April 2017 fmhca newsletter

FLORIDA MEANTAL HEALTH COUNSLOR ASSOCATION

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President’s Corner : Inside this issue:

Legislative coalition urges leaders to find money for mental

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FIND YOUR POCK- 7 ET OF SUNSHINE ON A DAILY BASIS!: Who is responsible for 8 mental health services for Dependents of Veterans?

Volunteer Virtually: New Opportunity for Graduate Students at FMHCA

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When Passion for 12Industry Reform 13 Transforms Advocates Florida Mental Health 15Counselors Associa16 tion Strongly Supports Ethics and Social Media in the Digital Age 28 April 2017

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“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.”

James Cash Penny, Founder of JC Penney

Dear FMHCA family, this has been a very busy month. Your FMHCA Board and Executive team, in cooperation with all Regional Directors, has been proactively involved in seeking and developing opportunities to host membership drives, build local networks, continue to strengthen relationships with local chapters, offer networking and CEU events throughout our State. Recently, the Northeast Regional Director Joe Skelly, coordinated a very well attended CEU event. Our Southeast Regional Director Dr. Judith Roberts, has arranged a meeting for the purpose of beginning the development of a local network in her area. I strongly encourage all who reside in the Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach to attend this venue. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 1st at 9:30am. It will be held at the Pines Palm Office Park located at 10031 Pines Blvd, Second Floor Conference Room in Pembroke Pines 33024. I look forward to seeing you there!

Additionally, your Government Relations Committee continues to maintain an active vigilance of current legislative action that impacts our profession. Information regarding these efforts will be forthcoming.

I encourage you all, as ambassadors and official spokespersons on behalf of FMHCA, to make a serious commitment of engaging and encouraging other Licensed Mental Health Counselors to become members of our family. Our mutual efforts and collaboration will create the synergy necessary to continue our growth, impact and excellence as we pave the way for other State Chapters to follow.

Thank you for giving me the privilege of being part of this journey!

With my deepest appreciation to all,

Leonel “Dr. Leo” Mesa, Jr., Psy.D, LMHC, CAP, CEAP FMHCA President

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Board of Directors 2016 - 2017

President Leonel Mesa, PsyD, LMHC lmesa@flmhca.o.rg President-Elect Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, LMHC lsutherland@flmhca.org Treasurer Jim Messina, PhD, CCMHC, NCC, DCMHS jmessina@flmhca.org Past President Michael Holler Mholler@flmhca.org Secretary Kathie Erwin, Ed.D, LMHC,

NCC, NCGC kerwin@flmhca.org Parliamentarian Frank Hannah, MS, LMHC fhannah@flmhca.org Member-at-Large

ED Corner: Thank you to our loyal and wonderful members! If you are not yet a member, I encourage you to join our organization and let your voice be heard! Our organization offers so many great resources for our members, including education (such as FREE WEBINARS), legislative oversight, networking, and FMHCA member discounts with partner organizations. There is so much we are doing, and so much more we can do!

We will to continue advocate for mental health counselors in Florida by supporting legislation that promotes our profession. We need YOU to make that happen. If you are already a member of FMHCA, we thank you. If you are not, please consider joining. Your support makes it possible for FMHCA to continue to grow and promote our profession, to maintain a strong voice and to promote change. Have you ever wondered who promotes the legislation that recognizes and advances mental health counseling in Florida? YOU do, by supporting FMCHA! FMHCA wants to empower you to help make your professional dreams come true. You can read about what FMHCA is doing for mental health counselors in our bylaws. Do you want to take a more active role in FMHCA? Consider volunteering to serve on one of our committees!

We are already looking forward to our 2018 Annual Conference. It will be held in Lake Mary, Florida at the Orlando Marriott - Lake Mary (the same hotel this year's conference was held at). Please visit our new website, https://fmhca.wildapricot.org/ to register for the 2018 Annual Conference.

Sincerely, Darlene Silvernail PhD, LMHC, CAP Executive Director Watch out for other local events coming to you soon!!

Joe Skelly, MS, LMHC jskelly@flmhca.org Member-at-Large

New CE Requirement for Licensure Renewals:

Erica Whitfield Member-at-Large

Within the 30 required renewal CE’s, you must now complete a 3 hour laws and rules update course every third biennium.

Hassiem Kambui, PhD, LMHC

Current licensees would need to complete the course by the biennium ending 3/31/19.

hkambui@flmhca.org Member-at-Large

Licensees in their first biennium, (which are exempt from CE’s for renewal) would need to meet the requirement by the biennium ending 3/31/21.

Judith Roberts, Ph.D., LMHC JRoberts@flmhca.org

For more information on this requirement, please review Rule 64B4-6.001, Florida Administrative Code.

ebuabua@gmail.com

Executive Director Darlene Silvernail, PhD,

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FMHCA Member Perks: CE Broker FMHCA is a CE Broker Gold Partner!

FMHCA, Florida Mental Health Counselors Association, members will now receive a $5 discount to CE Broker, the official continuing education tracking system.

Contact us for the Discount Code - office@flmhca.org - then go to CEBroker.com& use the Association Code to apply your $5 discount. Subscribe or create a 7-Day Free Trial Account & apply the code when asked, "Have a Promotion Code or Association Discount?"

