July 2017 fmhca newsletter

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Welcome To Our Newly Elected Board Members 2017-2018 FMHCA President Louise Sutherland-Hoyt LMHC, NCC, CCMHC, MAC FMHCA President-Elect Erica Whitfield MACP, LMHC FMHCA Pass President Leonel Mesa Jr., Psy.D., LMHC, CAP, CEAP FMHCA Secretary Kathie Erwin Ed.D., LMHC FMHCA Treasurer Benjamin B Keyes Ph.D., EdD, LMHC, NCC FMHCA Regional Director Northwest Region: 3-year Term Joe P. Skelly, M.S., LMHC FMHCA Regional Director Northeast Region: 2-year Term Cindy Wall LMHC, NCC Doctoral Candidate FMHCA Regional Director Southwest Region: 2-year Term Dr. Eddie Williams IV EdD, LMHC, NCC, CAP FMHCA Regional Director Southeast Region: 1-year Term Tania Diaz, PsyD, LMHC FMHCA Parliamentarian Frank Hannah MS, LMHC FMHCA Executive Director Darlene Silvernail Ph.D., LMHC, CAP

FMHCA has been given the Outstanding Membership Growth Award for this year!

Board of Directors 2017 - 2018 President Louise Sutherland-Hoyt LMHC, NCC, CCMHC, MAC lsutherland@flmhca.org President-Elect Elect Erica Whitfield MACP, LMHC ebuabua@gmail.com Treasurer Benjamin B Keyes Ph.D., EdD, LMHC, NCC bkeyes@flmhca.org Past President Leonel Mesa, PsyD, LMHC lmesa@flmhca.o.rg Secretary Kathie Erwin, Ed.D, LMHC, NCC, NCGC kerwin@flmhca.org Parliamentarian

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Welcome to the new FMHCA year! This is the year that will unfold and build on past progressions, successes, and strife as we face fiscal, professional, and legislative challenges that while seemingly formidable, are surmountable as has been demonstrated by overcoming of past challenges. To this end, we want to gratefully acknowledge FMHCA’s Past President, Leo Mesa, for his leadership in tending to our growth and in his support in forwarding unity among our newly created regions. Hats off, Leo! And what an exciting group of leaders who will be serving the interests of the FMHCA regions in driving up membership numbers, establishing influence in the legislature, and promoting CEU events.

FMHCA President Louise Sutherland-Hoyt LMHC, NCC, CCMHC, MAC FMHCA President-Elect Erica Whitfield MACP, LMHC FMHCA Pass President Leonel Mesa Jr., Psy.D., LMHC, CAP, CEAP FMHCA Secretary Kathie Erwin Ed.D., LMHC FMHCA Treasurer Benjamin B Keyes Ph.D., EdD, LMHC, NCC FMHCA Regional Director Northwest Region: 3-year Term Joe P. Skelly, M.S., LMHC FMHCA Regional Director Northeast Region: 2-year Term Cindy Wall LMHC, NCC Doctoral Candidate FMHCA Regional Director Southwest Region: 2-year Term Dr. Eddie Williams IV EdD, LMHC, NCC, CAP FMHCA Regional Director Southeast Region: 1-year Term Tania Diaz, PsyD, LMHC FMHCA Parliamentarian Frank Hannah MS, LMHC FMHCA Executive Director Darlene Silvernail Ph.D., LMHC, CAP

Frank Hannah, MS, LMHC

Our quarterly Koffee Klatch meetings of regional leaders are resuming this year as well.

This year, your president will be wearing at least a couple of hats: One as President of Regional Director Northwest Region FMHCA and one as Chairman of Government Relations Committee, the two of which, Joe Skelly, MS, LMHC when you think about it, lend themselves quite appropriately to one another. With this in mind, my monthly articles will contain information about FMHCA’s progress as an jskelly@flmhca.org organization as well as what we are pursuing in Government Relations to forward our FMHCA Regional Director Northeast profession, grow the FMHCA organization, and, above all, to protect your practice.

Region Adding “clinical” to professional title: An important step in distinguishing Mental Cindy Wall LMHC, NCC Health Counselors from ‘generic” counselors. Licensed Clinical Mental Health cwall@flmhca.org Counselors.

