FMHCA Aug 2019 Newsletter

Volume 19, Issue 8

“Whenever you have trouble getting up in the morning, remind yourself that you’ve been made by nature for the purpose of working with others.” –Marcus Aurelius

President’s Message Greetings, fellow clinical mental health counselors! I hope that you woke up this morning with a sense of meaning and purpose. I know I did. Today, we held our 2019-2020 FMHCA Leadership Summit, an opportunity to orient our new board members and collaborate with each other to clarify our 2019-2020 goals and objectives. I believe that FMHCA equips counselors to better do what they’re passionate about, and equipping counselors ultimately helps their clients. In short, FMHCA helps you help your clients.

We posted our 2019-2020 goals and objectives in last month’s newsletter as well as the member forum at fmhca.org in order to give you—our members—an opportunity to chime in and give us feedback and suggestions. Though you have entrusted us with the responsibility of managing FMHCA, this is truly your association, not ours, and we want to make sure that we’re on target with our efforts this year.

Below, you’ll see that an updated version of our goals and objectives for the upcoming year.

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily capture everything that we will be working on as a board—we don’t want to overly restrict our vision, but it’s a good roadmap. Please feel free to take a look and share your feedback on the member forum at www.fmhca.org.

The 2020 annual conference committee is already busy at work planning what I am confident will be another successful conference, the education committee is collecting proposals for our 2020 Emerging Issues in Mental Health Counseling webinar series (don’t forget to submit your proposal as soon as possible), the Government Relations Committee is promoting a stand-alone legislative bill for licensure portability, the Membership Committee is prepping for new campaigns to expand our presence in counselor education programs and agency settings, and regional directors and FMHCA staff are designing regional trainings that provide important training opportunities to help members establish specialization in key areas of practice. We’re off to a great start!

I’d like to extend an invitation to all regional chapters. If you’d like me to come to your chapter, I’d be happy to deliver my presentation entitled “Clinical Mental Health Counselors: Who We Are, Where We Came From, What We Do, and Where We’re Going.” This presentation celebrates our proud history as a profession, exposes myths about our profession that are sometimes used to diminish our role in the healthcare industry, identifies challenges and goals and related strategies to overcome them, and offers a vision for a strong, vibrant, creative, and impactful future for our profession. Email me at anorton@flmhca.org if you’d like me to come by and present.

I hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter, and I also hope you’ll consider submitting an article for one of our future issues at www.fmhca.org. See you soon!

Category

Association Growth

Goals

Increase membership by 15% or more

Increase agency membership by 25% or more Improve social media presence

Legislative Advocacy and Government Relations

Pass stand-alone licensure portability bill

Objectives

Launch counselor education campaign, including social media kit and board presentations at universities (coordinated with regional associations) Launch “Plus One” program with promotions and incentives for each member to bring a member to the association Expand membership benefits/discounts by 20% Launch agency outreach campaign Launch a hashtag campaign at annual conference Establish a committee or position tasked with social media posting FMHCA Legislative Days Event, coordination with lobbyist, media campaign to members

Pass bill revising F.S. 916.115

Education/Training

Pass bill revising F.S. 490.012(1)(c) providing an exception for 491 board licensees to use the term “psychological” to describe aspects of their work, consistent with F.S. 491.003(9) Support federal legislation for Medicare parity (Mental Health Access Improvement Act) Increase webinar attendance by 15% or more Social media campaign, encouraged dissemination at local chapters Expand regional training program

Media campaign to membership, including social media posts, mass emails, article in FMHCA newsletter Launch “webinar on demand” project Increase conference attendance by 10% or more Regional directors set up at least two trainings in their region per year Create at least one new regional training program Co-sponsor American Red Cross Psychological First Aid program

Category Inter- and Intra- Group Cohesion/Relations

Goals Improve relations with national and local chapters (AMHCA and regional chapters)

Launch “all three levels” campaign

Establish standards for agency partnership

Draft a procedure for addressing requests for partnership from external agencies (perhaps using Send a delegation of at least two board members and other LMHCs to every 491 board meeting Send an announcement to all members for every 491 board meeting encouraging them to attend Regional directors should ask regional chapters to send at least one board member to join the delegation Regional director should draft a report to the board identifying anything that should be communicated to members about that

