We want to thank our amazing volunteers for the month of September:
Clare Brown
Alicia Pharis
We would like to thank our Gold Level Sponsor:
Triad Behavioral Health
Letter from the Board
October 1, 2018
Greetings Member,
I hope this message finds you well. As we approach the end of the year, the board is spending a lot of time on finalizing some of the initiatives we have started. Some of these initiatives will requires your feedback to assure our success in meeting your needs and taking advantage of your wisdom. One of those initiatives is the proposed code of conduct to be included in our bylaws, which will be presented for a vote at the end of the year. We have received some questions about the purpose of the code of conduct and how it differs from the CAMFT code of ethics. A code of conduct has the value as an internal guideline and an external statement of the chapter’s values and commitments to its members. A well-written code of conduct clarifies the organization’s mission, values, and principles, linking them with standards of expected professional conduct among members of the chapter. The code articulates the values the organization wishes to foster in leaders and members and in doing so, defines desired behavior. As a result, the code of conduct can become a benchmark against which individual and organizational performance can be measured.
The proposed code of conduct was not developed to substitute the existing CAMFT code of ethics. The code of conduct was developed to serve as a guide and reference for members and board officers to support day-to-day decision making related to the chapter’s members interactions during chapter sponsored events and functions. The code of conduct is meant to supplement the code of ethics by providing clear guidelines of of how actual conduct should reflect the ethical principles of our profession. Adopting an SVC- specific code of conduct encourages discussions and compliance of ethics and empower members to handle unprofessional conduct they may encounters in the chapter’s functions at the local level. In a way, the code of conduct allows the chapter the needed tools and autonomy to provide its members with a safe and professional environment built on respect and acceptance.
ONLINE IS EASIER! DID YOU KNOW ONLINE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE? You can now manage your registration and license online. BreEZe provides online services for our applicants and licensees. Services available include the ability to: • Renew a license and registration • Submit an address change • Request a replacement registration and license • Verify a license and obtain proof of renewal status • Pay with a major credit card in a secure environment. You no longer need to wait for mailing and processing of renewals and address changes. You can visit the BreEZe website by going to www.breeze.ca.gov. HELPFUL TIPS If you are new to our online services, there are tutorial videos to help you use the BreEZe system. Tutorials include: • An overview of BreEZe online services • How to search for a license • How to register for BreEZe • What to do if you forgot your password or user ID • How to submit a renewal • How to update license information • How to make a payment If you need additional assistance using BreEZe, technical support can be reached at (855) 227-9633.
Ethics Corner
CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION
“CAMFT Ethics Code Section 1.15 – DOCUMENTING TREATMENT DECISIONS: Marriage and Family Therapists are encouraged to carefully document in their records when significant decisions are made, e.g., determining reasonable suspicion of child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, determining when a patient is a danger to self or others, when making major changes to a treatment plan, or when changing the unit being treated. “
There are several guides that outline the importance and requirement to document clinical work. The California Business & Professions Code § 4982(v), requires clinicians to keep records consistent with sound clinical judgments, the standards of the profession, and the nature of the services being rendered.
While keeping current on progress notes, treatment plans, and other forms of documentation is tedious and often feels like the worst part of this profession, it’s vital that records are kept to the standard of the community.
An older article written by CAMFT outlines the different types of clinical documentation and why they are important to maintain. Documentation is needed for many reasons: to show medical necessity, to document treatment plan, for billing and financial records, to document you are upholding legal and ethical requirements in services (such as abuse reporting), etc.
