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The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) was organized in 1976 (co-founded by Floridian Jim Messina) as a division of ACA. Two years later (1978), the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) was chartered as a state affiliate of AMHCA, and, just as AMHCA was a division of ACA, FMHCA was a chapter of FCA. Stuart Young was FMHCA’s first President (1978-1979). From the beginning, FMHCA has served the mental health counseling profession in Florida by monitoring and influencing legislative activity, offering educational opportunities and serving a medium for professional networking at the local, state and national levels. As an example of legislative involvement, recall that mental health counseling is a licensed profession in Florida and as such is governed by the provisions of Florida Statute 491. An important part of FMHCA’s history is the proactive role it took in bringing about a major change in this law back in the ‘80s. Formerly, FS 491 was a “Title Act” (one could not call themselves a “Mental Health Counselor” unless licensed by the state). Due largely to the efforts of FMHCA members and its lobbyist, FS 491 became a “Practice Act” (one cannot practice the arts and skills required of a mental health counselor unless licensed by the state). This change was beneficial to the consumer of mental health counseling services. This Month it is National Mental Health Month raises awareness about mental illness and related issues in the United States. In recent times, attitudes towards mental health issues appear to be changing. Negative attitudes and stigma associated with mental health have reduced and there has been growing acceptance towards mental health issues and support for people with them. Despite this shift in attitude, the idea of a mental health awareness campaign is not a recent one. In the late 1940's, the first National Mental Health Awareness Week was launched in the United States. During the 1960's, this annual, weekly campaign was upgraded to a monthly one with May the designated month. During this month, National Health America, the main organization which sponsors this event, run a number of activities which are often based on a theme. In 2010, the theme was 'Live Your Life Well'. 'Live Your Life Well' encouraged people to take responsibility for the prevention of mental health issues during times of personal challenge and stress. Many mental health problems can be avoided by taking positive lifestyle choices in how we act and think before they can manifest.
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Board of Directors
“Growth is the only evidence of life.” John Henry Newman
2016 - 2017
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 Member-at-Large Erica Whitfield ebuabua@gmail.com Member-at-Large Hassiem Kambui, PhD, LMHC
FMHCA family, it’s been another extraordinary month! Our Government Relations Committee has continued its proactive pace and steadfast effort of maintaining their “finger on the pulse” of ALL legislation that impacts our profession. Additionally, they have collaborated with numerous legislators in support of bills they have sponsored that align with FMHCA’s mission and goals. I express my deepest gratitude to all members of our Legislative Committee for their outstanding contribution to our organization and profession. During this past month our Regional Directors have been actively involved in developing opportunities to engage other LMHC’s throughout the State hosting CEU, networking and membership drive events. In particular, I want to thank Dr. Judith Roberts, Southeast Regional Director for her efforts in coordinating the inaugural meeting with the Broward Mental Health Network. They are planning a FMHCA sponsored Membership drive in June. If you would like to be part of this enthusiastic group please feel free to contact me directly at 786.208.4831. I look forward to your participation of this event! During the next few months, FMHCA will be focusing a considerable amount of our efforts on membership recruitment. With your cooperation and assistance we can expand the reach of our voices in encouraging other LMHC’s about the value of being a member of our FMHCA family. Once again, I want to personally thank each of you for your personal commitment and contributions to our organization as we continue our path to greater growth and success. In appreciation for all that you do,
hkambui@flmhca.org
Leonel “Dr. Leo” Mesa, Jr., Psy.D, LMHC, CAP, CEAP
Member-at-Large
FMHCA President
Judith Roberts, Ph.D., LMHC JRoberts@flmhca.org Executive Director Darlene Silvernail, PhD,
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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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Green Cross Academy for Traumatology Partners with FMHCA Benjamin B Keyes, PhD, EdD
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Partners for important projects come in all shapes and sizes. The Green Cross Academy for Traumatology (GCAT) has been searching for a way to hold an annual conference as an added benefit to its membership. FMHCA has been looking for ways to expand its outreach and base by growing the participation at its annual conference. Providence has intervened to assist both organizations in reaching their goals. GCAT has agreed to help FMHCA develop an on-going track at their annual conference that would target First-Response Counseling, Compassion Fatigue, Traumatic Resiliency, and both natural and man-made trauma situations and interventions. This Green Cross track would be open to all members of both organizations for CE credit and would allow the Green Cross Academy to have a conference within a conference. Green Cross membership would also be allowed to register for FMHCA offerings at the conference enhancing their ability to outside development in their respective professions. GCAT was founded in 19997 by Dr Charles Figley who saw a need, after the Oklahoma bombings of 1995, to provide care for first responders and survivors alike. Dr Figley, a professor at Florida State University at the time, established The Figley Institute to develop trainings for both Field and Mental Health Professionals that would provide support and real skills to assist in times of crisis and trauma. Those trainings spawned the Green Cross Academy, a membership organization that would deploy and support recovery efforts by addressing compassion fatigue issues of the first responders and coping skills development and counseling for the survivors of a natural disaster , terrorist attack, or other man-made traumatic situations. This year is the 20th anniversary of those first efforts which has had the Green Cross members responding to Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, 9-11, Sri Lanka and Philippine Tsunami’s, Oso Mudslide, Haitian and Chilean Earthquakes, and Wild Fires in Washington State to name a few. Dr Figley, now Associate Dean of Social Work at Tulane University, will be a keynote speaker at the 2018 Conference in February in Lake Mary.
