We want to thank our amazing volunteer for the month of October:
Nichole Cobb
We would like to thank our Gold Level Sponsor:
Triad Behavioral Health
Letter from the Board
November 1, 2018
Greetings,
I hope this message finds you all well as we enter the holiday season. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for giving me the privilege and opportunity to serve on the board as your president for the 2018 year. It's been a great pleasure working with a very dedicated and passionate board whose members were always eager to share their wisdom, time, and expertise to bring our chapter to new heights. Serving alongside such a wonderful team has been one of the most rewarding professional experiences in my career. The hard work and the new initiatives that were championed by the current board will continue to thrive and improve under the tenure of the 2019 board.
On a separate note, I am happy to announce that the voting on the newly developed code of conduct was completed with a majority total of 44 votes for the implementation of the code of conduct vs. 4 votes against its implementation. The code of conduct will be included in the bylaw’s revision along with the change of the name of intern to associate and the addition of the emeritus category to the types of available membership options. Click here to see the bylaw's revision information, The ability to vote on the bylaws and the elected candidates (click here for more info on the candidates) starts on November 21st. Voting ends December 15th. Links to vote will be emailed out on November 21st and for those who have chosen to vote by mail, paper ballots will be mailed out on November 20th.
Lastly, our 2019 programs line up is confirmed and our second annual Job Fair date is set. Please visit our event page to view and register for the 2019 events. I look forward to seeing all of you again on Friday, January 11th, 2019 for the Annual Membership Meeting and the “Positive Discipline for Teens” workshop facilitated by Lisa Larson, LMFT which will cover positive discipline techniques that are helpful for parents and therapists working with teens.
This month we are looking at the ethical requirements around advertising requirements. In July 2018, Ben Caldwell led the SVC-CAMFT Law and Ethics 12 hour training.
In 2018, BBS implemented changes to the title designation for pre-licensed clinicians. To simply state the changes, the former title of “registered intern” has been changed to “registered associate”. For this ethics corner, we are focusing on advertising requirements and use of title, name and employer information.
CAMFT’s ethics code overviews our ethical responsibility as follows:
“CAMFT Code of Ethics - Section 10.1 ACCURACY REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS: Marriage and family therapists accurately represent their competence, education, training, and experience relevant to their professional practice to patients and others ”
“CAMFT Code of Ethics - Section 10.2 ASSURING ACCURACY: Marriage and family therapists take reasonable steps to assure that advertisement and publications, whether in directories, announcement cards, newspaper, radio, television, Internet or any other media, are formulated to accurately convey information to the public ”
These codes just provide an overview of what is the bulk and depth of our clinical ethical and legal responsibility around advertising. The BBS has outlined and detailed the requirements in their fact sheet Advertising Guidelines.
Per the BBS, licensed clinicians must include:
Full name, as it’s listed with the BBS
Complete title, or abbreviation as outlined by BBS (e.g. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or LMFT)
License number
Registered associate clinicians must include:
Full name, as it’s listed with the BBS
Complete title of registration, or abbreviation as outlined by BBS (e.g. Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist or Registered Associate MFT)
Registration number
Name of employer
A note that they are under supervision by a licensed clinician
Trainee / student clinicians must include:
Complete title (e.g. Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee)
Name of employer
A note that they are under supervision by a licensed clinician
Neurobiology and Its Impact on Therapy presented by Dr. Emina from the Amen Clinic (6 CEs)
Dr. Daniel Emina, a Psychiatrist from the Amen Clinics Walnut Creek, CA did a fabulous workshop for SAC-CAMFT on Oct 5th, 2018. He is an engaging and knowledgeable doctor who helped us understand the brain science behind a lot of the disorders that we see with the intent to make it less about the shame that some clients feel and more about pointing to the biological components.
He also sees such value in the work that we do, is open to supplementation and lifestyle changes to help the patient recover and looks at mental health with a very holistic view. I had some other clinicians tell me that they didn’t attend because they were afraid is was just a plug for the Amen Clinic. Although once you hear the information about what they do there, it was hard to not have a strong opinion that everyone should go. In fact I want to take my grandson who is struggling with not very well treated ADHD and Bipolar D/O, but there was also a lot of information for us to be aware of and to help in treatment of our clients.