CounselingExam.com $15 off a 1 week subscription, $40 off of all 1 month, 2 month, and 3 month subscriptions, and $44 off of a 6 month subscription. To Receive the discounted rate, members must send an email to CrushTheExam@Gmail.com stating that they are a FMHCA member - then, they will receive a reply with instructions on how to proceed.

National Board of Forensic Evaluators NBFE is proud to be a professional partner with FMHCA. Because of our professional partnership, NBFE Offers discounts, benefits and free CEUs to our professional partners members.

If you hold a current professional membership in any of the following associations, you will be eligible to receive a 15% discount towards the NBFE credential and homestudy programs. FREE 2 contact hour programs offered to all CFMHE and all of our Professional Partners. Offerings are posted during the year and only available to NBFE's Professional Partners.

NBFE Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluators (CFMHE) American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia (LPCA-Georgia) Utah Mental Health Counselors Association (UMHCA) Washington Mental Health Counselors Association WMHCA) Van Wagner Insurance

Insurance Discounts for FMHCA Members Savings up to 25% with Van Wagner's Comprehensive Occurrence (Professional and General Liability) Insurance Program. http://go.sterlingrisk.com/VW/FMHCA TherapySites TherapySites specializes in creating mobile-responsive websites that are engaging, professional, cost-effective, and extremely simple to maintain, helping mental health professionals successfully market and manage their practice online. Everything is included, from credit card processing, to an online appointment calendar, search engine optimization, and many more features, all of which come standard. Start building your practice today by visiting our website and entering promo code "FMHCA" to receive a free website and one month of free hosting service! http://www.therapysites.com?a_aid=8157&a_bid=3dd8338e

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Legislative coalition urges leaders to find money for mental health programs A bipartisan coalition of House members and senators endorsed Gov. Rick Scott’s request to increase mental health funding by $25 million, but said even more money is needed to move Florida out of the basement in funding for treatment.

“At the end of the day, we’re 49th (in funding among the states), which means we’ve neglected this for far too long,” Sen. Rene Garcia said.

“This has to be a priority,” he said. “It’s costing us way too much money by not funding the system.

It’s a matter of educating legislators, educating the leadership, and putting the pressure on to ensure that we get that money.”

“This is the biggest crisis in this country,” Rep. Kathleen Peters said.

“Mental illness and addiction are consuming resources out of every system in government at every level in government,” she said.

“It is the No. 1 reason that health care costs are rising. It is the No. 1 thing consuming all of the resources of our court system, our jail and prison systems, of our law enforcement system. It is the No. 1 reason children are taken away from their families and put into DCF.” Also attending the news conference were Republican House member Mike Miller and Democrats Carlos Smith and Katie Edwards. Republican Victor Torres was there, too.

Last year, the Legislature pumped an additional $63 million into mental health services, Peters said. It also passed SB 12, which coordinated involuntary commitment programs for people with mental and addiction problems, and required counties to coordinate services by local agencies.

She hopes to find money to attract a substantial federal match for services, she said.

“It’s going to take money. It’s going to take effort. It’s going to take a lot of the conversations we’re going to have on the floor during the next 58 days,” Miller said.

Alisa LaPolt, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Tallahassee office, held up a thick ring binder containing three months’ phone transcripts and emails from people worried about family members.

“I fear that if he gets any worse, there is no option for me but to call 911, and it will be another situation of them taking him away,” one man told of his son. “This is heavy on my shoulders and my soul.”

“Multiply this by 12 months and 28 chapters (of her organization), and this is what we’re dealing with.”

Rick Marquis, attending the news conference with his wife, Kathleen, recounted their struggles to find help for their own son, diagnosed at 21 with schizophrenia. One specialist recommended the family move to another state that funds mental health treatment better.

“And, by the way, as a Floridian, I am not particularly proud of hearing that statement,” he said.

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Welcome Jackson’s ALL WELLness Services, LLC philosophy

is to promote various aspects of health based on the strengths of each individual by thoughtfully acknowledging each person’s unique talents and abilities.

With that in mind, J.A.W.S. includes research presentations based on Dr. Daniella Jackson’s own study about the positive experiences of adult children of alcoholics after long-term recovery in a twelve-step program.

We will be holding a Meet, Greet, and Learn event on Saturday 04/08/17 at our location from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

This event will provide you with an opportunity to meet and greet Dr. Daniella Jackson and learn about the impact of spirituality on wellness at different stages of life.

Agenda and Topics of Discussion: From 10:00 am to 10:20 am - Spirituality and Wellness before, during, and after Pregnancy / This section is sponsored by our JAWS Pregnancy - face to face- wellness class.

From 10:20 am to 10:40 am - Spirituality, Wellness, and Family / This presentation is sponsored by our JAWS Family - online and face to face – wellness classes.

From 10:40 am to 11:00 am - Spirituality, Wellness, and Longevity / This section of our presentation is part of our JAWS Longevity- online and face to face- wellness classes.