“We are very excited to have come to this agreement and working relationship with the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. Having spent the majority of my career in Florida as a LMHC in Private Practice, it is exciting to think about coming home once a year to be with friends and colleagues while providing quality trauma training and breakout sessions with this fabulous conference.” “I also think our membership will love the idea of traveling to Florida in February for this wonderful opportunity (Dr Benjamin Keyes, Executive Director GCAT). Last year Green Cross presented Treating Phobia and Anxiety: EMDR Level 1 as a Pre-Conference Workshop. In 2018 they will present Child and Adolescent Trauma and Treating Traumatized Families. Both are courses used for certification as a Certified Traumatologist with Green Cross. We hope you will join us. More to come…..
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Dr Kathie Erwin, LMHC, Associate Professor at Regent University School of Psychology & Counseling, has been named to the Fulbright Specialist Roster for a three year tenure. As a Fulbright Specialist, Dr Erwin will serve with an international university in the project she designed for training geriatric group therapists, developing community based group programs and education in trauma related issues for older adults. Dr Erwin also serves as a Board Member of FMHCA
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.
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Redefining Health and Wellness: Have we overlooked something? Wellness is a concept that is often taken for granted until it interferes with our activities of daily living. In most cases, when physical ailments begin to manifest, people seek out relief by visiting their primary care physicians, adhering to pharmaceutical remedies, and exploring treatment approaches to help curb visible symptoms such as: running nose, congestion, discharge, fever, etc. The aforementioned symptoms are often incurred by antecedents such as poor nutrition, chronic stress, and a sedentary lifestyle that tends to compromise our immune system. The physical symptoms are overt signs that alert us that our bodies are under performing and in need of attention. These symptoms are easily detected and socially accepted, after all, who doesn’t get sick? So what happens when the same antecedents compromise our psychological and/or emotional integrity? Are the emotional scars, psychological wounds, and stress-related symptoms as easily recognized? Are the behaviors associated with the deterioration of our psycho-emotional functioning viewed with the same compassion and respect or does society begin to question our character, competence, and strength? Perhaps redefining the concept of health by integrating all aspects of our physical being to include not only our body, but mind and spirit is long overdue. The simple understanding that there is a bidirectional influence between our physical, psychological, spiritual, and emotional states could help humanize mental illness and reduce the stigma that often deters people from seeking services in the first place. No one is immune from stress which has the capacity to graduate into a mental disorder without intervention. Early detection and treatment are essential factors in minimizing the impact of mental illness on the individual and the community at large. The World Health Organization estimates the cost of untreated mental illness to be over 100 billion dollars each year in the United States recorded through unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide.
Tania Diaz, PsyD, LMHC Heartmath Certified Trainer Faculty-Albizu University
Mental illness is prevalent in the United States and a growing concern of epic proportion. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four adults, approximately 57.7 million Americans experience a bout of mental illness in a
given year. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that 10 percent of children and adolescents in the United States suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders that cause significant functional impairment in all areas of their daily lives. Moreover, it is estimated that by 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world plaguing women and children. Health and wellness are the essential building blocks that allow people to engage in life to their fullest potential. It is the vitality that makes all things possible and yet often disregarded. Education is the one of the staples in promoting general awareness by having people become informed about mental illness prevention, early detection and intervention that are likely to reduce the burden of mental disorders for generations to come. Failure to give equal import to our physical and psychological wellbeing is a disservice to ourselves, our families, and society as a whole. Learning to become informed on how to insulate our bodies from disease through proper nutrition and exercise is as critical as developing our capacity for resilience against daily stressors without shame or judgement. As mental health providers I invite you to begin employing conversations with peers, family, and friends about mental wellness with an emphasis on prevention to help reconstruct the concept of mental illness – together we can make a difference!