Family Court/Forensic Mental Health Work presented by Jack D. Love and Diane Wasznicky (2CEs)
Jack Love and Diane Wasznicky gave us a very interesting and informative overview of what it takes to become a child custody recommending counselor. They explained what that looks like in day to day work, what it takes to become one, and the legal, ethical and educational requirements of this work. I appreciated that Jack and Diane each had a different lens through which they saw this important work. With lots of handouts available, anyone at the workshop with the qualifications and wanting to do this as part of their career, now knows the next steps to take.
by Heather Cassandra Blessing, LMFT
October & November Events
OCTOBER FREE 3000 CLUB WORKSHOP
Topic: Overview of the theoretical underpinnings and major treatment components of Intensive In-Home Family Treatment Presenter: Paul Sunseri, Psy.D. Date: Friday, October 5. 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: Dr. Sunseri will give a one-hour overview of the theoretical underpinnings and major treatment components of Intensive In-Home Family Treatment (myIIFT.org). IIFT is designed to stabilize children and teens in their home in order to reduce the likelihood of out of home care or for cases that have not responded well to traditional outpatient therapy. IIFT is based on a wraparound platform but with a number of unique enhancements including a novel use of in-home cameras designed to help families reduce conflict, improve communication, and effectively address and reduce problematic behavior.
Presenter Bio: Paul Sunseri, Psy.D. is a psychologist and the founder of three local community mental health agencies including two high level residential treatment programs for children and teens. He is currently the Executive Director of New Horizons Child & Family Services in El Dorado Hills which provides a variety of mental health services to children and families. In addition to being a clinician, Dr. Sunseri has conducted extensive research on treatment outcomes and has published several scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Sunseri is the developer of Intensive In-Home Family Treatment (IIFT), a new treatment approach for high conflict families.
OCTOBER WORKSHOP
Topic: Neurobiology and Its Impact on Therapy Presenter: Dr. Emina of The Amen Clinic Sponsored by:
Date: Friday, October 5, 2018 Time: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map)
Doors Open at 8:30AM Networking starts at 8:30 AM
This program will benefit LMFT, LPCC, LEP and LCSW licensees and pre licensees. Clinically relevant and research backed data will be presented based on Amen Clinic Research and other large institutions. It supports matching the appropriate therapy to the correct patient based on the patients neurobiology versus only symptom report. It will help to explain "treatment resistance," and provide possible next steps.
Includes: Continental Breakfast, Fajita Lunch Bar and Snacks and meets the qualifications for 6 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:
Update on the "Neurobiological Underpinnings of Behavior and its Impact on Therapy," with emphasis on the impact of brain behavior systems, genetics, and increasing screen time.
Topics Covered: Brain behavior systems and their impact on function Genetic influences on brain behavior systems Brain Behavior Systems and Implications in Therapy Bonus topic: Specific risks of high screen time on susceptible populations
Understanding brain behavior systems and their impact on function
Genetic influences on brain behavior systems
Understanding the specific risks of high screen time on susceptible populations
Presenter Bio: Daniel Emina M.D. is a child/adolescent and adult psychiatrist. He earned his medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine and completed my general and child psychiatry fellowship at the University of Hawaii. He enjoys working with children and adults, and am well-versed in individual, family, couples, and group psychotherapy. He uses dynamic, cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, family psychotherapy and work to integrate pharmacotherapy, pharmacogenomics, functional imaging, TMS, and alternative/integrative therapies to optimize brain health and function. Dr. Emina is experienced in anxiety, mood disorders, addiction, ADD/ADHD, impulsive/disruptive behavior disorders, autism spectrum, psychotic disorders, OCD, and PTSD. He is interested in the integration of technology and health care, particularly machine learning/AI in creating decision support tools for clinicians to better treat our clients.
2018 Licensed, Associate or Affiliate Member of SVC-CAMFT: $85
2018 Pre-Licensed Member of SVC-CAMFT : $65
Non-Member: $105
Registration Ends Wednesday, October 3, 2018
No Walk-in Registration unless announced.
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
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, 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.
Fri, November 02, 2018 12:30 PM Rancho Cordova City Hall
Special Feature
(If you would like your article published in our newsletter please email info@svccamft.org)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
by
Heather Cassandra Blessing, LMFT
Well actually it is either Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder with Seasonal Pattern. Most who experience this disorder struggle during the fall and winter months. In the coming weeks many will be coming into therapy because of there seasonal depression. Even though many seem to struggle due to the lack of sunlight and actually find a full spectrum light therapy beneficial, others, like me suffer during the late spring, summer and early fall. Here in Sacramento, was the first time I started experiencing SAD. For me, the heat depresses me. Once the temperature is above about 85 degrees, I feel like I have no energy, I am more irritable, I crave sweets, I struggle with being able to get to sleep and when I do sleep, it never feels like enough sleep. In simple terms I get depressed.