He broke the presentation down into three different parts: Brain behavior systems and their impact on function/dysfunction, Genetic influences on brain behavior systems and Specific risks of high screen time on susceptible populations.
The Amen clinic is most known for their Spect Imaging of the brain that helps to identify blood and activity patterns in the brain to reduce treatment errors and increase compliance. It was fascinating seeing the brains of affected people at different parts of the brain that lead to specific symptoms. This is leading a shift in mental health on that major psychiatric illnesses are not one disorder but syndromes and why Precision Psychiatry may be the wave of the future. It would sure help the medication cocktail trial and error situation that many of our clients have to endure.
Dr. Emina reviewed differences between male and female brains, how each aspect of the brain’s deficiencies requires certain interventions; including diet, exercise, supplements, psychological treatments, effective parenting tips as well as medications, and how different genes create risk and impact treatment planning.
The goal of knowing gene variants allows a psychiatrist to have the information on what medications might work best, how to support the appropriate function of the genes, and what lifestyle changes or supplements work to remediate the deficiency. So many people today are getting their gene type from a service like 23 and Me. If you or your client downloads the raw data and upload to a genetic evaluation company, they can provide some health guidelines and a psychiatrist that is aware of this research can use that information in better treatment.
The last section of his presentation talked about teens and screen use and its implications on our mental health. Teens use their smartphone up to 9 hours a day and tweens are at about 6 hours a day. The increase in depression in teens is correlated with the timeline when 50% of teens acquired cell phones. We are seeing a substantial increase in depression, anxiety and suicides in teens based on data from 2010 to 2015. Although there are other factors affecting this increase, adolescents who spent more than 5 hours a day on screens had a 66% more likely risk for depression than those who spent 1 hour a day. Suicide risk rose significantly where a teen is spending more than 2 hours a day online. Even though our teens think they are “connecting” it is not the same result as connecting in person.
This was a very valuable workshop and many thanks to our talented staff at SAC-CAMFT for bringing this together.
Written by:
Nancy Ryan, M. A., LMFT
November & 2019 Events
NOVEMBER 3000 CLUB WORKSHOP
Topic: Preparing for the BBS examination process. Presenter: Gerry Grossman, LMFT Date: Friday, November 2. 2018 Time: 8:30am to 10:00am
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:
Topics included in the workshop will be:
• The process of applying for the exam
• The nature of the examination setting
• The content areas of the Law and Ethics and Clinical exams
• The benefits of the available products Triad has to offer
• Address participants’ questions regarding the BBS examination process
Special Thanks to Triad for setting this up. Triad is a cohesive team of experienced and talented mental health professionals and content experts working tirelessly to provide test preparation for over 40 years.
Presenter Bio:
Gerry Grossman Seminars (GGS) was founded in 1985 by Gerry Grossman, M.A., LMFT. GGS provides live workshops and original material in text, video, or audio to help interns and associates prepare and pass their BBS licensing exams. GGS also provides Continuing Education workshops and courses for licensed professionals.
NOVEMBER WORKSHOP
Topic: Introduction to Stanford Cue-Centered Therapy – a short-term, evidence-based trauma treatment Presenter: Laura C. Strom, LMFT, LPCC, CRC Sponsored by: Date: Friday, November 2, 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 because is incumbent upon psychotherapists to provide evidence-based treatments to youth and their families who suffer from the effects of trauma which can cause life-long problems if left untreated. Stanford Cue-Centered Therapy is an evidence-based trauma treatment, and provides practitioners another possible treatment to offer those coping with trauma. Providing well-documented, ethical, evidence-based treatments in a clinically sound manner should be the primary goal of psychotherapists, including Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), and Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEPs).
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:
Laura C. Strom, LMFT, LPCC, CRC is a Stanford-trained trauma therapist and worked for the Stanford Early Life Stress Research Program. She will introduce Stanford Cue-Centered Therapy: A multi-modal treatment for youth suffering posttraumatic symptoms. Laura was one of two therapists in a 3 year clinical research trial testing this cutting edge trauma treatment with traumatized youth. This 15-18 session intervention had excellent results with youth rapidly having a 65% drop in posttraumatic symptoms, and 50+% drops in depression and anxiety. In this presentation, attendees will learn about the latest research and trauma treatment techniques which can be used with both adults and children. Clinicians will come away with an effective treatment plan for clients who are suffering with posttraumatic symptoms, anxiety or panic attacks, and will learn some techniques experientially. A PDF handout will outline Stanford Cue-Centered Treatment, and include a Feelings Thermometer (A. Wagner) and Body Map (Kara).
