Joining a professional organization

ACA:
http://www.counseling.org/
FCA:
http://www.flacounseling.org/
APA:
http://www.apa.org/
Chi Sigma Iota:
https://www.csi-net.org/
AAMFT:
https://www.aamft.org/iMIS15/AAMFT/
NAMI:
http://namibrowardinc.org/

Using the RMCHI acronym in florida

Why I am taking RMHCI off my linked in and other sties, and why you should too!

Hey guys this goes out to all of you who are currently using this acronym on business cards and any other advertising materials ( including your linkedin!)

I was searching the acronym when I ran across this statute that is current in the state of Florida, I was able to catch it in time to remove it from my linked in since I did not know luckily its not on my business cards :P.

The Statute: “(j) Failure of a registered intern to use the words ‘registered intern” on all promotional materials, including card, brochures, stationery, advertisements and signs, naming the licensee as required by Section491.0149(2)(b) , F.S.” is a “minor violation”.  Does the minor nature of the violation allow us and registered interns to ignore the rule? 

 https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=64B4-5.005

 The Punishment: Re-take the 8-hour Laws and Rules course ( if already taken),  pay fines, attorney fees and more.

Therapist support forum for therapists

Hey guys I ran across this forum which offer support for therapist and it's a hundred percent free. In addition to support there's also resources to help you with different populations if you're having trouble.

http://therapistgroupsup.freeforums.net/

Free CEU

Hey guys I just got this email for free CEU its worth 1 hour.
Ace-Classes.com presents
Flakka: The Dangerous New Drug Sweeping Florida 1 CE
Date: June 12, 2015 12:00pm-1:00pm
Join us for the Free Webinar from your smartphone, Tablet, or computer!

"Flakka" a new designer drug is even more potent and more addictive than its synthetic predecessors. On the street, it's also called "gravel" for its white, crystal chunks. In the lab, it's known as a stimulant, part of a chemical class called cathinones, with the amphetamine-like effects of Molly and Ecstasy. It's the latest designer drug hitting the streets of Florida.
This course is designed to provide information about this new designer drug to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Professionals, Social Workers, Child Welfare Professionals, Judges, General Magistrates, and Court Personnel.
RSVP to info@ace-classes.com or register directly at: Flakka Registration Link (seats are limited)
Are you a Registered Intern ready for licensure?
Save $10 with coupon code: Intern
The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling mandates that every applicant for licensure completes eight (8) hours of continuing education in the area of Law and Rules, three (3) hours of HIV/AIDS, two (2) hours of Medical Errors, and two (2) hours of Domestic Violence in order to obtain their license. Ace-Classes.com is a Board approved provider of these courses and we invite you to register with us at a savings. Our courses are offered online and we have specialists available 7 days per week.
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Administrative Assistant
Ace-Classes.com
Department of Mental Health CE
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Phone:(954)-300-2231
Ace-Classes.com is approved by:
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National Board for Certified Counselors ACEP 6663
Department of Mental Health CE by ACE-Classes , 2728 Davie Blvd. Suite 130, Fort Lauderdale, fl 33312
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FCA (Florida Counselors Association)

 

 

This association should be number 2 on your list after the ACA. The reason being is that it is absolutely local down to the county that you live in. this is an asset because not only are you about to network but you will be able to network with professionals that work near you or in a county that is close to yours.   

Like the other associations that I have covered so far there are learning and CEU opportunities associated with the FCA. And again they are local (so you save on mileage and gas). The FCA also has a yearly conference that is usually held somewhere in the state. This year is their 66^th conference and it will be held this upcoming September the 11^th and 12^th.

The FCA also is very active in state and local legislation which assists the counseling career as a whole. They encourage all members to participate from the student just starting out to the retired member. I will cover the importance of getting involved with State, Local, or National governmental systems and how they impact career development.