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The Importance of Attending the FMHCA Annual Conference We’ve all heard and studied what it means to develop a professional identity in the mental health counseling profession. Although various definitions exist for professional identity, I’m favorable to the explanation provided by Murdock, Stipanovic, & Lucas (2013) of this concept. Per Murdock, Stipanovic, & Lucas (2013), professional identity “includes labeling oneself as a professional, engaging in the integration of professional skills and attitudes, and engaging in one’s professional community” (p. 488). At the beginning of our academic careers and professional journeys, I’m sure that most of us fantasized about getting work published, attending and presenting at conferences, and being active participants in organizations and professional associations. However, with our increased workloads, some of those fantasies quickly drift to the “one day” or the “after I become more established” pile in the back of our minds. Getting involved sooner, rather than later, not only encourages and informs our work as graduate students and professionals, but it also helps to develop individual skills that would support our continued growth as practitioners. The Florida Mental Health Counselor Association is one such organization that sponsors an annual conference for the benefit of its’ members and practicing mental health counselors in Florida. There are many benefits to attending the annual conference that bears consideration. The FMHCA Annual Conference is held to provide members with the opportunity to earn CEU’s, obtain Qualified Supervisor Training, learn and explore new treatment approaches, stay abreast of newest research developments, and stay up to date on current best practices in the field of mental health counseling. One major benefit of attending the annual conference is that it is an investment in yourself, as a person and as a professional. An aspect of the vision set forth by FMHCA is to provide its’ members with educational opportunities to enhance themselves and their professional practice with clients. As graduate students, novice mental health counselors, and seasoned clinicians, most of us have a desire to stay connected with our colleagues to develop a community of support as we navigate our career. This investment affords each person the privilege of not only learning from their peers and counterparts’ through attending and collaborating during workshops, but it also helps us improve our skills and knowledge alongside others who can be of support to us in our daily work with clients. Another benefit of attending the FMHCA Annual Conference is networking. There are varying opinions about the art of networking professionally. Research has been shown to support the notion that professional networking leads to career satisfaction, has been linked as a contributing factor to increased salary, compensation, and concurrent promotions, and has been cited as “the most robust predictor of career success” (Ansmann et al., 2014, p. 133). However, there are also other opinions of networking that cite the experience as being overwhelming, tense, and uneasy, especially from students and new professionals. Although both opinions are valid and worthy of consideration, the benefits of attending the FMHCA annual conference far outweigh the drawbacks for not attending. The FMHCA annual conference is not as overwhelming as one would assume, which makes having meaningful and less rushed conversations with fellow attendees more of a treat than a chore. Because it is a state conference, which is usually smaller in nature in comparison to a national conference, navigating through the workshops and break areas are not as immense and
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overpowering and creates a more intimate atmosphere with which to engage with fellow peers. When choosing workshops that are of interest to you, you surround yourself in a room of like-minded individuals who share some of those interests. These interests are usually the start of most conversations when attending workshops. And before you know it, you’ve networked with someone and didn’t even know it! The intimate feel of the FMHCA conference and the ease with which each workshop flows provides an environment where networking is just happenstance and occurs naturally. Meaningful conversations are inevitable and, as a result, relationships are formed from the experience. For those individuals who identify as being introverted, networking can still create some anxiety, even at the mere thought of engaging in such an experience. As a fellow introvert, this is understandable. Being an introverted individual pursuing counseling as a profession brings its’ share of difficulties and barriers to overcome. My first instinct will never be to immerse myself at an event with hundreds of people and voluntarily initiate and engage in small talk and conversation. However, recognizing, and accepting, these barriers means taking the development of your professional identity into your own hands. Consequently, you may come to realize something fundamentally important in this profession; that professionals, faculty, more advanced peers WANT to help you in any way they can if only we are willing sometimes to take the first step. Even simply starting a conversation by admitting that you are nervous could garner support and understanding from a colleague, which is also a form of networking that can take place. Branding yourself as a professional, engaging with the mental health counseling community in Florida, enhancing your skills and knowledge by learning and collaborating with colleagues, and networking with professionals in the field are invaluable contributions to your professional identity. Attending the FMHCA Annual Conference provides these opportunities and so much more. You owe it to yourself to invest in yourself. What better way to do that than by investing time, effort, and energy into something you already love. References: Murdock, J. L., Stipanovic, N., & Lucas, K. (2013). Fostering connections between graduate students and strengthening professional identity through co-mentoring. British Journal Of Guidance & Counselling, 41(5), 487-503. doi:10.1080/03069885.2012.756972 Ansmann, L., Flickinger, T. E., Barello, S., Kunneman, M., Mantwill, S., Quilligan, S., & ... Aelbrecht, K. (2014). Career development for early career academics: Benefits of networking and the role of professional societies. Patient Education And Counseling, 97(1), 132-134. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2014.06.013
