Special Feature - End of Life Planning by Heather Blessing, LMFT
We want to thank our amazing volunteer for the month of March:
Clare Brown Jason Cantrill
Nathan Desry Carolyn Nelson
Alicia Pharis
We would like to thank our Gold Level Sponsor:
Letter from the Board
April 1, 2018
Hello Member,
I am happy to report that our First Annual Mental Health Professionals Job Fair was a great success. We had 28 employers who were recruiting for 100+ open positions. We had a wonderful turnout of a great mix between new and seasoned clinicians who were seeking employment.
The feedback that we received from employers and attendees was positive and encouraging. I want to thank the board members and our staff for all their hard work that made this event possible. I also want to thank our membership for their ongoing support and feedback which allows us to challenge ourselves to innovate and expand the services we provide to our members.
On that note, the board will be getting together for the annual board retreat in April. The purpose of the annual retreat is to review current progress and exchange new ideas to help improve our organization’s efforts to better serve the membership. The outcome of the retreat will help the board develop the strategic plan for 2019, which will include many exciting initiatives.
I look forward seeing you at our next workshop on April 6th, “Traumatic Brain Injury: Mental Health Considerations.” The workshop will be presented by Dr. Joel Solomon, a licensed clinical neuropsychologist who works primarily with TBI survivors through Mercy General Hospital and its grant-funded Home and Community Reintegration Program for TBI Survivors. In this workshop, you will learn about the symptoms of TBI across the severity spectrum, as well as evidence-based treatment modalities.
With the change in January from Intern to Associate for MFTs and PCCs, there has been some confusion on how to advertise and use abbreviations. This is from the BBS website (http://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/advertising.pdf)
Fact Sheet
Licensee and Registrant Advertising Requirements
Licensees and registrants must include all of the following information in any advertisement:
1. Your full name, as filed with the Board; and
2. Your license or registration number; and
3. Your complete title, or an abbreviation deemed acceptable by the Board. Acceptable titles and abbreviations are as follows:
If you are a...
You may use the following titles and/or abbreviations in advertisements
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist;
OR
• MFT; OR • LMFT
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
• Registered Associate Marriage and
Family Therapist [1]; OR
• Registered Associate MFT
Licensed Educational Psychologist
• Licensed Educational Psychologist; OR • LEP
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker; OR
• LCSW
Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker
• Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker; OR
• Registered Associate CSW
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor; OR
• LPCC
• Registered Associate Professional
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
• Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor [2]; OR
• Registered Associate PCC
Registered MFT Referral Service
• Registered MFT Referral Service
[1] The abbreviation “AMFT” may only be used in an advertisement if the title “Registered Associate
Marriage and Family Therapist” is also used.
[2] The abbreviation “APCC” may only be used in an advertisement if the title “Registered Associate
Professional Clinical Counselor” is also used.
Additional Requirement for Registrants: If you are a registered associate, your advertisement must also include the name of your employer or the name of the entity for which you volunteer. If you are an AMFT, you must also state in the advertisement that you are supervised by a licensed person.
Requirements for MFT Trainees: Any advertisement by or on behalf of an MFT Trainee shall include all of the following1:
• That he or she is a “marriage and family therapist trainee”
• The name of his or her employer
• That he or she is supervised by a licensed person.
Use of the Terms “Psychotherapy” or “Psychotherapist”: Use of these terms is permissible as long as your advertisement contains all of the information required by law, as listed above.
Use of Academic Credentials: Reference to academic credentials is permitted in your advertisement as long as your degree is earned (not an honorary degree or conferred without actual study) and representations and statements made about your degree are not misleading.
Definition of “Advertising”: Advertising includes, but is not limited to2, any public communication (including, but not limited to mail, television, radio, motion picture, newspaper, book, list or directory of healing arts practitioners, Internet, or other electronic communication), the issuance of any card, sign, or device to any person, or the causing, permitting, or allowing of any sign or marking on, or in, any building or structure, or in any newspaper or magazine or in any directory, or any printed matter whatsoever, with or without any limiting qualification. For more information, see Section 651 of the Business and Professions Code.
Unprofessional Conduct in Advertising: The following are considered unprofessional conduct3:
• Advertising in a manner that is false, fraudulent, misleading or deceptive.
• Misrepresentation as to the type or status of a license or registration, or otherwise misrepresenting education, professional qualifications, or professional affiliations.