Improve 491 Board relations

Board Efficiency

Objectives

Reduce board meeting length without reducing productivity Clarify regional structure duties

Improve turnover communication

Aaron Norton, LMHC, LMFT, MCAP, CRC, CCMHC FMHCA president, 2019-2020

Distribute local chapter membership flyers/announcements at regional trainings

Provide members with public service announcements (PSAs) after each 491 board meeting Use “board member” forum and require board members to review and discuss items that are put up for vote between meetings Regional directors and President-Elect will create a system for documenting and monitoring regional director activities and establishing and Launch and build board member pages

Board of Directors 2019 - 2020

President Aaron Norton Erica Whitfield Past-President Deirdra Sanders-Burnett President-Elect Kathie Erwin Secretary Darlene Silvernail Treasurer Cindy Wall Regional Director NE Joe P. Skelly Regional Director NW Barbara Hayes Regional Director SE Elisa Niles Regional Director SW Michael Holler Parliamentarian

Diana Huambachano Executive Director Laura Giraldo Executive Administrator FMHCA Chapters Broward County Central Florida Emerald Coast Gulf Coast Miami-Dade Palm Beach County Space Coast Suncoast

ED Message Thank you to our loyal and wonderful members!

If you are not yet a member, I encourage you to join FMHCA 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 2020 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 https://fmhca.wildapricot.org/event-3222515 Diana Huambachano, MA FMHCA Executive Director Diana@flmhca.org

Meet Your 2020 Keynotes For This Year’s Annual Conference Dr. Rachel Needle received her Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University.

She received her B.A. in psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University. Dr. Needle is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist in private practice at the Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida. She is also the founder and executive director of the Whole Health Psychological Center, the Clinical Director at Seacrest Recovery Center, and the Executive of Legislative Compliance for Transformations Treatment Center. Dr. Needle is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology in three programs at Nova Southeastern University. She is the founder of the Advanced Mental Health Training Institute, and Co-Director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, which provide continuing education to Mental Health professionals and Sex Therapists around the world.

Ralph Carson, CED-RD, RD, PhD – Senior Clinical and Research Advisor to ERC (Eating Recovery Center and the Binge-eating treatment and recovery (BETR) program.

Dr. Ralph Carson is a clinical nutritionist and exercise physiologist with over 40 years of experience in the treatment of addictions, obesity and eating disorders. Prior to joining ERC, Dr. Carson was the Executive Director of FitRx in Brentwood, Tennessee, an outpatient program for people of size struggling with both medical and psychological complications of binge eating. He is also a clinical consultant to Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and contracts with Bradford Health Services in Warrior, AL as a consultant to their pain unit. In addition to his successful clinical practice, Dr. Carson is committed to community education and teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals specializing in exercise therapy, sports nutrition, eating disorders and obesity. He was a faculty member of the University of Alabama at Huntsville for over 20 years and a nutritional advisor to numerous university athletic departments (university of Alabama and Tennessee). He is a working board member of iaedp and recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in nutrition (2019). He speaks regularly to professional and lay audiences alike in the US and internationally. Dr. Carson is the author of Harnessing the Healing Power of Fruit and The Brain Fix: What’s the Matter with Your Gray Matter, and has published more than 20 articles and book chapters.

Corinne Mixon is a registered professional lobbyist with more than twelve years of experience representing clients’ state governmental interests. At Rutledge Ecenia, Corinne represents a broad client base with a particular emphasis on health care practitioners, education and regulated industries and professions. She has been instrumental in passing myriad legislation and killing or containing bills which would have negatively impacted her clients. Additionally, Corinne specializes in political campaigning having chaired the campaign for Senate for past Speaker Pro Tempore, Rep. Dennis Baxley and working in various others. Corinne manages a multitude of political action committees (PACs) on behalf of Mixon and Associates’ clients. As the PAC manager, she oversees the accounting and delivery of approximately $190-thousand dollars worth of campaign contributions per election cycle. Corinne hand-delivers many of these contributions directly to the candidates; thus, providing a benefit to clients with-and-without their own political action committees.