Member-at-Large Michael Holler is taking up the Guidon in this massive project that will require a Regional Director Southwest Region broad range of research among all statutes that contain the title Licensed Mental Eddie Williams IV EdD, LMHC, NCC, Health Counselors.

CAP We are recruiting volunteers to join Michael in moving this objective forward. ewilliams@flmhca.org Interstate Compacts: FMHCA is on the leading edge of efforts to establish greater portability of licensure among states.

Regional Director Southeast Region To this end, Dr. Steve Guinta along with Leo Mesa are forming a sub-committee to Tania Diaz, PsyD, LMHC get the ball rolling on this huge task.

Executive Director We are looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers to get on board in pushing Darlene Silvernail, PhD, LMHC, CAP, Florida toward being the first to establish such compacts with other states. fhannah@flmhca.org

DCMHS

dsilvernail@flmhca.org

Medicare and educating legislators: This has been ongoing over the past number of years and will continue to require grass roots involvement in barnstorming our U.S. Congressmen and Senators and educating about our profession. There are obstacles such as the many and varied titles of Mental Health practitioners from state to state as long as education, testing, and experience requirements.

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Barnstorm the Legislature: Earlier this year, in January, representatives of FMHCA barnstormed Tallahassee and met with about 25 different law makers. There were a number of bills concerning our profession, veterans, and law enforcement that were endorsed and 3 of which were passed into law. As a direct result of FMHCA’s presence, we were honored with the Presence of Shev Jones who spoke during our Government Relations Round-Table Discussion at the FMHCA Conference in February. Overall the objectives were clear and, considering this was FMHCA’s inaugural event of this sort, was deemed an unmitigated success.

This year we have established a much broader, highly ambitious agenda.

Reception and presentation at the Capitol MH Screenings to legislators.

Finding sponsors to fund reception.

Address a committee hearing: Health Insurance and MH Parity (priority) Opioid Epidemic as MH issue.

Setting up information table during MH Awareness month.

Forging partnerships and coalitions with other organizations Joining Florida Hospital Association and other like organizations as member and vice-versa.

Integrated Medicine.

Grass Roots partnerships with legislators.

Modeling successes of other states.

All in all, it’s a very ambitious and challenging set of objectives that require energy from all our members and potential members.

Many thanks to Leo Mesa and our lobbyist, Corinne Mixon in establishing these objectives and to the FMHCA Board for sanctioning and giving the green light to proceed.

On one final note; if you have not registered for the AMHCA conference in July, please do so ASAP! We want to work toward establishing FMHCA as the flagship chapter and our presence and participation is vital to this end. And don’t forget to register for the FMHCA Conference coming up in February, 2018. We are looking for presenters, volunteers, and sponsors!

Until next time, Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, LMHC, CCMHC, NCC, MAC

FMHCA President

Get Involved in the National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, when mental health counselors and organizations in the US engage in a variety of events and activities to promote this important movement. First announced in May of 2008 by the US House of Representatives, with the primary objective to improve access to mental health treatment and services and to promote public awareness of mental illness, the name Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was chosen to honor Campbell’s admirable work as an author and provider of mental health information, education, and support with diverse communities until she passed away in 2006.

Knowing what a vital mobilization this is, American organizations and institution address the entire month of July to promote mental health acceptance, action, and involvement campaigns to help raise awareness in organizations and communities. Many of these organizations promote conferences and symposiums focused on sharing research and accurate information about mental health issues, while others promote popular participation and activities for families and social integration with the goal of encouraging the community to learn more about improving mental health and identifying illnesses.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), stated that each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition and that mental illness affects one in five adults and one in 10 children in America. Even though the necessity for mental health care is very well known, mental illness is a leading cause of disability in this country. In fact, the National Alliance on Mental Illness exposed that about two-thirds of the US population with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment, and racial and ethnic minority groups are particularly less inclined to get help.

These significant numbers indicate that minorities are less likely to receive diagnosis, to access mental health services, and to engage in treatment for their mental illness. Also, minorities often receive poorer quality of mental health care due to factors such as poverty, cultural background, difficult access to local mental health centers, and lower quality care availability.

For these all reasons, mental health counselors, students, and organizations need to join efforts to disclose more information about mental health condition and illnesses to these populations to help to promote social clarification and continued actions for mental health awareness education. Increased awareness, early diagnosis and/or intervention, and access to appropriate services can lead to significantly improvement of mental health and treatment outcomes. Let’s go to do our part.