1. Know the latest research on trauma and its effects on children.
2. Have an effective treatment plan for those suffering from the effects of trauma which reduces trauma symptoms very quickly and dramatically (1-3 sessions).
3. Be introduced to Stanford Cue-Centered Therapy: A multi-modal treatment for youth suffering posttraumatic symptoms.
Presenter Bio: Laura C. Strom, MS, LMFT, LPCC, CRC is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 49174), a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC 149), a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC 00113822), and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT 3178). She is a Doctoral Candidate (PsyD) writing a dissertation on adapting Stanford Cue-Centered Therapy for use with children ages 4-7. Laura was trained at Stanford as a trauma therapist in a 3 year clinical research trial treating traumatized youth and their families. She also has extensive training in Jungian Sandplay Therapy, an excellent modality for pre-verbal trauma. Her specialties are trauma/posttraumatic stress disorder, and disabilities including brain injury and hearing loss. Laura is a past president of CAMFT. Her private practice is located in Santa Rosa, CA, and website is LauraCStrom.com.
Early registration ends Thursday, October 25, 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, October 26, 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, October 31, 2018 No 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.
To request accommodations for a disability for any of our events contact our Administrative Assistant at info@svccamft.org
******************
We listen to your feedback - New for 2019:
For 2019 Workshops, there is an option for printed handouts for an additional $5 added on to your registration fee. If you select this option handouts with your name will be waiting for you when you sign in.
Friday Law and Ethics and Saturday Law and Ethics will have different lunch buffets.
We will have Law and Ethics for Supervisors on Friday of our Law and Ethics in addition to our regular Friday Law and Ethics. Saturday Law and Ethics will go over the Therapist Will among other things. More option to choose from.
While it doesn't qualify for CEUs, we will be having a 6 hour workshop on building a successful practice with the renowned Casey Truffo.
Fri, November 08, 2019 12:30 PM • Rancho Cordova City Hall
Special Feature
(If you would like your article published in our newsletter please email info@svccamft.org)
Transgender Day of Remembrance
by
Heather Cassandra Blessing, LMFT
From Wikipedia: "The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), also known as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, is observed annually on November 20 as a day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia[1] and to draw attention to the continued violence endured by the transgender community.[2]
Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman,[3] to memorialize the murder of transgender woman Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts.[4] Since its inception, TDoR has been held annually on November 20,[5] and it has slowly evolved from the web-based project started by Smith into an international day of action. In 2010, TDoR was observed in over 185 cities throughout more than 20 countries.[6]
Typically, a TDoR memorial includes a reading of the names of those who lost their lives during the previous year,[7] and may include other actions, such as candlelight vigils, art shows, food drives, film screenings, and marches."
On October 21st, the New York Times reported that The Department of Health and Human Services is trying to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX, which is the federal civil rights law that bans gender discrimination in education that receives federal funding. “Sex means a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth,” the department proposed in the memo, which was drafted and has been circulating since last spring. “The sex listed on a person’s birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a person’s sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence.”
With high rates of suicide, murder and violence affecting the transgender community, this is a huge step backwards. My transgender clients are scared, more scared than they have ever been. If this definition becomes a reality, it will start being used across everything federal. What makes no sense is there is no reliable genetic evidence that states someone is either female or male. You can be male because you were born female, but you have 5-alphareductase deficiency and so you grew a penis at age 12. You can be female because you have an X and a Y chromosome but you are insensitive to androgens, and so you have a female body. You can be female because you have an X and a Y chromosome but your Y is missing the SRY gene, and so you have a female body. You can be male because you have two X chromosomes, but one of your X's HAS an SRY gene, and so you have a male body. You can be male because you have two X chromosomes- but also a Y. You can be female because you have only one X chromosome at all.