Elvis Lester is the “first and only” Licensed Change Master designated by Dr. Richard Bandler for his dedication and work in the field of hypnosis and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). He provides training in Hypnosis (Ericksonian and Design Solution Hypnosis™) and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) through his 8-Day Licensed Practitioner of NLP In Hypnosis and Licensed Master Practitioner of NLP In Hypnosis programs as well as TranceMastery™ Hypnosis Practitioner Certification Immersions (6-Day programs). His unique courses combine NLP and Hypnosis with an experiential focus on deep integration of techniques and the models of influence known as the Meta Model and Milton Model language patterns. Programs are approved by the State of Florida for LCSW, LMFT and LMHC (491 Board), Licensed Psychologists (490 Board) and the Florida Board of Nursing (FBON) as well as NBCC and NBCCH.

DID Discovering Hope is a nonprofit ministry.

Our purpose is to give love, understanding and compassion to those who struggle with depression, trauma disorders and dissociation disorder from childhood abuse. We speak, educate, offer support groups, resources and remove stigma of Dissociative Identity Disorder in the church and in the Tampa Bay community. Discovering Hope connects with therapists to share life examples of people in recovery from trauma and dissociation.

Website http://diddiscoveringhope.org/ Contact Information 510-343-6581 Email: diddiscoverin me3435@yahoo.com

Reverse Paranoia: Helping Our Clients Exchange ‘Stinkin– Thinkin’ for a More Positive World View “Two people looked out from between the bars. One saw the mud, the other the stars.”

Have you ever wondered why people see things so differently? My keynote address answers this question. It also presents information that serves as a basis for perceiving the world in an unprecedented and surprising manner.

Robert E. Wubbolding, EdD, LPCC, is director of the Center for Reality Therapy in Cincinnati, Ohio, and professor emeritus at Xavier University. He was director of training for the William Glasser Institute (1987–2011) and has taught Reality Therapy from Korea to Kuwait and from Singapore to Slovenia.

A counselor and psychologist, he has been a high school counselor, elementary school counselor, a halfway house counselor for exoffenders, and a consultant to the

When we watch television, we are deluged with information about the state of the world: deplorable, threatening, harmful, dangerous, perilous, and unstable. Watching programs such as “How the World Will End,” “Airline Disasters,” as well as fictional reports about alien invasions can cause many sleepless nights. Dozens of other possible onslaughts can lead us beyond sleepless nights to adopt a negative view of the world around us.

How to See More Than Mud When We See the World This presentation provides an alternative. We have a choice as to how we will see the world. Do we see the mud or the stars? Both are visible and real, and yet all too often we see only the mud. This murky viewpoint presents itself to us not only through the media, but also in the words, self-talk, and worldview of our clients. What is low self-esteem?

What are feelings of inferiority? Where does self-talk such as, “I’m a loser” come from? The answer will be disclosed in this address.

drug and alcohol abuse programs of the U.S. Army and Air Force.

A frequent presenter, his workshops always include practical demonstrations of how to counsel a wide variety of clients.

He has authored over 150 articles and essays, 37 chapters in textbooks, and 17 books, including the comprehensive “Reality Therapy for the 21st Century” as well as “Reality Therapy: Theories of Psychotherapy Series” published in 2011 by the American Psychological Association, and “Reality Therapy and Self-Evaluation: The Key to Client

Yes, there are many reasons to feel negative about life on planet Earth: economic reasons, threats to health, change in weather, job insecurity, increasing drug addiction, dysfunctional family life—just to name a few.

These and other menaces impact our perceptions and can lead us to a serious case of “stinkin-thinkin” and “hardening of the attitudes.” The mud is really there. But so are the stars.

Helping clients achieve a higher level of mental health means that we, mental health counselors, continually aim at a level of perception that is different from that of our clients.

When we counsel a person who has relapsed, we have a choice: to see the relapse as a failure or as a step along the way. We can emphasize what went wrong, or we can choose to talk about choices our client made to remain free from drug usage even if the sobriety lasted only a short time.

Change,” published in 2017 by the American Counseling Association.

Similarly, we can discuss the multiple problems high school students face, or we can emphasize their school successes, healthy relationships, and pleasant interactions with teachers.