From 11:00 am to 11:15 - Questions and Registration for any of our wellness classes From 11:15 am to 12:30 pm - Dr. Daniella Jackson's qualitative multiple-case study presentation / Topic: The Psycho-Spiritual Transformation of Adult Children of Alcoholics, with and without Personal Addiction(s), after Long-Term Recovery.

From 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm - Registration (for any of our wellness classes, for Florida Mental Health Counselors Interns supervision, to schedule a research presentation at your organization, and/or to be a part of our professional meetings). *** We do not sign up anyone for our mental health counseling services or our individualized wellness sessions during this event. If interested in these services, please contact us at (727) 767-9850.

We look forward to seeing you at our Meet, Greet, and Learn event.

Jackson’s ALL WELLness Services, LLC 7813 Mitchell Boulevard, Suite 106 New Port Richey- Florida 34655 (727) 767-9850 / (727) 767-9851 (fax) website: www.daniellajackson.com email: daniella@daniellajackson.com

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The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association Statement American Health Care Reform Act March 24, 2017 The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association Statement The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association believes that treatment for Addiction and other Mental Health Disorders is a benefit that must be available to each and every individual who requires these services. The American Health Care Reform Act is in direct opposition to FMHCA’s position on Mental Health, including the treatment of Addiction.

“In Florida, we are facing a Mental Health crisis. Compared to other states, Florida is second to the most underfunded and underserved population in the country. We have an opioid use problem that is out of control and by some estimates, opioid abuse takes the lives of nearly 10 humans every 2 hours” states Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, President-Elect of FMHCA and Chairman of its Government Relations Committee.

“We have worked diligently in establishing parity between Mental Health and Medical health by requiring that insurance companies cover treatment of both conditions equally and if the American Health Care Reform Act is adopted, these benefits will be drastically reduced if not eliminated.”

Loss of these life-saving treatment benefits would leave the nation’s overall health status in a highly-compromised status. At a state level, where the Florida legislature is already pondering 50 million in cuts to mental health services, elimination of these benefits will serve to place an already dire situation onto a catastrophic trajectory.

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FIND YOUR POCKET OF SUNSHINE ON A DAILY BASIS!: Let’s face it! We have all been there as graduate students pursing our degrees, working a Full/Parttime job, while also balancing school assignments & exams of about 3 classes, and not to mention, an Internship too!! And that’s not counting the fact that you also have a LIFE outside of school and work. I say we’re the Master Minds of Multi-Tasking! If you are like me, and countless of other professionals that feel exhausted after a day of being awake and attending to others’ needs and ignoring your own, then it’s time for you to implement in your day some self-care practices. As Future Clinicians, we need to get into to the groove of caring for ourselves after spending a day taking care of others. We all know the benefits of self-care and it’s like an insurance to avoid burnouts, but when the ultimate goal is to practice self-care on a daily basis, that’s when it becomes a challenge! Which we MUST ACCEPT! When starting all these new challenges, how could you keep up without burning out? I got a few tips for you: Sleep Sleep Sleep!!!! You got to get well rested hours of sleep to prepare yourself to endure those long days ahead of you in order to keep up with your clients and the rest of you team at the Sites! It’s ok to split your lunch for naps, who said you were too old for them anyways!

Meditation apps will become your friend! These are mobile on your phone to give you that much needed 10 mins to relax, disconnect, and refresh! It seems sometimes we forget to breathe. I know breathing is a body’s voluntary reflex, but when was the last time you actually noticed how you were breathing? Pay attention to your breathing, to help you take on the Mt. Everest of paperwork that awaits you after your 4 o’clock client, or to get you through those stress filled moment(s). Yes, it’s plural because there will be many!

Get yourself OFF the Radio! Those things play the same TOP 30 SONGS OVER & OVER & OVER AGAIN! Do you find yourself on your commute to work/home/school feeling like you are on a hamster wheel doing the same things and nonetheless hearing the same jams at the same time feeling like you are going nowhere? Play some Oldies Music, or connect your AUX Cable to your phone and play some Hip-Hop Music from 1992! And if you really want to go old school get those dusty CD’s out and play them too! Even pure Silence works too!

Avoid Being HANGRY! To give you that focus! Try cooking a new recipe this week, or Meal Prep meals/snacks on the weekend to munch on during in-between breaks. The last thing you need is to be Hangry during a session with a client! I get it, having so many things to do can feel overwhelming and we may forget or not give ourselves enough time to eat or drink water. Keep yourself hydrated and nourished, as a safeguard to protect you from being Hangry.

Coffee Drinkers This One’s for You! Don’t rely all your energy to come from that cup of Coffee at 8am, 10am, 1pm, or even 3pm! I am from Cuban decent, and I know the importance of that little “Cafecito” needed after lunch! Remember, I never said “No Coffee” either, but just keep in mind the saying “Too little or Too much of something is still a bad thing!” I also know, most of you, if not the grand majority would disagree with me on this last tip!

Remember all I ask is to try something new to break your routine, and be able to find your own pocket of sunshine every day to avoid the Storm of Burnouts in your Future!