Wow! We want to thank all the employers, participants, and volunteers for helping us make the job fair possible. We had over 200 attendees visiting our employers. There were over 100+ open positions with 28 employers. We have learned a few things that help us make next year's job fair bigger and better! Winners of our Job Fair Raffle can be found here.
March Workshop Summary
Hoarding Disorder presented by Dr. Robin Zasio (2CEs)
The fine line where clutter ends and hoarding begins is the question of “Is this living space accessible and safe?” This is the idea with which Dr. Robin Zasio opens her presentation at our February training session. The concern about safety is not necessarily in the eyes of the person who hoards because they often do not recognize that what they do is unsafe. They often deny the safety aspect of their behavior by outweighing its importance with a what-if mentality: “What if I will need this later?” Their successful cognitive defense of their attachment to stuff leads them to create unsafe environment for themselves and for others.
People who get to the level of piling up stuff or even animals in their homes and storage spaces to the extent that they come to be considered for the diagnosis of hoarding disorder use a great number of cognitive distortions very effectively. They often enjoy the acquisition phase of their behavior with all-or-nothing-thinking (“If I don’t buy it now I’ll never find it again”), mind reading (“My daughter would want it”), or emotional reasoning (“I feel I’ll never find it again so it must be true”). They may dread discarding their beloved items by fortune telling (“This is important so I will need it later”), should statements (“I should keep it because it would be a waste throwing it away”), or catastrophizing (“If I let it go, I’ll always regret it”). Dr. Zasio explains that compulsive shopping and tremendous fear of discarding items, indecisiveness, perfectionism, isolation, avoidance or procrastination with good intentions to clean up often accompany the hoarding behavior. PTSD, major depression, OCD/OCPD, social phobia, and ADD are common co-occurring diagnoses.
Why would some people, even those who often function well in public arena, end up hoarding? Many times, when people sense that their living space starts to cave in on them or smells and becomes unsanitary, their internal alarm goes off and compels them to clean up and create space. People who have hoarding disorder have “faulty alarm systems”, says Dr. Zasio. These people get alarmed when they have to clear their space by discarding things to which they have grown too attached.
Helping people who hoard would involve careful assessment and treatment of potential trauma, losses, grief, and attachment issues through therapy and/or medication. Forceful removal of the “collection” would only traumatize the person who would later double up on their effort to re-establish their sense of balance. Motivational Interviewing can dispel denial and start action and CBT can explore and reframe the dysfunctional beliefs. People who hoard can also buddy up with another person who hordes and set up “cleanup-and-lunch” dates, alternating between each other’s homes. Dr. Zasio closes her presentation with the wisdom that people who hoard tend to have very astute eyes about what has to go when it is not about their own objects of attachment.
Written by Marianna Jakucska, LMFT
April & May Events
APRIL FREE 3000 CLUB WORKSHOP
Topic: BBS Answers your questions Presenter: BBS Representatives Date: Friday, April 6. 2018 Time: 8:30am to 9:30am Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall,
2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map) Free Coffee and Donuts Space is limited so please register here
Workshop Information: Bring your questions for the BBS and get them answered. We will have a couple of BBS Representatives there to answer your questions and assist you with any BBS and Licensure issues you may have.
Presenter Bio:
A couple of BBS Representatives will be here to answer you questions on the LMFT licensing path and update you on any changes.
** Please be courteous and send us an email at info@svccamft.org if you are unable to attend after you have registered. **
APRIL WORKSHOP
Topic: Traumatic Brain Injury: Mental Health Considerations Presenter: Dr. Joel Solomon Date: Friday, April 6, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00PM Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map)
Doors Open at 9:00AM Networking starts at 9:00 AM
This program will benefit LMFT, LPCC, LEP and LCSW licensees and pre-licensees by providing information regarding symptoms of TBI across the severity spectrum, as well as evidence-based treatment modalities, presented by a licensed clinical neuropsychologist who works primarily with TBI survivors through Mercy General Hospital and its grand-funded Home and Community Reintegration Program for TBI Survivors.
Includes: Breakfast and meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Sacramento Valley Chapter of California Marriage and Family Therapist CAMFT CEPA CE Provider #62279 CE Credit will be awarded after the completion of the course via email.
No CEs will be awarded to persons arriving late or leaving early. Partial CE credit will not be awarded.