Reverse Paranoia Observed in Real Life •

Ibin Taimyah, a 14th century Muslim scholar, was imprisoned for his beliefs. His captors insisted he was at their mercy. He, however, insisted that he was in complete control. He perceived his situation not as bleak, but as advantageous to himself. He told his captors that if they put him in solitary confinement, he has a meditation; if they deport him, he is a tourist; and if they kill him, he becomes a martyr. He said, “It mattered not what my enemies do to me. My garden of paradise is in my heart.”

•

In the first Gulf War, U.S. Col. David Eberly was 43 days a prisoner of war in Iraq, one of 23 Americans captured and held in Baghdad, where the Iraqi government intended to use them as human shields to thwart bombing missions over the city, according to a 2018 report by the U.S. National Park Service. After all 23 of the American POWs returned to the United States, Eberly stated, “I didn’t see myself as a prisoner. I was carrying the war to the enemy with a disadvantage.”

•

When working with clients, we can help them understand that their disappointment can be seen as a failure or as a dress rehearsal for success.The 1991 film “Time Bandits,” written by “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” alums Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, includes a line of dialogue defining ignorance as being “blissfully unencumbered by the ravages of intelligence.”

•

“I can now see the moon,” commented 17th century Japanese poet and samurai Mizuta Masahide after his barn burned down..

Choosing to See the World as Conspiring to Help Us As we scrutinize our own motivations, attitudes, worldview, and behavior, it is clear that we have choices, not only regarding our actions but also our perception of ourselves in the world and the world around us. To oversimplify the case, we can approach the world as on our side or against us. Seeing the world as conspiring to help us is called, “reverse paranoia.” Certainly not every external influence works to our advantage. But which is better: to counsel clients from the perspective of the many difficulties they must face or from the strength that they have within them?

Don’t Ignore the Negative; Acknowledge the Positive •

If you are fearful of flying, keep in mind the words Arnold Barnett, PhD, professor of statistics at MIT. Flying has become so reliable that a traveler could fly every day for an average of 123,000 years before being in a fatal crash.

•

Each day the number of people living around the world in extreme poverty decreases by 217,000.

•

In another 15 years, illiteracy and extreme poverty will mostly disappear. Believe it: we are surrounded with good news. Of course, grinding problems face us, but human beings have the ability to solve them, or at least lessen their impact. Finally, I wish to encourage not a Pollyanna, naïve, baseless optimism, but rather a realistic, and data-based view of the world. When we look out between the bars, yes, the mud is there—but so are the stars.

This article was originally publish in: “The Advocate Magazine” Winter 2019 American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)

Page 10

Volume 19, Issue

8

Page 11

Volume 19, Issue

8

Page 14

Volume 19, Issue

Healing From Addiction Call it What it Is In my private counseling practice, “addiction” is a word I’m careful with. “Substance abuse” and “dependency” are far more articulate and make us ask better questions. “The American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual –5 prefers the term: Substance Use Disorder. Patients are rated on scales of severity according to habits and behaviors like frequency of use and amounts.

Whatever you call it, addiction is real and tragic.

It’s possible, drinking/ drugging/eating to excess, to drive the body and mind beyond simple recovery over time.

Going past the point of our ability to control our appetite for drugs or alcohol or food is a like a slippery slope.

Healing and coming back requires much from everyone involved, including family members. Substance abuse is a window into someone’s pain, and how they cope with it, even when that person thinks it doesn’t show. What do we do when we or someone we love has a Substance Use Disorder?

Getting Help Compassion and confrontation are needed when sorting the person from the disorder. Caring and support is critical, but often we are confronting true insanity and “tough love” is required. Trying to be reasonable with someone crazy with alcohol or drugs can be futile. Good people are capable of doing terrible things when lost in substance abuse. We sometimes want to turn away. In the recent movie “Beautiful Boy” a broken-hearted father, played by Steve Carrell finally tells his desperately heroin addicted son he can’t come home anymore. It is a complicated drama and there is no universal answer.

Amazingly though, under the right conditions, healing is sometimes possible.

8

Page 15

Volume 19, Issue

8

Why Does This Occur?