By Natalie Iglesias, Albizu University, Master’s Programs’ Student

Victims of Domestic Violence: Substance Abuse & Co-Occuring Disorders Discount Course 20% Off This Month Only Visit Silvernailonline.com This Workshop has been approved for 2 CEUs by The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Agency CE Provider Number 50-9339. CE Broker Course Tracking Number: 20-568101. The Certification Board of Addictions professionals CE provider # 5090

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Who is responsible for mental health services for Dependents of Veterans?

Who is taking care of the spouse or dependent of a Veteran that require mental health services? Who has the responsibility (State, Federal)? Active duty family members have access to mental health services through TRICARE, on post mental health clinics and Military Onesource, but what services are available for a dependent of a Veteran? Military OneSource provides nonclinical counseling but only for active duty and reservist on active duty, not Veterans. The VA provides service to dependent but it is very limited and provided primarily by the Vet Centers. Vet Centers primarily provide counseling to Combat Veterans that also include dependents but they are short staffed. Everyone is so focused on the Veteran that they don't even realize that there is very little support or media focus for the dependents of the Veteran. The dependents often suffer mental health secondary effects from a service member who is suffering from PTSD, TBI, Depression and suicidal ideations. What are the number of dependents of Veterans who complete suicide? Who in the Federal or State government is responsible for ensuring dependents receive treatment for mental health?

I read a recent article in the military times called "The Toll of War: MilWives and Suicide" that was so compelling it made me rethink how Veterans Counseling Veterans address dependents of Veterans mental health services. I was shocked to learn there were so many suicides committed by dependent of Veterans. Including one in our main headquarters in Tampa last year in January that article stated “I’ve lost three of my friends to suicide,� said Kristina Kaufmann, the wife of an Army colonel. One of them at Fort Bragg, N.C., went to the garage and got in the car with her two toddler children and turned on the engine. All three were found dead". How did I miss this? I know how I missed it. I was completely focused on the Veterans and not their dependents.

When I first had the idea of starting Veterans Counseling Veterans, a nonprofit that was run and led by Veterans, I subconsciously disregard the dependents of Veterans. Ironically, I was the dependent of a career Vietnam era soldier and often praised my mother for raising us when dad wasn't around. Couple that with me also raising a son while on active duty. I rethought the concept of Veterans Counseling Veterans and included dependents in the mental health profession as part of our network.

Reading this article by the Military Times forced me to reevaluate and reassessed what we were doing to help the dependents of Veterans with respect to mental health. I am embarrassed to admit, we came of severely lacking. There was one initiative I can point to that address the mental health for dependents to Veterans and that was our annual Special Memorial Ceremony for the loved ones who love a Veteran to suicide. The entire service to include the service was specifically focused on the survivors.

There are lots of organizations that provide retreats for family members, but how many provide services solely to the dependents of Veterans? To clarify, the services are not connected to a Veteran but just the family member.

If you are an organization that provide mental health services for dependents of military service members please let us know.

Ellsworth "Tony" Williams

President/CEO for Veterans Counseling Veterans INC

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Volunteer Virtually: New Opportunity for Graduate Students at FMHCA In an increasingly digital world, meeting in-person is not necessarily required anymore. Volunteering at a distance can be a smart solution for those who seek greater community participation, but who cannot “be there” to do so. The traditional in-person volunteering model is still an important method of collaboration, but there is more than one way of giving time to a good cause. Online volunteering can be one such way. This modality of volunteering is not exactly new, but it is gaining popularity with the development of technology allowing individuals to volunteer right from home. Today, many volunteers across the world are acting virtually for the worthy causes using their computers, tablets, phones and other mobile devices, and what these all volunteers need is an internet access.

Therefore, this year the FMHCA will be developing the FMHCA Students Online Volunteering Program, in which students can select the FMHCA segments of activity for volunteer collaboration. The goal of this project is to give more opportunities to the all FMHCA associates and to expand FMHCA participation in the state and nationally while at the same time effectively engaging counseling students with the association, thus reaping the many benefits and variety of professional resources available.

This program will include training, monthly activities, deadlines for activities development, data banks - timetables, and certifications of participation for each hour served. The engagement with this program can be temporary (for example, to realize a scientific search for a particular project the FMHCA will create), or long-term, such as helping the office with activities and program management. Participation will be limited at the beginning, since the feasibility of the program includes a gradual development. Also, the plan of the project includes an instructor/ program administrator and a control center of activities.

Moreover, the goal of the FMHCA Online Volunteering Program is to be integrated into FMHCA Annual Conference statewide goals, definitions, and plans in order to make all actions integrated. Thus, the benefits of the implementation of this project can be many, such as the development of FMHCA identity statewide, creation of a consistent database for student and counselor access, professional integration and engagement for the good of the profession, resume enrichment, and opportunities to enhance skills and career opportunities.

Today’s technology truly permits us to connect to make a difference, and virtual volunteering is an ideal way to extend outreach learning and make an impact on causes and communities. As a graduate student, a volunteer at FMHCA, and an active participant in the creation and development of this program, I am very excited about the idea of all of us having the opportunity to collaborate with the FMHCA virtually. As we move on to the next exciting step, keep an eye out for more news on this coming program.