Workshop Information:
More than 2.5 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, and more than 5.3 million people live with the long-term effects of TBI. Brain injury can impact functioning across many domains, including cognitive, behavioral, physical, emotional, occupational, and interpersonal functioning. Psychiatric symptoms are very common in this population, yet mental health providers are often uncomfortable with or not knowledgeable about TBI and its role in these symptoms. This presentation will provide a general overview of TBI, including definition, prevalence, neuropathology, symptoms, and recovery, and highlight important clinical considerations for working with this population as a mental health provider.
This presentation will cover brain injury basics (e.g., definition, prevalence, neuropathology, recovery following TBI), assessment (e.g., clinical interview), and interventions, including concussion management, development of compensatory strategies, and utilization of community resources.
Identify common symptoms of TBI in the context of presenting complaints
Implement concussion management strategies with individuals with acute or chronic post-concussion symptoms.
Apply TBI-related mental health considerations to interventions with clients
Presenter Bio: Joel Solomon, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist. He completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento and has worked for Mercy General Hospital since 2009. Located at the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center in Citrus Heights, he specializes in working with TBI survivors through comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, concussion assessment and management, education and counseling regarding TBI for individuals and families, facilitating TBI psychoeducation and support groups, and providing public and professional education regarding TBI.
2018 Licensed, Associate or Affiliate Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $25
2018 Pre-Licensed Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $20
Non-Member: $35
Registration Ends Thursday, April 5, 2018
Walk-in Registration on the day of the event is an additional $5 and is not guaranteed and is based upon availability.
For information on joining SVC-CAMFT or renewing your membership for 2018 please email: info@svccamft.org
Registration Policy Effective January 1, 2018 SVC-CAMFT event registration must be paid online except with prior approval. Registration dates and fees may vary and are subject to change without notice. Event discounts prices and discount periods may or may not be offered. Event registration is deemed complete during the registration period in which registration payment is received. Incomplete or unpaid registration will be cancelled and removed at the end of each registration period.
Refund Policy Cancellations received more than 7 days prior to an event may be subject to an administrative fee to cover costs of the initial transaction. No shows, failure to attend, and cancellations 7 or fewer days prior to an event for any reason are non-refundable, including registrations received fewer than 7 days prior to an event. No credit, refunds, or price adjustments will be given for typographical advertisement errors. A $25 fee in addition to the registration fee will be charged for insufficient funds, denied credit cards, or charge-backs. By registering for the event you agree to the terms of the Refund Policy.
To request accommodations for a disability for any of our events contact our Administrative Assistant at info@svccamft.org
MAY FREE 3000 CLUB WORKSHOP
Topic: Introduction to Infidelity Counseling Principles and Treatment Challenges Presenter: Talal Alsaleem, LMFT Date: Friday, May 4. 2018 Time: 8:30am to 9:30am
Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map) Free Coffee and Donuts Space is limited so please register here
Workshop Information: Introduction to infidelity counseling principles and treatment challenges. Learn about the physical and emotional impact of affairs and the clinical milestones needed to help your clients heal from the trauma of infidelity.
Presenter Bio: Talal H. Alsaleem is an award-winning Marriage Counselor and the founder of the Infidelity Counseling Center, a resource for couples dealing with the traumatic impact of affairs. He is an infidelity recovery specialist and works exclusively with couples in crisis. He developed a solution-focused method of infidelity counseling that has helped hundreds of couples navigate the challenges of the healing journey from affairs. He is the author of the acclaimed book, Infidelity: The Best Worst Thing that Could Happen to Your Marriage, and the author of the relationship column, Heart Matters. Talal is an active member of the Continuing Education Provider Approval Committee of CAMFT and the President of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of CAMFT.
** Please be courteous and send us an email at info@svccamft.org if you are unable to attend after you have registered. **
JUNE WORKSHOP
Topic: Play Therapy Presenter: Dr. Elisabeth Liles Date: Friday, May 4, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00PM Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map)
Doors Open at 9:00AM Networking starts at 9:00 AM
This program will benefit LMFT, LPCC, LEP and LCSW licensees and pre licensees.
Includes: Breakfast and meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Sacramento Valley Chapter of California Marriage and Family Therapist CAMFT CEPA CE Provider #62279 CE Credit will be awarded after the completion of the course via email.
No CEs will be awarded to persons arriving late or leaving early. Partial CE credit will not be awarded.