A useful way of looking at the some of the causes of addiction is “developmental delay.” From childhood through aging, we all pass through stages of development. Toilet training. First grade. Puberty is an important one. Launching into young adulthood is another. “Developmental delay” can occur when the person fails to accomplish the central tasks related to developmental passages (like middle school socialization, managing puberty, developing adult sexuality/intimacy, emerging successfully from the shelter of high school or college, traction in the job sphere). Adverse childhood events especially can cause a person “stuck” in such “delays” to experience mood swings, frustration and social maladjustment. Drugs, alcohol and food can all be coping mechanisms through the comfort they offer. A 30-year-old might truly “feel” like a 14-yearold emotionally and behave that way if she was molested at 14. Feeling “stuck at 14” may be her experience and often what she presents to others. Think of “baby doll” girl. A prime example of underdeveloped psychology. For this person intimacy is likely difficult. She may turn to alcohol, drugs, food or even sex to soothe herself. She may display overly risky behavior or remain “commitment phobic.” These behaviors can be viewed as coping mechanisms for the pain of developmental failure. If lucky, she’ll find a good licensed professional psychotherapist and come to terms with this painful history.

Hungry Substance Use Disorders can be thought of as “appetite problems.” Disordered appetites arise from adverse childhood experiences that can result in developmental failure/delay. That’s why drinking, and eating can so subtly turn into abusive habits. Emotional hunger becomes food and drink hunger. Sorting out emotional hunger, looking at where it has led a person and creating healthy alternatives are key. Substance Use Disorders can be thought of as “transferable” in this way because of this. Smoking, drinking, eating, gambling, hyper (or hypo) -sexuality, drugging… are all expressions of the same desperate emotional (and spiritual) hunger. If you or someone you love is truly “hungry” in this way, and living a life that has become un-manageable, give me a call or text me at 561-213-8030. I’m right off Atlantic Avenue downtown.

John Davis, LMHC 561-213-8030 www.johndaviscounseling.com Mental Health Counselor’s Assn Palm Beach Chapter President

Page 16

Volume 19, Issue

8

Page 18

Volume 19, Issue

8

Abstract Bias and prejudice effect the counseling relationship in many ways. This paper will show the impact of undistinguished bias and prejudice on counselor effectiveness, and especially when counseling diverse populations.

Counseling, Diversity, Bias and Prejudice By: Steve Schandle Introduction Old fashioned stereotypes and prejudices are becoming less common while more subtle forms remain.

Bias includes both implicit and explicit. Explicit bias is measured by self-report. These negative beliefs stereotypes and judgments are in an individuals’ conscience (Boyson, 2009). Rehabilitation counselors who develop hypotheses and do testing throughout the counseling relationship may sacrifice ethical principles by creating confirmation bias. Counselors use clinical judgement, case formulation, and recommendations for case planning, all of which are susceptible to errors and bias. Understanding errors and biases assist counselors in fundamental understanding and ethical development through understanding the risks and benefits that come with clinical judgement. Counselors make predictions on outcomes based on similarities between cases. Evidence shows these types of predictions can lead to biases and potential errors. This tendency to use clinical judgement is considered ethically sound, based on the ethical standards in the Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors (Boyson, 2010). However clinical judgement is a concern due to inherent biases and errors. Another form of bias is conformation bias. These biases can be avoided by using the scientific method and other forms of realistic methods to reduce errors (Wright-McDougal, & Toriello, 2013). The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics states that members need to recognize diversity using a cross cultural approach. One component of the cross cultural approach is in educating counselors that bias, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes occur in unintentional and subtle ways. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs standards require knowledge of different processes in which unintentional and intentional discrimination and oppression occur. Unintentional forms of implicit bias are not as consciously accessible making them hard to control. Research on this form of bias has increased in hope of lessening its impact, yet students still have significant amounts of this bias.

Unintentional bias is acknowledged as averse racism when people reject old fashion prejudice, while simultaneously engaging in forms of subtle unconscious and unintentional discrimination (Boysen, 2010).

Bias and Prejudice Explicit bias is prejudice defined as negative beliefs towards a group or culture through an individual or groups conscious stereotypes, and judgements. Within bias lies prejudice. Prejudicial acts are intentional negative treatment of groups persons or cultures one feels are less than or hatred toward because of their own negative beliefs. These beliefs are rooted deep in-between and within cultures, so much so that while most Americans reject discrimination or prejudice on the bases of race, it is hard to get rid of it completely. Studies still show European Americans are more easily influenced to associate badness with African American faces than with white faces (Boyson, 2009). Conformation bias occurs when individuals seek only information to prove their hypothesis. This type of bias could lead to prejudice by developing questions that only seek to prove a hypothesis related to a certain group being tested. Limiting subjects’ responses to confirm researchers’ bias. These findings can then be used to justify detrimental treatment of particular group (WrightMcDougal, & Toriello, 2013). Counseling students need to be aware bias, prejudice, and discrimination through stereo typical judgements can lead to unintentional and intentional discrimination. While blatant prejudice is less a problem then it use to be, averse racism and bias can conceptualize as micro aggressions.