Paula Carina Lazarim Marques Mental Health Counseling Graduate Student

Free training on domestic violence identification and prevention Palm Beach County, the Criminal Justice Commission and the Domestic Violence Council of Palm Beach County will hold a free training on domestic violence identification and prevention on April 19 and 20, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., at Palm Beach State College’s Lake Worth Campus, Public Safety Conference Center PSD 108, 4200 S Congress Ave, Lake Worth. Attendees of this training will be able to demonstrate how to: identify the signs and symptoms of non-fatal domestic violence strangulation cases; understand and recognize the anatomy and medical aspects of surviving and non-surviving victims; investigate and document cases for the prosecution; prosecute cases, including using experts in court; and enhance victim safety through trauma-informed advocacy services. Click here for more information and to register.

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When Passion for Industry Reform Transforms Advocates to Vigilantes: It was a year ago when the Palm Beach Post’s Christine Stapleton wrote about “young recovering addicts – frustrated with the pace of the investigation of shady business practices in the sober home industry – continued their efforts to crack down on what they say are corrupt sober homes by protesting outside a Lake Worth apartment complex where three addicts overdosed last week.”

Protesters said they were frustrated that law enforcement and state health officials had yet to shut down any sober homes or arrested owners and operators despite their complaints. In 2014 an FBI task force began investigating the industry and raided two sober homes. However, no charges had been filed.

Utilizing the power of social media and the ability to quickly organize using Facebook, citizen advocates (almost exclusively from the recovery community) organized a protest at alleged “flop houses” throughout Palm Beach County.

A lot has changed since that time.

Over 20 arrests. The federal indictment of the infamous Kenny Chapman. Continued investigations and a request for more robust funding for state regulator.

Yes, it appears that some citizen advocates have not had enough.

Rather than allowing law enforcement to do its job, some advocates (feeling empowered with a platform) have morphed into vigilantes, which actually caused the State Attorney’s Office to issue a warning.

Definition of “Vigilante”: a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily (as when the processes of law are viewed as inadequate); broadly : a self-appointed doer of justice.

In modern times, the use of Facebook and other chat groups has led to a readily available platform to defame/slander treatment providers and housing providers who do not do as these “vigilantes” desire.

At what point does public pressure turn to extortion?

While these people in these groups believe they are well-intentioned (and I personally think they believe they are), the reality is that some are acting in the role unlicensed and untrained interventionists themselves, whose only clinical experience is having a son or daughter be subjected to the never-ending treadmill of unethical drug and alcohol treatment providers.

The end result? Treatment providers are scared to debate with these people out of fear of a malicious response in one of the many chat groups. They and their employees fear that the entire treatment industry is being set up to be out of business. Maybe that is what the “advocates” want. Maybe they want us to go back to the days of only 12-Step meetings.

But where does free speech end and the ability to legally respond begin?

For one, there is Florida Statutes s. 836.05 entitled “Threats; extortion” which provides: Whoever, either verbally or by a written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of any crime or offense, or by such communication maliciously threatens an injury to the person, property or reputation of another, or maliciously threatens to expose another to disgrace, or to expose any secret affecting another, or to impute any deformity or lack of chastity to another, with intent thereby to extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatsoever, or with intent to compel the person so threatened, or any other person, to do any act or refrain from doing any act against his or her will, shall be guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

There is also Part II of Chapter 501 of the Florida Statutes, the “Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act”, modeled after the Federal Trade Practices Act, which provides a civil/private cause of action for those who “don’t play nice in the sandbox” when it comes to commercial dealings and our national economy (“Unfair methods of competition, unconscionable acts or practices, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful.”).

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These advocates, whether paid or not, have now “entered the stream of commerce” and therefore are subject to the law’s reach.

Third, and certainly not last, are allegations of “Tortious Interference with Business Relationship”. Yes, a treatment center/client relationship is a business relationship with its patient. The elements of “Tortious Interference with Business Relationship” are as follows: (1) existence of business relationship; (2) knowledge of relationship on part of defendant; (3) intentional and unjustified interference with relationship by defendant; and (4) damage to plaintiff as result of breach of relationship.

Make no mistake – the recovery and treatment industry is a very large employer and generates a tremendous amount of public tax dollars, which the state is not so willing to see walk away, particularly in this age of drug epidemic and minimal funding of public treatment beds.

Now that State Attorney Dave Aronberg and his office have been given the tools to take a robust stance on prosecution, it would seem that the vigilante heroes can (and should) allow the rule of law to take effect.

We are, notwithstanding, a nation of laws.

The laws are to be equally applied and no one is above the law.

If anything, vigilante heroes, in the end, lose credibility and the platform and voice they have worked so hard to obtain in the first place.

Working “outside” the system only serves to alienate and ostracize. Stated otherwise, the message is lost due to the messenger.

Be well.

JEFFREY C. LYNNE, ESQ.

Dear Tampa Bay Women Veterans & Women Military Family Members: YOU have a story -- a story that matters.

Whether you're interested in writing for self-reflection, a family legacy, or publication, you'll want to gift yourself with this how-to ON POINT Women Warriors Writing Workshop led by notable, award-winning veteran-authors and writing instructors Kayla Williams, Carol Barkalow, Jerri Bell, Paula Broadwell, Tracy Crow, and Laura Westley. (See profiles!)