Dominique Gaspard Walden University Graduate Student
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Jackson’s ALL WELLness Services, LLC (JAWS),
As part of we offer health coaching services, which include, but are not limited to, our unique and uplifting ONLINE wellness classes. These wellness classes are suitable for professional women and others, who would like to continue being informed and making effective choices for their health and life. Information about JAWS Family Wellness Class – ONLINE Jackson's ALL WELLness Services (JAWS) Family Wellness Class -ONLINE starts on Saturdays, and it lasts for 2 weeks. You will receive a login password prior to the start of the class. You will be able to login at anytime, review the videos, read the materials, and engage with others in the class, whenever is best for you. Additionally, you will be able to interact online with your certified health coach, Dr. Daniella Jackson, throughout the entire duration of the class.
JAWS Family Wellness Class - ONLINE focuses on attitude, lifestyle, spirituality, exercise, and nutrition for you and your family. This class is for mothers, grandmothers, caregivers, teachers, professional women with children or grandchildren, and other women. However, you and your loved ones will benefit. "JAWS Family Wellness Class - ONLINE is very informative, fun, and uplifting. It is a wonderful way to connect with other women and hear different perspectives of helping our families to become healthier. Very unique! Dr. Jackson is a true encourager. Her passion for helping people is evident in the class." Information about JAWS Longevity Wellness Class – ONLINE Jackson's ALL WELLness Services (JAWS) Longevity Class -ONLINE (for women over 40) starts on Saturdays, and it lasts for 2 weeks. This class is tailored to busy or retired women, who simply would like to continue making better choices for their overall health (i.e., physically, emotionally, and spiritually) You will receive a login password prior to the start of your class. You will be able to login at anytime, review the videos, read the materials, and engage with others in the class, whenever is best for you. Additionally, you will be able to interact online with your certified health coach, Dr. Daniella Jackson, throughout the entire duration of the class. Our class focuses on attitude, lifestyle, spirituality, exercise, and nutrition. JAWS Longevity Wellness Class - ONLINE will empower you to continue making better choices for your life. "JAWS Longevity Wellness Class - ONLINE is very positive, uplifting, convenient, fun, practical, affordable, and one of a kind. It was a great investment." Registering for these online wellness classes is very easy. Give us a call at (727) 767-9850. Registration is required at least 1 week prior to the start of your class. Check out our story and philosophy on our website at www.daniellajackson.com or visit us on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JacksonsAllWellness/
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About the Artist - George E. Miller II My name is George Miller; I am a Child Advocacy Artist. I have devoted the past 20 years of my life to creating artwork that advocates for the education and well being of children. All of my artwork is hand drawn and hand painted. I am a self taught artist. I have been commissioned to create works of art by numerous child advocacy organizations across the country. The Child Welfare League of America, The National Youth at Risk Association, The American Association of School Social Workers, The Federation of Families, The Utah Comprehensive Counseling Association, The Florida Coalition for Children and the Florida Network of Child Advocacy Centers to name a few. Almost every piece of artwork on this website has been commissioned by some agency or organization working in support of children. I love to create artwork that is meaningful and helpful. My artwork addresses issues such as literacy, dropout prevention, child abuse prevention, mental health and autism. I wish to inspire teachers, social workers, parents and grandparents, mentors and politicians. If a piece of my artwork encourages someone to share even one extra moment with a child that otherwise may have been overlooked than my artwork has served its purpose. I hope that other artist around the country will be inspired to use their talents to help people. Positive visual images help people to become tolerant of other people and conditions they don’t quite understand. They provide a unique opportunity for you to see what could and often should be. Visual images inspire people into action and help them to remember what their hearts already know. Allow me to paint a picture for you of a world where artist of all mediums create works of art that address the issues that plague our society. Giant, bright and colorful murals adorn all of our nation’s cities encouraging unity and diversity. Our buildings are adorned in murals that salute our educators, doctors and nurses, police and firemen, social workers and psychologist. Schools and Universities are filled with art that inspires the spirit of learning. Statues around all the major cities that give hope to the homeless, raise the spirits of the poor and foster environments of love and peace. As an artist I feel I have the power to change the world! If you are an artist
consider creating a work of art that helps lift the spirit of a child or encourages the people that work tirelessly to advocate for our children.