Below are the membership fees and what they include as written on the FCA website (http://www.flacounseling.org/)

 

PROFESSIONAL Membership - $65.00 - Any person whose primary responsibilities or interests are in counseling individuals residing in Florida who hold a Master's degree or higher in Professional Counseling or a closely related profession.  FIRST YEAR PROFESSIONAL Membership - $50.00 - Individuals who previously met the criteria for student member and have graduated. Individuals must meet all criteria for Professional Membership, the only difference is an eligibility for a one year reduction in dues to facilitate their transition to professional status. STUDENT Membership - $30.00 - Individuals who are attending an institution or higher education in the State of Florida as an undergraduate or graduate student preparing for professional counseling or a closely related profession - psychology, social work, medicine (psychiatry), nursing (psychiatric nursing); or individuals who live in Florida and are attending an out-of-state or on-line institution of higher education graduate program preparing for professional counseling or a closely related profession. Student membership status shall not be extended beyond three years, requires at least 1/2-time enrollment and the verification by an academic advisor.  RETIRED Membership - $30.00 - Any retired individual who is interested in the purposes of the Association  ASSOCIATE Membership - $45.00 - Individuals who hold a Master's degree or higher in Professional Counseling or a closely related profession - psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, from a regionally accredited college or university. One does not have to be employed as a professional counselor or supervisor of counselors. In addition, Associate members need not reside in Florida or be employed in the state of Florida.  Associate Memberships do not have voting privileges.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental illness)

NAMI is a huge resource for both you and your clients. They carry information about different mental disorders as well as a way to find support for your clients when they are not with you. They have websites at the national and local level.

NAMI is not only a resource for you clients and their families. It is also a great networking resource as they have many local events for clinicians. They also host classes on many different topics through their local chapters.

There is also a section for you to volunteer to become a Guardian Advocate as a family member of a mentally disabled person or as their case worker/ social worker/therapist. Below is a description of what that entails: 
A “guardian advocate,” under Florida Statutes Chapter 394, more commonly known as “The Baker Act,” is a court-appointed individual who communicates and collaborates with a patient, his or her attending psychiatrist, as well as the entire treatment team of mental health professionals, to advocate for the best interest of the patient during his or her stay at the State Hospital. This volunteer position is not only a chance to make a difference in the lives of the patients by playing an active role in their mental health treatment, but also an opportunity for you to become acquainted with the mental health system and its inner-workings, which are unfamiliar to most of the public.
While it is a priority for the Hospital and the Courts to appoint a patient’s parents, children, relatives or adult friends as his or her Guardian Advocate, it is an unfortunate reality that sometimes, these options are unavailable or unwilling. For this reason, we need volunteers to serve in this capacity, and lighten the load for our few existing advocates. To become eligible, and certified to serve in the capacity as a Guardian Advocate, you must review a short packet of required material, and successfully complete a self-examination. The course provides thorough information such as responsibilities, ethical considerations, ways to be most effective in the decision-making processes involved, as well as details regarding varying mental health diagnoses, treatment plans and medications thereof.
If you are interested in volunteering as a Guardian Advocate, please contact Gwen Henry, Community Liaison at South Florida State Hospital at (954) 392-3045.


On the bright side you can join NAMI as a professional organization for free. They do have a paid option which is 35$ a year and it dose have a few more perks than the free account.

Here are some links:
Local:http://namibrowardinc.org/page/2/
National:https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Join

All About the ACA

In this field joining a professional organization is a key aspect in your development as a counselor. There are many to choose from. And depending on your specialization, niche, or degree there is an organization that is there for you (or you can always attempt to create your own!). In this blog I am going to describe a few of them to you so you can know their prices and their benefits. To start off we should cover the ACA first.

 

ACA

American Counseling Association

Prices ( for a year):

·         Professional ( Masters graduate with or without a license) $167

·         Regular ( layperson with no degree) $167

·         New Professional ( students who have graduated from an institution within the last 12 months) $95

·         Student ( must be currently attending classes and able to provide proof if needed) $95

·         Journals only ( this option is for those who only want access to the research journals published by the ACA) $35

The ACA is one of the largest professional organizations you can choose to join as it is nationwide. And on the bright side it also offers the option to join one of their divisions the divisions that are currently available are:

Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) AARC promotes the effective use of assessment in the counseling profession.

Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA) Focuses on adult development and aging issues as well as addressing counseling concerns throughout the lifespan.

Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC) Children and adolescents in a multitude of settings.

Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC) Brings together counselors, counselor educators, creative arts therapists and counselors in training to explore unique and diverse approaches to counseling.

American College Counseling Association (ACCA) Is to foster student development in colleges, universities, and community colleges.

Association for Counselors and Educators in Government (ACEG) Originally the Military Educators and Counselors Association, ACEG addresses the unique needs of clients and families in local, state, and federal government or in military-related agencies.

Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Originally the National Association of Guidance and Counselor Trainers, ACES stresses quality education and supervision for counselors in all settings.

Association for Humanistic Counseling (AHC) Provides a forum for the exchange of information about humanistically-oriented counseling practices and promotes the growing body of knowledge about humanistic principles applied to human development and potential.

Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling

(ALGBTIC) ALGBTIC educates counselors on the unique needs of client identity development, and helps counselors develop a non-threatening counseling environment.

Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD) Originally the Association of Non-White Concerns in Personnel and Guidance, AMCD strives to improve cultural, ethnic and racial empathy and understanding.

American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Represents mental health counselors, advocating for client-access to quality services within the health care industry.

American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA) Brings together rehabilitation counseling practitioners, educators, and students who serve people with disabilities throughout their life span.

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Advocates for school counseling professionals who work to improve the personal, educational, and career development of students. ASCA members also work with parents, educators, and community members to provide a positive learning environment.

Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) Originally the National Catholic Guidance Conference, ASERVIC promotes spiritual, ethical, religious, and other human values within the discipline of counseling.

Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Provides professional leadership and research in the field of group work, as well as establishes standards for professional training.

Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) A community of counselors, counselor educators, graduate students, and school and community leaders who seek equity and an end to oppression and injustice affecting clients, students, counselors, families, communities, schools, workplaces, governments, and other social and institutional systems.

International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC) Originally the Public Offender Counselor Association, IAAOC advocates for the development of effective counseling and rehabilitation programs for people with substance abuse problems, other addictions, and adult and/or juvenile public offenders.

International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC) IAMFC members help develop healthy family systems through prevention, education, and therapy.

National Career Development Association (NCDA) Originally the National Vocational Guidance Association, NCDA promotes career development for all people across the life span through public information, member services, conferences, and publications.

National Employment Counseling Association (NECA) Originally the National

Employment Counselors Association, NECA is committed to offering professional leadership to people who counsel in employment and/or career development settings.

 

 So as you can see there is lots of room for professionals within the ACA to join a division that fits their specialty or interest.

 

Now in order to join a division you also have to pay a fee that is additional to you yearly ACA membership fee and they differ between divisions. The prices are as follows:

·         From the ACA membership Application.

 

 

 

 

Perks that members enjoy from being with the ACA include but are not limited to: Malpractice insurance, certificate of membership, networking events, and discounts. These are all included after you pay the membership fee. Not to mention that this is the same organization that plans and holds the ACA conference every year. Which every counselor should go to one at least once in their career lifetime. I will write more about this topic of conferences later.

I cannot stress to you how important it is that you join and professional development organization. The ACA is a good place to start with when you’re in your masters and depending on where you decide to go with your master’s degree is an equally great organization to continue to stay in long term. It is honestly difficult to describe the many ways that this particular organization is an asset to the growing counselor I would say the best method other than reading the what I posted here is to check it out yourself on their website: http://www.counseling.org/

 

How much should you be reading?

If you enjoyed reading then counseling is definitely a career for you ( because you will be doing a lot of it). Even after you've achieved your masters degree and you're in your registered internship phase you should be reading. However, how much should you be reading?

Respectfully you should be reading at least one journal a week or three chapters of a book on something in  counseling. Even though you don't have your license yet and you're not required to get continuing education credits to maintain your license you should still be keeping current. This is a part of your professional ethics and something that you must maintain in order to remain a competent therapist.

You owe this not only to yourself but you also owe this to your clients. However to make things easier on yourself you can alternate the topics that you read. And example being for every journal or book that you read that is on a topic that you don't really care for ; you can offset the boredom and sleepiness that you may encounter be reading a chapter of something that dose interest you.