For more than 250 years the stories of women's military contributions have been discounted or diminished to little more than a footnote by historians, yet women actually served in combat, secretly dressed as men, during the American Revolution and the Civil War. In fact, American women have volunteered for military service, often breaking with social norms, every time our country has answered a call to arms.

If you have served in uniform or supported a loved one in uniform, you are a warrior and a patriot. Join us for a daylong celebration of military sisterhood as we explore the value of owning and writing HERstory!

Click Her For Details

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Florida Mental Health Counselors Association Strongly Supports House Bill 273 (Richardson) and Senate Bill 258 (Clemens) These important pieces of legislation would prohibit persons who are licensed to provide professional counseling and various health practitioners from engaging in conversion therapy with person who is younger than 18 years of age. The bill These bills specifically affect professionals licensed under FS 491 including (2) (a) Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers as well as other specified professionals licensed in the State of Florida under other chapters.

Conversion Therapy or Reparative Therapy consists of clinical efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (SAMHSA, 2015). This type of therapy has been controversial and finds little support in the mental health community and the general public.

The American Mental Health Counselors Association and The American Counselors Association have both taken strong positions in respect to sexual orientation and mental health. Both national organizations affirm the potential for great psychological harm and take the position that therapeutic interventions around sexual orientation or gender identity follow the framework of self- affirming outcomes.

Exodus International, an organization that was at the forefront in the practice of Conversion Therapy publicly apologized to the gay community for harm caused by conversion therapy and terminated this aspect of their “ministry” (Shwayder, 2013).

Note the following trend: In August of 2014 the Texas Republican Party adopted a platform that included supporting Reparative Therapy (Wolfson, 2014).

The Southern Poverty Law Center filed a lawsuit in 2012 accusing Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH), it’s founder Arthur Goldberg, and counselor Alan Downing claiming they violated New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act by providing Conversion Therapy (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2012).

In 2013, a federal appeals court sided with California and upheld the first law barring gay aversion therapy in all aspects (Elias, 2013).

2015: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administrative Services (SAMHSA) issued an 84-page report, Ending Conversion Therapy: Supporting and Affirming LGBTQ Youth (2015).

SAMHSA is committed to eliminating health disparities facing vulnerable communities, including sexual and gender minority children and youth.” The report states that “research and clinical expertise consensus makes it clear that conversion therapy efforts to change a child’s or adolescent’s gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation … is potentially harmful.

As of 2015, Washington, DC and these states have banned Conversion Therapy: Oregon California Illinois Massachusetts New Jersey

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The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) Code of Ethics (F) (1) (d) states that “mental health counselors encourage adaptability and growth toward (client’s) self-direction.” (FMHCA, 2017).

Therefore, FMHCA believes that counselors should maintain a high standard in the delivery of services to clients and use only appropriately thoroughly researched best practice models with clients. Research on Reparative Therapy has shown that this technique has the potential to cause harm to clients and is not considered a “best practice”.

Therefore, FMHCA supports HB 273 and Senate Bill 258 which would make it illegal for Mental Health Providers to utilize Reparative Therapy with children under the age of 18.

Therefore, FMHCA would endorse and encourage legislation to make it illegal for a Licensed Mental Health Counselor to use Conversion or Reparative Therapy on any client regardless of age. This position is supported by both the Code of Ethics of the American Mental Health Counseling Association and the American Counseling Association.

Therefore, FMHCA encourages inclusion of all cultures and supports inclusion of language supportive of transgender individuals Respectfully Submitted, The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association Committee on Government Relations References: American Counseling Association. (1998). Governing Council Statement. Pulled down on 3/20/2017. http:// www.counseling.org/news/updates/2013/01/16/ethical-issues-related-to-conversion-or-reparative-therapy.

American Mental Health Counseling Association. (2015) American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics. Pulled down on 3/20/2017. http://www.amhca.org/?page=codeofethics.

Elias, P. (2013). California gay conversion therapy ban upheld by Federal Court. Huffington Post. Pulled down on 08/30/2015. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/california-gay-conversion-therapy-ban_n_383.

Shwayder, M. (2013). Exodus International, Former Gay Conversion Therapy Group, Apologizes to Gay Community, Closes Up Shop. Pulled down on 3/19/2017: http://www.ibtimes.com/exodus-international-former-gay-conversion-therapy-groupapologizes-gay-community-closes-shop.

Southern Poverty Law Center. (2012). SPLC files groundbreaking lawsuit accusing conversion therapy organization of fraud. Pulled down on 3/15/2013. https://www.splcenter.org/news/2012/11/27splc-files-groundbreaking-lawuit-accusingcompany.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Ending conversion Therapy: Supporting and affirming LGBTQ youth. Alexandria, VA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

Wolfson, E. (2014). Texas republican party adopts discredited reparative therapy for gays. Newsweek.