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May is National Foster Care
"The House of the Heart is Never Full" Grandparents are often the "Go to" foster parents. They always seem to add a little something special to a life that has suffered a loss. Grandparents can make us feel secure in a world of insecurities.
Hugs "To The World You May Be One Person; But To One Person You May Mean The
"Foster Parents are the Heart & Soul of Child Welfare"
World!" Foster Parents Make the Difference
Framed and double matted, all framed art arrives ready to hang. $195.00 plus $15.00 for shipping and handling. Please allow 7 days for framing. For questions email: george@gemartstudio.com
www.gemartstudio.com
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Transcendental Meditation Training We have achieved lift off. There are presently five of us registered for Transcendental Meditation Training (Louis, Elizabeth, Kelly, Brandy and myself) - schedule is below. There will be an Introductory Lecture - currently scheduled at Lórien - which is an Orientation and which requires no commitment other than an RSVP (in order to determine facility size) and which Dr. Prudence Farrow Bruns will provide free of charge.
Current, active, daily practitioners of TM include: Jennifer Aniston, Giselle Bundchen, Jeff Bridges, Sheryl Crow, Ellen De Generes, Laura Dern, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lopez, David Lynch, Paul McCartney, Amy Schumer, Jerry Seinfeld, Ringo Starr, Oprah Winfrey and many, many more. Friday, May 19th, 11:00 A.M. @ Lórien 1.20 Hours Group General Orientation Meeting with Dr. Bruns -- This talk is required for those starting TM. It is also open to anyone interested in hearing more about TM. No prior commitment necessary. There is no fee for this talk; Elizabeth, Kelly, Brandy and Joe will attend at Lórien. Training Schedule Friday, May 26th, @ Lórien Individual Instruction Sessions 1.0 Hour each with Dr. Bruns* @ Lórien. Saturday, May 27th thru Monday, 29th 11:00 A.M. @ Lórien: 1.5 Hours (per day) Group Instruction/Practice with Dr. Bruns@ Lórien. Sunday, June 4th: 11:00 A.M. @ Lórien ≅ 1.0 Hours: Group Reconvenes with Dr. Bruns @ Lórien. *Individual hours with Dr. Bruns on May 26th will be prescheduled in order to facilitate private practice clinicians & academics, so please call me with your preferred times and I will try to accommodate you as best I can. Elizabeth and I are the closest, with Louis a Niceville/Choctaw F. Beach close second. Kelly and Brandy are coming from Panama City, a virtual continent away. Plus, we must also conform to Dr. Bruns’s schedule. Sessions will be held in Fort Walton Beach, at Lórien, 151 Mary Esther Blvd., Suite 201, Mary Esther, FL 32569 (link attached). Complete training is discounted for Clinical Members to $800.00 from $960.00, thanks to Dr. Bruns’s support of the clinical community. Contact Joe P. Skelly at jskelly@flmhca.org for additional questions
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Louise Sutherland-Hoyt President-Elect Chairman, Government Relations Committee As we begin to wrap up this legislative session, we are looking back over the past 6 months and take note of new beginnings and accomplishments. Legislature Day Lobbying on behalf of increased spending on Mental Health
A position paper supporting banning of Conversion Therapy in Florida. Grass Roots notification to legislators regarding credentialing of Substance Abuse Treatment Providers and blocking efforts by other well-funded lobbying organizations that wish to dilute the need for master’s level addiction professionals in working to seriously address the opioid problem in Florida. We are following these 2 bills as they make their way through the dance of legislation and will update as we know more. In May we will be initiating the process of identifying goals for the next year and look for ways to create a more solid relationship with members of the Florida Legislature. As well, we wish to find a way to facilitate grass roots lobbying of FMHCA members to maintain contact with their legislators, particularly regarding loosening up the purse strings in funding Mental Health services. Elections are coming up. Please participate by voting and then by considering how you might contribute to the way we advocate for our profession. Until next month, stay informed!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 01, 2017 CONTACT: Mr. Jose Olivera (305) 593-1223 Ext. 3207
Dr. Tania Diaz Email: tdiaz@albizu.edu