Issues in counselor Development: Doubt and client honesty

Best place for apa formatting

As many of you already know all of our papers have been in the APA format. APA stands for American Psychological Association. and the format is a specific way to organize as well as write your references in a paper or journal.

Many of you who are past your master's degree or even your bachelor's degree will know of this site already.  The owl at Purdue is the next next thing to having the spa Manuel itself and its free. Below is the link that will connect you to this website.

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Weel of fortune

This item is also available on Amazon and it a great sedative to groups where you want to ask questions, give out prizes, present scenarios to discuss.

It can be attached to any white board or metallic service as it has 2 powerful magnets on the back.

You can buy it here for 34 dollars at
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00486ZSQI/ref=pd_aw_sim_op_22?refRID=0107BWW4CPEKBHV5DVAD

Business Cards

Beach ball ice breaker

This is a great ice breaker exercise for groups of any age and/ or from any population.

Simply put all you need is a beach ball and a marker. In my case I also needed tape because the beach ball I had was waaay to dark to write on.

Anyway, after you have your items you just need to determine what sort of ice breaker/mental health questions do you want to ask.

Totika

This is an individual and or group of atoms that is very useful in interactive. I've used it with children adults and teenagers all from diverse populations with great success. it basically works like a Jenga game. however each of the wooden blocks is a different color and each of these colors corresponds to a question on one of the sets of cards.

Each of these sets of cards has a theme. Here are some examples of the themes offered: self esteem, ice breakers, life skills and many more. If you follow the link below you can buy one of your very own on Amazon 52 dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009B2P3M8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1426864394&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=totika+set

Awesome box

This is a group and/or item to have in your office. I like to fill mine with different kinds of quotes that I either have someone shoes at random or you let them take home. I find that it's a fun and interactive way to get some messages across.

This can be made into a group by having each member choose a quote and either have them discuss it in their own words or have the group discuss what the quote means.

Group Therapy 101

Office design

Should you have a couch? Hang all your degrees? Have plants? Artwork?

All of these details to your office can seem to be pretty innocuous. However, each of them will tell the client a little about you. And depending on your population they can have either a positive , negative , or a mixture of both.

Let's say for example you decide to hang all of your degrees in your office. Depending once again on your population this can be either good or bad. so some clients may prefer to see your degrees because they want to know that they're seeing someone who is highly trained and educated and that gives them peace of mind. however on the other hand some clients might see all your degrees and feel like you're so above them that there is no hope you would ever understand them because you are so much more educated than they are.

The same thing can go for the other categories that I just mentioned in the beginning of this article. You really need to base your office design on your clients.

Just like I spoke about before meeting your clients where they are. this goes back to that you need to make your office a place where they can feel comfortable what talking with you and needs to be in an environment that meets their needs where they are.

Fair Fighting rules

This is from http://cmhc.utexas.edu/fightingfair.html

I use this in all of my conflict mediations as well as my conflict management groups and I find it quite use full for preparing clients to deal with conflict.

Other than what ill copy below one of the things that you should stress to your clients is that there is NO way to avoid conflict in their lives. Weather they want it to happen or not conflict happens. However, you can be prepared for it which I where I go over a copy of these "rules" and steps for them to use:

Fair Fighting: Ground rules

Remain calm. Try not to overreact to difficult situations. By remaining calm it is more likely that others will consider your viewpoint.

Express feelings in words, not actions. If you start to feel so angry or upset that you feel you may lose control, take a "time out" and do something to help yourself feel calm: take a walk, do some deep breathing, play with the dog, write in your journal- whatever works for you.

Be specific about what is bothering you. Vague complaints are hard to work on.

Deal with only one issue at a time. Don't introduce other topics until each is fully discussed. This avoids the "kitchen sink" effect where people throw in all their complaints while not allowing anything to be resolved.
No hitting below the belt. Attacking areas of personal sensitivity creates an atmosphere of distrust, anger, and vulnerability.

Avoid accusations. Accusations will lead others to focus on defending themselves rather than on understanding you. Instead, talk about how someone's actions made you feel.

Try not to generalize. Avoid words like "never" or "always." Such generalizations are usually inaccurate and will heighten tensions.