I had several therapists tell me that I couldn't have SAD because it was sunny out and that people with SAD have issues that are mitigated or solved with light therapy. "It is a winter or lack of sunlight issue," one therapist told me. So I looked it up and it says although it is not as common it can happen in the summer. It is defined as:
A. There has been a regular temporal relationship between the onset of major depressive episodes in major depressive disorder and a particular time of the year. (Do not include cases in which there is an obvious affect of seasonally related psychosocial stressors like being unemployed every winter.)
B. For remissions (or a change from major depression to mania or hypomania) also occur at a characteristic time of year.
C. In the last 2 years, two major depressive episodes have occurred that demonstrate the temporal seasonal relationships defined above and no nonseasonal major depressive episodes have occurred during that same period.
D. Seasonal major depressive episodes (as described above) substantially outnumber the nonseasonal major depressive episodes that may have occurred over the individual's lifetime.
I am not a person who believes diagnosing a disorder or illness is always beneficial, but when my current therapist discussed it with me, we were able to start working on steps to help keep my seasonal depression in check. I still get depressed, but now I do self-care to mitigate it. I keep my house cooler, I limit the time I spend in the heat, I have several self care things I can do, and most of all, I have found things I enjoy during this time of year that allows me to change my frame of reference from being "stuck inside to avoid the heat" to "enjoying my time inside",
I often remind myself of my SAD, when I start to dismiss a possible diagnosis of a client because they are not presenting in a way that I normally have seen the issue. I always go back to the DSM and re-evaluate the criteria to make sure I am not missing something. If any of my previous therapists had done this, I would have been able to get a handle on my SAD so much sooner.
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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: Dear White People Channel: Netflix, TV Series Copyright: 2017 & 2018 Reviewer: Heather Blessing, LMFT
Review: A client told me about this series and I found it to be enlightening. It is a dramatic tv series, but it covers so many interesting topics of class, race, empowerment and privilege.
The series takes place at a predominately white Ivy League college with a diverse group of students. It allows you to see many different sides of issues raised.
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.
TEEN SPACE: A TEEN SUPPORT GROUP FOR TEENS AGES 15-17 ENROLLING FOR FALL SEMESTER
Teen Space: A Teen Support Group FOR TEENS AGES 15-17, NOW ENROLLING FOR FALL SEMESTER! Teens will: Build self-confidence so that they can hone their decision-making skills and apply themselves to succeed in school, work, and life. Develop relationship skills - like picking healthy relationships and handling the good, bad, and different of relationships. Gain coping skills and tools to deal with the stresses of school, family, life, and growing up. Recognize and own their worth so that they honor their strengths, feel deserving of good friendships, set healthy boundaries, and build a meaningful life! Small group size: 6 - 8 members. Fall Semester: 10 weeks, October 2nd - December 4 @ $45 per session paid monthly at the beginning of each month or paid up front for a 10% discount. This is a 10 week comprehensive program. Contact: Seija Zimmerman LMFT szimmermantherapy@gmail.com 9165497058 www.thrivetherapyandcounseling.com
GIRLS' ANXIETY AND SELF ESTEEM GROUP
Girls’ Anxiety and Self-Esteem Group
Girls ages 10-14
Facilitated By two Licensed Therapists
6 Week Program
Saturday Mornings from 10am-12pm
Starting Saturday October 13th
Located in Gold River off Sunrise Blvd.
Space is Limited! Please Reserve Your Spot by October 6th
Build confidence, learn better ways to communicate, manage anxiety, stress, and fear.
Seeking a supervisor to supervise our wonderful interns and associates at our small non-profit agency located in the downtown Sacramento area. If you are interested please call (916) 753-4479
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