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Member Mental Health Professionals Apps: DSM-5 Criteria This is the mobile app for clinicians to utilize in diagnosing their clients. It is an easy to use system which lists the criteria for all of the DSM-5 diagnostic catagories with the criteria listed for each diagnosis (this is not a free app).Read more about this app at: http://www.appi.org/Pages/DSM5Mobile.aspx ICD-9-CM Codes ICD 9 Consult puts the complete, current ICD9-CM on your iPhone or iPod Touch, instantly smart-searchable and browsable. Read more about it at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icd9-consult-2014-free/id358845668?mt=8

ICD-10-CM Codes ICD 10 Helps you to Quickly look up diagnosis codes using the new ICD-10 coding system. All codes are downloaded to your device - no downloading is necessary as you are looking up your code. Read more about it at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stat-icd-10-coder/id467916561?mt=8 Provider Resilience Provider Resilience gives health care providers tools to guard against burnout and compassion fatigue as they help their clients be they civilians or service members, veterans, and their families. Providers can take a self assessment to determine if they are at risk and steps they can take to ward off such burnout and fatigue. Read more about it at: https://www.t2health.org/apps/provider-resilience

Can Marijuana Ease the Opioid Epidemic?

In the midst of an opioid crisis, some medical practitioners and researchers believe that greater use of marijuana for pain relief could result in fewer people using the highly addictive prescription painkillers that led to the epidemic. to opioids for chronic pain, said she does not recomA 2014 study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg mend that with her patients School of Public Health found that states medicaltry mamarijuana. rijuana laws had 25 percent fewer opioid overdose deaths than states that do not have medical marijuana laws. And another study published in Health Affairs last year found “There is no doubt marijuathat prescriptions for opioid painkillers such as OxyContin, na is much safer than opiVicodin and Percocet paid for by Medicare dropped subates. So we don’t discourage stantially in states that adopted medical marijuana laws. its use.” But in general, she Dr. Jane Ballantyne, a pain specialist at the University of Washington and president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, which promotes the use of alternatives

said, “non-drug treatments are far more helpful than any drug treatment, and marijuana is a drug.”

The full report from The Pew Charitable Trusts, can be read here.

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FMHCA Annual Conference



Adolescent and Family

February 1st-3rd, 2018 in Lake Mary, Orlando



Evidence Base Documentation Skills

PRESENTER PROPOSALS DUE BY



And Many More!

JULY 14 2017!

FMHCA’s goal is to provide education, legislative oversight, and networking opportunities, our Annual Conference provides an opportunity for advanced professional training.

Take advantage of this opportunity and present at the FMHCA 2018 Annual Conference!

Benefits of Presenting: 

Presenters will receive a $50 discount on conference registration.



Promotion of your name and credentials on our website and in all electronic and print marketing materials, where appropriate.



Recognition of your expertise by FMHCA and by other industry professionals Networking opportunities.

Possible Dynamic Approaches May Cover: 

Integrative System Care





Expressive and Creative Therapies

Presenter Eligibility:



Multicultural Counseling



Innovative Treatments and Skill Building



EMDR and Trauma Work

To be considered, presenters must have professional qualifications in good standing with their professional regulatory board, if applicable, possess the technical expertise necessary to present on a subject effectively, and meet one or more of the following:



Addiction Models





Military and Veteran Mental Health



Ethics

Have received specialized graduate or postgraduate level training in subject of presentation; and/or



Mediation





DBT

Have extensive experience including at least five years of practical application or research involving subject of presentation



F.A.S

Submit a Proposal to be a Presenter:



Evidence Based Interventions

Submit on-line at www.FLMHCA.org



Best Practice for Individuals with Autism

Please Submit Questions at office@FLmhca.org or

Practice

Spectrum Disorder

Call 561-228-6129

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Become a FMHCA Member : FMHCA invites all mental health professionals to become a part of our organization so your voice can be heard and you can enjoy a strong network of professionals in our state.

Join by Clicking Here! by downloading a membership form and mailing it with your payment, or you may make a payment directly through our website. Keep in mind we have a few membership options: $65.00 Clinical - All LMHC's or CCMHC's $55.00 Regular - All registered interns or non-licensed professionals $25.00 Retired Clinicians - License Retired $Free Student (Free for the first year and there after $20.00) - Full time graduate, postgraduate, or undergraduate student Membership Renewal If your FMHCA membership has expired, we encourage you to and hope you will you to renew today by visiting our FLMHCA.ORG

Thank You to our Amazing Sponsors!

Advertise On Our Website & In Our Newsletter!

Increase your professional exposure by becoming a FMHCA sponsor!

FMHCA's website gets hundreds of hits a day from members, nonmembers, and prospective members. Becoming a sponsor with FMHCA lets other professionals know that you're out there - it's a terrific way to network and grow as a professional.

There are two ways to becoming a sponsor - you can purchase a flashing banner across the top of our pages or one of the sponsor blocks at the bottom of our website pages.

Best of all, you get a full year of sponsorship for one low price!

Artwork must be submitted in one of the following formats: png, jpg, tif, tiff, or psd.

After you have completed payment, submit your artwork to us at

office@flmhca.org

FRANK HANNAH STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP Any graduate student enrolled in an accredited counseling program is eligible to apply for this scholarship. *Please submit your application by the end of the day on October 15 Click Here or Visit FMHCA.org for additional Information

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Frank Hannah received FMHCA's Lifetime Contribution Award during Florida Mental Health Counselors Association https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irMfFDcLbSo

Initiative for Mental Health Awareness Inc .