This type of bias can occur as small slights not even realized by the perpetrator (Boyson, 2010).

Page 19

Volume 19, Issue

8

Distinguishing Counselor Bias and Prejudice In order to distinguish bias and prejudice research needs to change perspective from explicit bias to the more subtle and illusive implicit bias (Boyson, 2009). Distinguishing bias in clinical judgement starts with confirmation bias and can be reduced by using scientific methods to test hypotheses with clients throughout the treatment relationship, void of bias toward any particular outcome (Wright-McDougal, & Toriello, 2013).

Distinguishing bias and prejudice in counselor education requires integrating empirical and theoretical education into multicultural knowledge (Boyson, 2010).

Counseling Diverse Populations Bias is central to multicultural competency in counseling. Research has ignored implicit bias while counselors report on explicit bias. Their self reported attitudes on explicit bias tend to cause implicit bias.

Being a competent counselor requires multicultural awareness skill and cultural knowledge. Competent counselors must be aware of how bias effects in individuals’ cultures, various back grounds, and their own bias all while being skilled at controlling them. Efforts have been made to increase documenting bias, to increase multicultural competency. Research shows efforts to increase counselor bias competency has not adapted fast enough with the new perspectives on stereo types and prejudices (Boysen, 2009). An example of this would be Dr. Laura Brown a world renowned women’s and equal rights activist while talking about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning community on a podcast left out the “Q” (Macpherson, 2019). Multicultural knowledge along with commitment to changing counselors’ biased thought patterns is essential to counseling diverse populations. A cross cultural approach is increasingly necessary as the United States population continues becoming increasingly diverse. CACREP knowledge of standards include the processes for understanding discrimination and unintentional and intentional oppression.

Understanding and addressing implicit bias is a step in the dismantling of discrimination. Specific multicultural competencies are defining and knowing ways bias can affect counselors. Knowing these interconnected facts about implicit bias can support the development of a culturally competent counselor.

The fundamental facts are that people process information in levels of consciousness. Implicit bias is a measurable predictor of behavior, counselors may possess implicit bias and not know it. Counselors can attain cultural competencies and awareness through knowledge of their own bias (Boysen, 2010).

Impact of Undistinguished Bias on Counselor Effectiveness This paper has shown the role that undistinguished bias effect on counselors through the role implicit bias plays in counseling. By knowing the concept of dual processing, counselors can acknowledge the challenge of controlling automatic processes, requiring little conscious thought and controlled processes that use extensive conscious resources. Implicit bias effects essential counseling processes such as interpersonal difficulties, misinterpretation of behaviors, and subtle social behaviors. The undistinguished biases have a negative effect on outcome, judgement, treatment, and counselling relationship (Boysen, 2010).

Conclusion Explicit, implicit, and outcome bias along with prejudice still have an impact on the way people view others and the world. Unfortunately this seems to be the case, no matter how badly some parts of society want it to change. Knowledge of peoples’ biases even in the unconscious is a place to start in order to combat these forms of bias. Through knowledge of peoples own, acceptance of the imperfection of others, and a willingness to seek change people can start a revaluation of acceptance where in future generations bias cease to exist.

Page 22

Volume 19, Issue

8

What is the Green Cross?

The Green Cross Academy of Traumatology was initially organized to serve a need in Oklahoma City following the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. In 2004, GCP merged with Green Cross Foundation and emerged as the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology. We are an international, non-profit, humanitarian assistance organization comprised of trained traumatologists and compassion fatigue service providers. Most are licensed mental health professionals, all are oriented to helping people in crisis following traumatic events.

Compassion Fatigue Therapist Upon completion of the course, the participants will: 1.

Recognize the array of assessment methods for both compassion fatigue, resiliency, and stress reactions.

