navigating Professional Practice Boundaries: From Telehealth to Portability Date:Friday, 9/22/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 11: Integrative Psychotherapies- New Paradigms in Psychotherapy Date: Friday, 10/27/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 12: How to Have the Difficult Conversation You’ve Been Avoiding with Family, Coworkers, Parents, Partners or Children Date:Friday, 11/10/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 13: Addressing Tobacco Use in Behavioral Health Date: Friday, 12/8/17, 2:00-4:00 pm
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Maternal Mental Health: What Therapists Need to Know 13 June 2017 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Learn about perinatal mood disorders, resources for families, treatment options, and community advocacy. Learning Objectives: By the close of the webinar, participants should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the types of maternal mental illnesses, and will be able to discuss treatment options and resources available for women and families. (1) Participants will be able to identify and describe the symptoms commonly experienced in clients diagnosed with a mental illness in the perinatal period.16 Participants will be encouraged to explore additional material related to maternal mental illness and assume an advocacy role and will be given the resources to do so CE Broker Tracking #: 20-548601
About the Presenter: Latoya Carbonell, LCSW, is a south Florida therapist specializing in women's issues. Latoya has educated countless caregivers on parenting skills and child development needs. Her main areas of interest include perinatal mood disorders, fertility counseling, and attachment parenting. She participates in the Safe Kids Coalition of Broward County, and is a member of NASW, RESOLVE, and ASRM.
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