Paula Carina Lazarim Marques Mental Health Counseling Graduate Student

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Member of The Month: Dr. Santiago

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She began her counseling career in 1993, working for HOSPICE, counseling terminal ill patients and their families. From there, she worked at a community mental health agency, getting essential experience working with clients suffering from psychotic disorders, major depressive disorders, bi-polar disorder, anxiety disorders, and trauma-related disorders. She became very interested in dissociative disorders at that time, gaining more education and experience to better help clients who had experienced severe trauma as children.

In 2007, military suicides were on a rise and the news reported daily the numbers of military and veterans who were choosing to end their own lives.

As an Army veteran herself, she was greatly moved to understand this trend further and look for ways to help. She was selected to work at a local VA hospital developing their Suicide Prevention Program. This work included developing training for VA staff, medical and counseling professionals, community agencies, Universities, as well as collaborate with Military Reserve units and Mac Dill AFB, to bring awareness of suicide and improve suicide prevention. She completed her Ph.D. research looking specifically at veteran suicide.

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She has come to believe that military service members, veterans, and their families need alternatives when seeking mental health care. She has recently been appointed as Director of Professional Development to the new Veterans Counseling Veterans non-profit organization with the responsibility of organizing training, providing mentorship and supervision to military veterans who are becoming mental health professionals with an interested in providing mental health services to their fellow veterans.

She is involved with the Florida Behavioral Healthcare Alliance in preparing nonveteran mental health professionals working in the community to better serve our military and veterans by providing training about military culture and the unique challenges veterans face when integrating back into our community.

At this point in her career, she very committed to the education and training of new counselors entering the field. She is a Florida approved Clinical Supervisor, providing guidance and mentorship to post-graduate counselors who are working hard toward their professional license in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

FMHCA has been honored to have had Dr. Santiago lead its military committee. As chair she set the tone raising the bar high for those to implement action.

It is with great encouragement and support that we encourage her to reach additional goals and move forward on her journey. A simply thank you from FMHCA is not enough to convey our appreciation towards you, Dr. Santiago.

It's happened and it's real!

NOW IS THE TIME for MEDICARE! Let's our Counselor Advocacy Voices roar! Our long awaited MEDICARE bill has been introduced in the House - HR 3032.

Let's help Rep. Katko become one of our Mental Health champion of all champions! Press release: https://katko.house.gov/‌/katko-introduces-bipartisan-legis‌ Thank you AMHCA's amazing Executive Director, Joel Miller for your hard work! American Mental Health Counselors Association - www.amhca.org PASS THIS ON and SHARE!

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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! https://fmhca.wildapricot.org/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.

July is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental illness is a leading cause of disability, yet nearly two-thirds of people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment. During National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, learn more about mental health treatment and resources available through NAMI atNAMI.org and NRCHMH at NRCHMH.org.

Sincerely, Darlene Silvernail PhD, LMHC, CAP

Executive Director

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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

DOCS VS. GLOCKS' LEGAL BATTLE ENDS

By DARA KAM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA JULY Volume 17, Issue 7 Page 12 ©2017 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved. Posting or forwarding this material without permission is prohibited. You can view the Terms of Use on our website.

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, June 12, 2017......... Six years after Florida lawmakers tried to stop doctors from asking patients about guns, health-care providers have emerged victorious in a legal battle as the state did not appeal a federal-court ruling striking down major parts of the 2011 law.

The controversial measure, dubbed the "docs vs. glocks" law and supported by the National Rifle Association, included a series of restrictions on doctors and other health providers. For example, it sought to prevent physicians from entering information about gun ownership into medical records if the physicians knew the information was not "relevant" to patients' medical care or safety or to the safety of other people. Also, the 2011 law said doctors should refrain from asking about gun ownership by patients or family members unless the doctors believed in "good faith" that the information was relevant to medical care or safety. And the law sought to prevent doctors from discriminating against patients or "harassing" them because of owning firearms.