But science really isn't what makes us ourselves is it? We are a combination of genetics, environment, personality, diseases, conditions, body chemistry, trauma, development, interactions, and so much we still don't understand. My birth certificate says I was assigned female at birth. When I was a teenager and had high testosterone, an adam's apple, my voice dropped and I grew facial hair (basically going through male puberty after my female puberty and then my menses stopped), I was tested for several intersexed conditions that might have caused it. It turned out I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) which is not an intersexed condition. What if I was tested and found my chromosomes are not XX? Would that change my designation based on this memo? I like to consider myself a tomboy who likes to wear dresses. I am usually attracted to women, love cars, computers and what our culture has deemed as "masculine" traits. I am outside the "gender norm" of our culture and society. Based on the memo, I could not be discriminated against under Title IX because I am female in my appearance and on my birth certificate.
My husband looks like "Larry the Cable Guy". No one would ever know that his original birth certificate he was assigned female at birth. Based on his medical history he believes he has XX Chromosomes. But yet under the potential Title IX he would not be able to fight back against any discrimination. This doesn't make sense to me. Why does it matter?
22 transgender people have been murdered so far this year. This year along with remembering those who have been murdered and those who have lost their lives to suicide, many will worry that next year they may be instead remembering their legal identity that will no longer exist. Already many transgender people are unable to vote due to not being able to get a driver's license since their birth certificate does not match a name change document. In some states unless you can afford major surgery that often is not covered by insurance, you can not change the sex assignment on your birth certificate and in 5 states there is no legal way to change the sex assigned at birth on the birth certificate.
I urge each and every one of you, take a moment and think of what if something you struggle with was in a memo that basically said, who you are or something about you, is ok to be discriminated against. It used to be ok to discriminate against women in education and the workplace. It used to be ok to discriminate against men on social security death benefits (did you know that it used to be only something wives got, not husbands?).
So on Transgender Day of Remembrance, don't just remember those who have died, but remember how hard they have fought to have just some of the same rights as everyone else, and how much they may continue to lose.
----------------------------
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: Trans in America Channel: TeenVogue and Conde Nast's LGBTQ+ platform, THEM Copyright: 2018 Reviewer: Heather Blessing, LMFT
Review: There are 3 stories all about transgender females at different ages and cultures. https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbt-rights/transgender-rights/trans-america Each one shows a different perspective. Texas Strong is about a little girl and some of the issues she faces including having accidents at school because of the bathroom issue. Chicago Love is about a transgender woman of color who comes from a tough world and some of the issues she faces. And finally Atlanta Drive is about a 60 year old transgender woman who was fired from her job.
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
SUTTER HEALTH AND QUARTET HEALTH IS CONNECTING PATIENTS WITH HIGHLY-QUALIFIED SPECIALISTS IN MENTAL HEALTH USING QUARTET'S WEB-BASED PLATFORM.
SUTTER HEALTH AND QUARTET HEALTH is connecting patients with highly-qualified specialists in mental health using Quartet’s web-based platform. We match mental health providers with appropriate referrals at no cost to you the providers and signups are free.
Receive new client referrals based on your specialty, location and accepted insurances.
Collaborate with referring providers on treatment plans and share updates and clinical assessment results via Quartet’s web-based platform.
Grow your professional network. Connect with local primary care and mental health providers and access free professional resources, including CE/CME accredited webinars.
If you are passionate about providing greater access to care and you are a licensed MFT, you can join the 6,500+ professional providers working together to improve people’s lives. I look forward to hearing from you. Rhonda Daley, Behavioral Health Network Manager, Quartet Health at 707-812-4380 or email; rhodaley@quartethealth.com.
SEEKING PART-TIME CONTRACT SEX ADDICTION THERAPIST
Willow Tree Counseling, based in Santa Rosa, CA, is an outpatient treatment center for sex and love addicts, their betrayed partners, and families.
We are looking for a licensed therapist to provide sex addiction treatment to sex and love addicts. Applicant will work primarily with addicts but must be comfortable working with betrayed partners of addicts as well. Must also be willing to become (if not already) CSAT certified (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist – details http://www.iitap.com/).
Willow Tree Counseling will provide marketing, intake management, website maintenance, practice management software fees, and billing services. Willow Tree Counseling will also provide specialty training and certification supervision during the CSAT process. Clinician reimbursement is based on revenue collected.
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