Call for Student Poster Session Date: FEB. 2, 2018 ORLANDO, Lake Mary, FL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE MADE BY OCT 15 and YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF OUR DECISION BY NOV Visit FMHCA.org TO Fill-Out Student-Poster Session Application & Find Out Details Such As Requirements and Rubric

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We're Looking for Talented Writers: FMHCA is seeking Graduate Students and Registered Interns to contribute monthly articles for our newsletter. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your point of view and your journey to licensure with others while getting professional exposure. We're looking specifically for articles that will you're your peers navigate the journey to graduation and licensure study tips, resources, how-tos... there are so many relevant topics worthy of investigation and discussion. These articles will also help you train yourself on best practices - it's a win-win!

Please email office@flmhca.org if you're interested in this opportunity.

Be Active in FMHCA - Join A Committee: Interested in becoming more active with FMHCA but not sure how to get started? Consider joining a committee!

Participating in a FMHCA committee allows you to interact with professionals who share your passions while providing a valuable service to FMHCA. Let's face it - change doesn't happen by itself. We need YOU to help us make a difference! There are several opportunities for you to get involved - consider any of the following committees: •

Ethics Committee

•

Membership Committee

•

Graduate Students & Registered Interns Committee

•

Chapter Relations Committee

•

Finance Committee

•

Nominations & Elections Committee

•

Governmental Relations Committee

•

Conference Planning Committee

•

Education, Training, Standards, & Continuing Education Training Committee

•

Military Service Committee

• Research Committee Feeling especially interested in any of those topics? Consider being a committee chair - you'll be surprised how rewarding it can be to help make things happen!

Email office@flmhca.org to express your interest. Thank

APPORTUNITY TO JOIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTICE I would like to share an opportunity for a Licensed Mental Health Professional, LMHC or LCSW to join a well established Behavioral Health Practice in New Port Richey and in Clearwater. We are looking for 1-2 Licensed Clinicians who treat children, adolescents and adults. This is a great opportunity for the established professional or someone who is needing support to start a thriving practice. If you are interested in hearing more about this opportunity please contact me at jameswasenda@yahoo.com

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Member Perk Session 5: Ethics and Social Media in the Digital Age Date:Friday, 4/28/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 6: Use of Motivational Interviewing to Broaden Your Skills with Your Clients Date: Friday, 5/26/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 7: Maternal Mental Health: What Therapists Need to Know Date:Friday, 6/23/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 8: Working with Kinky Clients Date:Friday, 7/28/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 9: Multicultural Counseling: A Mosaic, Not a Melting Pot Date:Friday, 8/25/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 10: Navigating Professional Practice Boundaries: From Telehealth to Portability Date:Friday, 9/22/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 11: Integrative Psychotherapies- New Paradigms in Psychotherapy Date: Friday, 10/27/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 12: How to Have the Difficult Conversation You’ve Been Avoiding with Family, Coworkers, Parents, Partners or Children Date:Friday, 11/10/17, 2:00-4:00 pm Session 13: Addressing Tobacco Use in Behavioral Health Date: Friday, 12/8/17, 2:00-4:00 pm

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Ethics and Social Media in the Digital Age 28 April 2017 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM The Internet and social networking are offering a number of new clinical and ethical challenges for those who provide mental health services. These challenges include extra-therapeutic contacts between therapists and their clients, questions about what distinguishes personal and professional activities online, and a lack of clearly developed policies related to our online behaviors and interactions. This workshop offers an introduction to digital ethics and social networking sites and activities. The presenter provides guidelines for how to manage the concerns that may arise for practitioners who are using social media sites, especially Facebook and LinkedIn. Applicable ethical standards for professional mental health counselors are addressed.

Learning Objectives: Social networking is offering a number of new clinical and ethical challenges for mental health counselors. This workshop offers best practice guidelines on using social networking sites while maintaining good ethical practice.

Additionally, the presenter provides guidelines for how to manage the counselors’ concerns that arise from the use of social media.

(1)

Participants will be able to distinguish between one's personal and professional activities on the Internet.

(2)

Participants will identify the ethical challenges that may arise from engaging in activities on the Internet.

(3) Participants will identify and describe social media sites and learn best practices for the use of two popular social media sites – Facebook and LinkedIn.

(4)

Participants will develop strategies for minimizing the risk of ethical violations on the Internet.

Participants will learn the relevant ethical issues that pertain to therapists' web sites and social networking profiles.

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-548613 About the Presenter: Rebecca Rucker, MA, LPC-S, LMFT, Board Certified Coach (BCC) is in private practice in Houston, Texas. Rebecca provides psychotherapy and executive coaching for adult clients in transition. Her previous clinical experience includes inpatient and outpatient program development and psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, and their families in community mental health clinics, schools and psychiatric hospitals.

Rebecca conducts national, regional and state-wide continuing education training and offers consultation for mental health service providers on ethical issues and ethical-legal conflicts in clinical practice. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor training practicum students and interns toward full licensure status. She is a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and the Texas Counseling Association.

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