Workshop Information:
Child-centered play therapy is unique because it provides children with an opportunity to fully express themselves in a safe environment that allows them to create meaning, learn to solve their own problems, make decisions, and better understand their feelings and how to express these feelings in healthy ways. This form of therapy provides children with the opportunity to make choices and learn how to solve their own problems.
Through play, children reveal experiences, feelings/reactions to those experiences, what they need in their lives, and their self-concept. Adults spend most of our time directing children, inhibiting their creativity, and limiting their success. Play therapy creates an environment where children can derive meaning through experiencing challenges and success.
Presenter Bio: Dr. Liles has practiced play therapy since 2004 and also worked as a school counselor. She has published in the International Journal of Play Therapy and is also currently a professor at CSUS, where she teaches courses on play therapy and counseling children in a nationally-accredited counselor education program.
Early registration ends Thursday, April 26, 2018 Early registration rates:
2018 Licensed, Associate or Affiliate Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $20
2018 Pre-Licensed Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $15
Non-Member: $30
Starting Friday, April 27, 2018 rates:
2018 Licensed, Associate or Affiliate Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $25
2018 Pre-Licensed Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $20
Non-Member: $35
Registration Ends Wednesday, May 2, 2018No Walk-in Registration unless announced.
Registration Policy Effective January 1, 2018 SVC-CAMFT event registration must be paid online except with prior approval. Registration dates and fees may vary and are subject to change without notice. Event discounts prices and discount periods may or may not be offered. Event registration is deemed complete during the registration period in which registration payment is received. Incomplete or unpaid registration will be cancelled and removed at the end of each registration period.
Refund Policy Cancellations received more than 7 days prior to an event may be subject to an administrative fee to cover costs of the initial transaction. No shows, failure to attend, and cancellations 7 or fewer days prior to an event for any reason are non-refundable, including registrations received fewer than 7 days prior to an event. No credit, refunds, or price adjustments will be given for typographical advertisement errors. A $25 fee in addition to the registration fee will be charged for insufficient funds, denied credit cards, or charge-backs. By registering for the event you agree to the terms of the Refund Policy.
Special Feature (If you would like your article published in our newsletter please email info@svccamft.org)
End of Life Planning
by Heather Cassandra Blessing, LMFT
Most people know me as someone who always seems to have things planned and thought out. I usually am. Then on Sunday, I sat down with my brother to discuss what we needed to think about to make sure my mom's estate and end of life wishes are all planned for. She had done most of the work before, but it had been a long time since we have looked over it and she requested we go back over it. My brother would be meeting with my mother in a couple of days so we sat down and discussed everything that we needed to make sure. Then he asks me what about my own stuff.
At first I felt pretty good because I could say that my funeral expenses are already taken care of, just a simple phone call needs to be done and several people have that number and the place handling it has all of my most recent information. Then my brother asked about my will. Once my kids turned 18, it became completely out of date. I really need to do it.
So I came home and started looking for my stuff to redo my will and I came across a note stating I need to have a professional will for my private practice. I obviously had planned to do this. I am licensed as a MFT in Oregon and they make you select and give their licensing agency a name and contact number of someone who would be able to take over your clients records should you be unable to yourself. I have that done there, but not here in California.
So I have done a little research and found some information that I find helpful: http://psychotherapytools.com/profwill_what.html and https://kspope.com/therapistas/will.php. I bought one of the products from the 1st website and it is pretty easy to use. I know none of us want to think about this but we really do need to. Just 2 years ago, I showed up for a my own personal therapy appointment. My therapist was not there, her car was not there and her door was locked. I called her and the phone was picked up by her sister. She passed away suddenly that weekend. They had no idea what to do and how to contact her clients. I had something similar happen just a few years earlier when I was an intern and my supervisor suddenly passed away. Since my information was on his website, I got lots of calls but I didn't have access or the ability to help.
We need to plan so that if we are incapacitated or pass away, our clients will be able to get their records in a format that benefits them, and they should be able get referrals to help with the closure and grief that often comes with the loss of a therapist. We have to remember that if we work in private practice, we owe it to our clients to have a plan.
The views expressed in the Special Feature Articles do not necessarily reflect the Sacramento Valley Chapter of CAMFT or CAMFT. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the author. No information in this article will be understood as official. Other views and commentary are welcome and will be published as long as they are respectful and stick to the topic.