“This law is dead,” Tom Julin, a First Amendment lawyer who represented a coalition of medical groups and others who took part in the case as “friends of the court,” told The News Service of Florida in a telephone interview. The plaintiffs in the case, including individual doctors, argued that the restrictions were a violation of their First Amendment rights. A federal district judge agreed with them and blocked the law from going into effect. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of the law in three separate rulings, but the ban keeping the law from going into effect remained in place. A February ruling by the full appellate court --- in a 90-page decision comprised of two majority opinions authored by different judges, as well as a dissent --- struck down the law. Florida officials did not appeal that ruling before a deadline last month, Attorney General Pam Bondi's office confirmed.

“Florida may generally believe that doctors and medical professionals should not ask about, nor express views hostile to, firearm ownership, but it 'may not burden the speech of others in order to tilt public debate in a preferred direction,' " appeals-court Judge Adalberto Jordan wrote in one of two majority opinions on Feb. 17.

Bondi's office referred questions about the case to state health officials, who, along with Gov. Rick Scott, were the defendants in the case.

Scott's office also acknowledged the deadline had passed but did not say why the state decided not to appeal.

“As a strong supporter of (the) Second Amendment, Governor Scott is glad that a vast majority of this law was never challenged and upheld in court,” Scott spokeswoman Lauren Schenone said in an email last week.

The court found that the record-keeping, inquiry and anti-harassment provisions of the law are unconstitutional, but upheld the portion of the law that bars doctors from discriminating against patients who have guns.

The law --- the first of its kind in the country --- also prohibits insurers from discriminating against gun owners, an element of the statute that was not challenged.

Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, called the state's decision not to appeal a major victory for free speech and the medical community. The ACLU organized a coalition of medical groups, including children's health-care groups, who, represented by Julin and others, joined the legal challenge.

“What is important is that every doctor in Florida knows that the First Amendment right guaranteeing freedom of speech once again provides protection for the medical community to honor its mission to protect the health and lives of patients.

And this includes counseling patients who own guns to ensure that they are safely stored so as to prevent suicides and out of the reach of children to prevent tragic accidental shootings,” Simon said. The Florida case was especially significant because it was considered a test case, Simon said. But for the appellate decision striking down the statute, the NRA would have “had this dangerous law introduced in every state,” Simon predicted. A number of Republican legislators pushed the law, entitled the “Firearms Owners' Privacy Act,” in 2011 after learning that a pediatrician told an Ocala mother to find a new doctor because she refused to answer questions about guns in the family home.

Lawmakers learned of five other anecdotes, in which doctors asked patients about gun ownership, before passing the law, signed by Scott, according to court records.

State Sen. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who was one of the House sponsors of the measure, said the law may have done its job, even if it was ultimately stricken from the books.

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“I don't assume that we'll abandon the issue. If there's already been an forward, it may have worked itself out. We'll see,” he said.

The litigation may have informed the Legislature --- and the medical and Second Amendment rights, Baxley said.

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impact made by bringing this issue

community --- about balancing First

“I don't think anything's ever finished here. It's an ongoing conversation for 20 million people about how these various issues fit together,” he said.

-END-- 6/12/2017 © 2017 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved. Posting or forwarding this material without permission is prohibited. You can view the Terms of Use on our website.

Independent and Indispensable http://www.newsserviceflorida.com This content is available at: http://www.newsserviceflorida.com/nsf/raw_asset.html?

We Need Your Help!!!!

Benefits for using a Lobbyist- but we cannot do this alone and need your attention Florida Mental Health Counselors Association benefits from using a lobbyist to get our voice heard in government. Your voice is important to us! Our membership fee’s help to support our legislative presents and contribute in making a difference for our members and the client’s we serve. Did you know that lobbyists can take your message to Congress?

Lobbyists enable organizations to draft legislation, develop strategies for new regulations, connect and stay informed, and proactively reach out to elected officials prior to new policies being drafted. Florida Mental Health Counselors Association is asking that you take a look at the direction of our healthcare and industry, wont you help us make a difference?

Re-new your membership today Ask a colleague to join FMHCA www.FLMHCA.org

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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Joint Statement on a National Counselor Licensure Endorsement Process April 2017 During the last year, representatives of the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB), the Association for Counselor J U Land Y Supervision (ACES), the American Mental Health Counselors Volum e 1 7 , I s s(AMHCA), ue 7 a g e 1for 6 CertiEducation Association and the National PBoard fied Counselors (NBCC) worked together to create a Portability Task Force with one goal: a safe, clear, reasonable portability process for all current and future counselors.* The task force agreed upon five (5) key tenets which informed each decision by the taskforce.