Doral-Based Master’s Programs in Psychology, at Albizu University, Joins More than 1,000 National Mental Health Awareness Day Celebrations Across the Country Doral, FL — On May 23, 2017, Albizu University will join more than 1,000 communities across the country in celebrating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Mental Health Awareness Day to raise awareness about the importance of emotional and psychological wellbeing. This year, the Awareness Day national event will focus on integrated healthcare with an emphasis on health, wellness, and prevention of chronic illnesses. The expo at AU will provide educational lectures on key nutrients in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer, and demonstrate innovative heart-rhythm feedback technology designed to promote physical, psychological and emotional regeneration. For the past nine years, the Master’s Programs in Psychology, at Albizu University, have offered the Doral Community complimentary informational lectures, literature, and continuing education units to licensed professionals in the field of psychology as a way to give back to the community. To celebrate Awareness Day locally, Albizu University is hosting the 10th Annual Mental Health Awareness Expo titled “Integrated Healthcare: The mind-body connection”. The expo will host more than twenty-five community agencies serving the mental health needs of our community and is expected to provide educational information to a minimum of 150 participants. The event will be held on May 23rd from 5:00-9:00pm on the university’s campus located at 2173 NW 99th Avenue, Doral, FL 33172. To confirm your seat and/or reserve a table, please rsvp by calling Mr. Olivera at 305-593-1223 ext. 3207 or emailing him at jolivera@albizu.edu . The annual event seeks to promote community-based awareness of the many resources and services available to the general public.
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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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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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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
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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 Education Training Committee
Military Service Committee
Research 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 6: Use of Motivational Interviewing to Broaden Your Skills with Your Clients Date: Friday, 5/26/17, 2:00-4:00 pm 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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Use of Motivational Interviewing to Broaden Your Skills with Your Clients 26 May 2017 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM You hear about and might even had some training on Motivational Interviewing (MI) but now you can spend some time and examine how to use MI in a variety of settings including Substance Use Disorder, Integrated Medicine and Mental Health Disorder Treatment Centers. Learn about what does it take to help clients to identify their issues which need treatment and then assist in planning the treatment plans for addressing these issues. Learning Objectives: This presentation will provide its participants the background, techniques, and case studies to examine how to utilize Motivational Interviewing in a variety of treatment settings with a variety of clinical presenting issues. (1) After this webinar, participants will be able to identify the key components of the steps in Motivational Interviewing and how these components will assist their clients to better focus on their personal issues which need treatment. (2) After this webinar, participants will be able to identify how Motivational Interviewing can be used with a variety of clients who have substance use disorders or mental health disorders or medical conditions which they need to address to get treatment for and then follow through to reach the therapeutic goals which they assisted in developing for themselves to achieve full recovery from their pressing issues. (3) After this webinar, participants will be able to identify research evidence which supports Motivational Interviewing as an Evidence Based Practice within substance use disorder, mental health disorder and medical treatment centers, programs and settings. (4) After this webinar, participants will be able to identify Motivational Interviewing strategies which work with patients in a variety of treatment settings through intensive case study reviews. (5) After this webinar, participants will be able to identify the existing resources available for them to continue to strengthen and become more effective in providing Motivational Interviewing in their clinical practices. CE Broker Tracking #: 20-548597 About the Presenter: Since 2010, Jim has been an Assistant Professor in a CACREP Accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program for Troy University at their Tampa Bay Site. Prior to that position, he had been involved in providing Behavioral Health interventions since 1980 both in Private Practice and in Public Agencies including: as the Behavioral Health Consultant at United Cerebral Palsy in Tampa; St Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa and rehabilitation and nursing facilities around the West Coast of Florida. He has extensive coverage of a variety of mental health and substance use disorders on his website: www.coping.us. Jim was co-founder and second President of AMHCA and was on the founding board of the NBCC. He is currently the Treasurer of FMHCA and the Moderator for the Integrated Medicine Community on the AMHCA Website
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