Letters to the Editor
Welcome to the Letters to the editor Section. We want to hear what you want to say about SVC-CAMFT, CAMFT, current events and issues. Please see below guidelines on submitting a letter.
We Have No Letters to the Editor! Let your voice be heard! Write a letter to the editor!
__________________________________
Letters to the Editor Guidelines
You must be a current SVC-CAMFT member.
You cannot be a SVC-CAMFT board member or employee.
It must be no more than 250 words.
You must send in your full name so I can verify that you are a member.
If you wish your name not to be published please indicate.
Any letter published without a name will be listed as Anonymous MFT or Anonymous pre-license or Anonymous Associate
All letters must be respectful and without inappropriate words or phrases including name calling.
If you do not get a response back within 2 days that it has been received please email back.
ALL LETTERS RECEIVED WILL RECEIVE A RESPONSE THAT IT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER.
If there is a problem with the letter (language, misspellings, length or appropriateness) you will receive an email back with the reason for the rejection and a chance to fix the problem and send it back in.
Psyched about Books and Movies
Welcome to "Psyched about Books and Movies!" Each month we include a book or movie review by one of our readers. Please see below guidelines on submitting a review.
Title: The Gender Creative Child
Author: Dr. Diane Ehrensaft
Copyright: 2016 Reviewer: Adriana Joyner, LMFT
Review:
Diane Ehrensaft is the clinical director of the UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center Clinic and a leading expert in youth gender studies. This book, her second about gender in youth, expands upon the genders outside of the binary (male/female). She outlines in easy-to-understand terms the stages of gender identity development and provides a framework to support youth in exploring their gender. As clinicians, this is an excellent foundational book to help you provide gender competent care. For parents, it’s a great reference to help understand your child’s experience.
Book/Movie Review Submission Policy
All reviews are not to exceed 1000 key strokes. Your review should include the title, a short synopsis about why you like or dislike it, and the author’s name & publication date.You can also include a picture of the book and/or movie. After review, we will publish your review in our next newsletter. Reviews submitted that are longer than 1000 characters will be returned for editing. It is best to type your review in a Microsoft Word document to note how many key strokes (characters with spaces), how big your review is, and for your own record keeping. You can then copy and paste it into the online submission form located here (http://www.svccamft.org/Newsletter.html) To learn more about checking your review for key strokes, spelling grammar and size click below: (http://www.svccamft.org/How_to_check_review_in_microsoft_word.doc).
It is your responsibility to check for spelling and grammar errors. Reviews must be received by the 20th of the month in order to appear in the next newsletter.
You can submit your review by: Visiting our webpage: www.svccamft.org
Mailing it in: P.O. Box 163385, Sacramento, CA 95816
Paid Internships Listing Provided by:
Prelicensed is a free resource for MFT registered interns, trainees, and students in California. We offer numerous services that are designed to help you prepare and prevail over the course of your journey to licensure
For more job listings and other free resources, visit Prelicensed!
Advertising and Announcements
YOUR AD HERE
Remember you can always submit an advertisement or announcement for the newsletter. Members can place them for free.
Advertising Policy for the Newsletter
All ads and reviews are not to exceed 1000 key strokes. Chapter members advertise at no cost. Non-members can advertise about employment opportunities at no cost. Non-members, non employment-related ads follow these rates:
$10 for 200 key strokes
$20 for 201-600 key strokes
$30 for 601-1000 key strokes
Full page and ½ page ads are not accepted.
All ads contain text only; no graphics will be included.
Ads submitted that are longer than 1000 characters will be returned for editing. It is best to type your ad in a Microsoft Word document to note how many characters, how big your ad is, and for your own record keeping. Please visit our site to find more information on how to use Microsoft word for editing. You can then copy and paste it on our online submission form located here (http://www.svccamft.org/Newsletter.html)
It is your responsibility to check for spelling and grammar errors.
Ads must be received by the 25th of the month in order to appear in the next newsletter. Ads are placed in the order that they are received.
SVC-CAMFT Contact us mail: P.O. Box 163385, Sacramento, CA 95816 Phone: (916) 597-0811 Email: info@svccamft.org We are on the Web! www.svccamft.org To post to the listserve, please email to: info@svccamft.org
You are receiving this newsletter because you are member of Sacramento Valley Chapter of CAMFT.
Newsletter Editor: Heather Blessing, MA, LMFT