Avoid make believe. Exaggerating or inventing a complaint - or your feelings about it - will prevent the real issues from surfacing. Stick with the facts and your honest feelings.

Don't stockpile. Storing up lots of grievances and hurt feelings over time is counterproductive. It's almost impossible to deal with numerous old problems for which recollections may differ. Try to deal with problems as they arise.

Avoid clamming up. Positive results can only be attained with two-way communication. When one person becomes silent and stops responding to the other, frustration and anger can result. However, if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed or shutting down, you may need to take a break from the discussion. Just let your partner know you will return to the conversation as soon as you are able and then don't forget to follow-up.

Establish common ground rules. You may even want to ask your partner-in-conflict to read and discuss this information with you. When both people accept positive common ground rules for managing a conflict, resolution becomes much more likely.

Fair Fighting: Step by Step...

1. Before you begin, ask yourself, "What exactly is bothering me? What do I want the other person to do or not do? Are my feelings in proportion to the issue?"


2. Know what your goals are before you begin. What are the possible outcomes that could be acceptable to you?


3. Remember that the idea is not to win but to come to a mutually satisfying solution to the problem.


4. Set a time for a discussion with your partner-in-conflict. It should be as soon as possible but agreeable to both persons. Springing a conversation on someone when they are unprepared may leave them feeling like they have to fend off an attack. If you encounter resistance to setting a time, try to help the other person see that the problem is important to you.


5. State the problem clearly. At first, try to stick to the facts; then, once you've stated the facts, state your feelings. Use "I" messages to describe feelings of anger, hurt, or disappointment. Avoid "you" messages such as, "you make me angry...."; instead, try something like, "I feel angry when you…."


6. Invite the other person to share his or her point of view. Be careful not to interrupt, and genuinely try to hear his or her concerns and feelings. Try to restate what you heard in a way that lets your partner know you fully understood, and ask your partner to do the same for you.


7. Try to take the other's perspective; that is, try to see the problem through his or her eyes. The opposing viewpoint can make sense to you, even if you don't agree with it.



8. Propose specific solutions, and invite the other person to propose solutions, too.


9. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each proposal.


10. Be willing to compromise. Allowing the other person only one option will make it difficult to resolve the concern. When you reach an agreement on a way forward, celebrate! Decide together on a time to check-in, discuss how things are working, and make changes to your agreement if necessary. If no solution has been reached regarding the original problem, schedule a time to revisit the issue and continue the discussion.

The importance of meeting your client where they are.

You might have heard this term from time to time in your classes during your masters degree period.

I cannot stress to you how important this really is. As my current supervisor said " when you are meeting your clients where they are you are not changing yourself or who you are; you are simply adjusting they way you present yourself to aide the client in their therapeutic endeavors".

To further explain what meeting your client where they are looks like/how to do it here is an example: you might end up let's say with a very wealthy real estate investor as a client that always comes to session on time and dressed in a suit. Now in order to meet this client where they are you would probably make sure that you are professionally dressed, you would have perfect posture in your chair, on time, and used the same level of vocabulary as they do.

Now let's turn this around and say that you have a client who is a 24 year old who is recently out of college and has been unsuccessful in finding a job in their field and now works in a bar. For this client you might curse a little when talking to them on session, you would use vocabulary words or slang words that they used in session, you might be in more casual clothes ( depending on where you work as well) , and you might slouch or sit comfortably in your chair.

Simply what I'm getting at is in order to meet your client where they are you need to adopt some of their mannerisms.

Individual and group activity called a night at the dinner table

This group is really good children teenagers and adults.

And you do it quite literally as the title implies you have the client describe a night at their dinner table.

It really easy to do and most clients understand it. To the clients this is going to seem like an icebreaker and not really therapeutic in nature.

 

So they're asking the clients to describe what a typical night at the dinner table eating dinner is like you as a therapist can glean a lot of useful information about your clients background or how they grew up. As well as any behaviors that they might have encountered/picked up.

 

Additionally for those of you who are marriage and family oriented this can give insight into the family/marriage structure. You can also glean information about alliances and common interaction and words.