2. Recognize that strategies for preventing compassion fatigue are associated with effective self care and, thus the need to focus on wellness in the workplace.

3.

Describe the elements of the wellness and the MASTERS Transformative process

4. Describe the challenges of working with those with compassion fatigue and how best to convince them that they need a comprehensive program of transformation.

5. Understand and appreciate one’s own journey to wellness and be aware of the requirements for getting there and staying there.

6.

Learn and practice visualization techniques.

7.

Apply the array of treatment approaches for treating compassion fatigue and related work-related trauma.

8. Describe the ways in which Traumatic Incident Reduction can be used effectively to desensitize traumatized workers as part of a comprehensive wellness transformation process.

9. Describe the challenges of remission in the journey toward wellness and the strategies to prevent it and assure wellness maintenance.

10. Apply the wellness transformation process in one’s own professional context (e.g., private practice, child protection, medical, first responders) “We have not been directly exposed to the trauma scene, but we hear the story told with such intensity, or we hear similar stories so often, or we have the gift and curse of extreme empathy and we suffer. We feel the feelings of our clients. We experience their fears. We dream their dreams. Eventually, we lose a certain spark of optimism, humor and hope. We tire. We aren’t sick, but we aren’t ourselves.”

– C. Figley, 1995

Page 26

Volume 19, Issue

8

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth: Family Acceptance and Emotional Development 23 Aug 2019 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM CE Broker Tracking # 20-690504 Webinar Learning Objectives: 1. Learn about LGBTQ youth and the impact of disclosure of their sexual and/or gender identity as well as the consequences on the lack of emotional support from caregivers.

2. Explore benefits to providing support and acceptance to LGBTQ youth, including research evidence and how caregivers can assist in the youth’s coming out process.

3. Identify treatment approaches and resources to assist LGBTQ youth and their families.

About the Presenter: Julie Basulto, LMFT Julie Basulto is a licensed marriage and family therapist licensed in the state of Florida since 2008. Ms. Basulto is qualified supervisor for the state of Florida in supervising Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Interns and Registered Mental Health Counseling Interns since 2010. Ms. Basulto currently supervises graduate students for their practicum and internships from various universities. Ms. Basulto attained her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2005 from St. Thomas University.

Ms. Basulto has extensive experience in working with children and adolescents with severe behavioral and emotional problems including LGBTQ youth. Ms. Basulto has provided services in the home, outpatient and in private practice. Ms. Basulto is a former clinical supervisor and is currently a senior therapist at Kristi House which is a child advocacy center providing individual, family and group counseling for child, adolescent and adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Ms. Basulto conducts community and outreach presentations in the community in advocating for the victims of child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and the LGBTQ community. Ms. Basulto received her national certification as a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (TF-CBT) in 2013 and is currently certified in training consultants and other mental health professionals on TF-CBT. Ms. Basulto is a Clinical Fellow for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and holds memberships at the American Counseling Association as well as the American Psychological Association. In addition to Ms. Basulto’s clinical experience, she teaches counseling and psychology courses in colleges and universities in South Florida. Ms. Basulto is in current pursuit of a PhD. In Counseling Education at Barry University where she hopes to continue research and advocacy work with traumatized youth and pursue a career in teaching future counselors.

The ITM Group is a for-profit provider of behavioral health services based out of North Central Florida. We have more than thirty years of providing specialized treatment for court-ordered individuals in the community, as well as, at locked facilities, and overlay programs.

The program is currently looking to hire qualified full or part-time clinicians in the Orlando and North Central Florida regions. We presently offer sexual offender treatment in more than 15 separate locations and are seeking experienced sex offender therapists in several locations to fill anticipated vacancies. We currently need a Spanish speaking therapist to run two groups in Kissimmee.

Send information to Brandi Smith – bsmith@itmflorida.com

Page 28

Volume 19, Issue

Register Before November 1st and SAVE!

8

NAMIWalks Southwest Florida

Event Date: Saturday, September 28, 2019 Route Distance 5K Location: Fort Myers Centennial Park 2000 W. First Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 Contact Us: walks@namilee.org

Page 30

Volume 19, Issue

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

8

Page 32

Page 33

Volume 19, Issue

FMHCA is a chapter of the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and is the only organization working exclusively for LMHCs in Florida.

8