Specifically, a uniform licensure endorsement process must: Significantly increase public access to qualified care; Establish minimum standards for safe practice; Reduce administrative burdens for both state regulatory boards and licensees; Create consistency in licensure standards across state lines; and Ensure protection of the public and the continued development of the profession.

The Portability Task Force agreed on the importance of honoring the work and practices already adopted by state regulatory boards while developing a portability process. Consequently, the task force conducted a thorough analysis of all state regulatory practices related to reciprocity, portability, and licensure endorsement. This state-by-state analysis revealed the need for a more refined goal for portability – that of achieving a balance between establishing minimum licensure endorsement standards for public protection and moving the profession toward the future goal of unified education standards, examination requirements, and years of post-graduate experience. Throughout our research, analysis, and collaborative efforts, the Portability Task Force prioritized public protection and the future of the counseling profession over any one organization’s previously established portability policy or organizational agenda. This deep commitment to unity is reflected in a portability process that represents meaningful compromises by AASCB, ACES, AMHCA, and NBCC. By capitalizing on the historical knowledge of all organizations involved in the Portability Task Force and the history of state regulatory standards, AASCB, ACES, AMHCA, and NBCC agreed upon a unified portability process that is as much a recognition of our shared past as it is a step forward into our shared future. In an era of a mobile workforce, which is increasingly receptive to innovative service delivery such as tele-mental health services and military-friendly licensure processes, a national portability process is more vital than ever. To be a counselor must hold the same meaning to a citizen as it does to a policy maker from state to state. After 30+ years of wrangling with the issue of portability, the time has come to pave a path forward for highly qualified current and future counselors to improve client access to services.

We recognize that no portability process is a “silver bullet” that resolves all concerns related to portability. However, we strongly believe that our portability process will significantly benefit mental health consumers by increasing access to needed care and services and helping create a vibrant workforce of licensed counselors both in terms of changing regulatory standards and the increasing need for united advocacy efforts. In addition, for a secure counselor portability licensure process with ensured consumer protections to be in place, a careful vetting of counselors seeking portability should include background checks to strengthen public protection. Enhancing the ability of states to share investigative and disciplinary information will help assure the public that key protections are in place.

AASCB, ACES, AMHCA, and NBCC present the counseling profession’s historic united, collaborative portability process for all counselors licensed at the highest level of licensure for independent practice. The Portability Task Force asks each state regulatory board to consider adopting the National Counselor Licensure Endorsement Process. We understand and appreciate that such a change will require rule –and possibly even – statutory changes for many state regulatory boards. We are asking each state regulatory board to embrace this opportunity to facilitate increased access to care by mobilizing a more nimble workforce of counselors in order to be part of a shared future in which true licensure portability is a reality.

National Counselor Licensure Endorsement Process Any counselor licensed at the highest level of licensure for independent practice available in his or her state may obtain licensure in any other state or territory of the United States if all of the following criteria are met: (1) The licensee has engaged in ethical practice, with no disciplinary sanctions, for at least 5 years from the date of application for licensure endorsement.

(2) The licensee has possessed the highest level of counselor licensure for independent practice for at least 3 years from the date of application for licensure endorsement.

(3) The licensee has completed a jurisprudence or equivalent exam if required by the state regulatory body.

(4) The licensee complies with ONE of the following: (a) Meets all academic, exam, and post-graduate supervised experience standards as adopted by the state counseling licensure board. (b) Holds the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential, in good standing, as issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). (c) Holds a graduate-level degree from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

*The American Counseling Association participated in the Portability Task Force meetings, but decided against endorsement of the collaborative portability process.

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A War On Two Fronts . . . Urgent!!!!

With the disorganized, short-sighted rollout of the new military healthcare system by Humana Military, and the rapacious cuts by BCBS of Florida to their network rates, the clinical mental health community is again under attack by cynical and avaricious entities, with the sole objective of lining of their coffers - patient care be damned.

And, make no mistake, both are employing strong arm tactics, with threatened exclusions, their deadlines, and alleged refusals to negotiate - all accompanied by different responses from different representatives and even new hires of phone banks just to field the complaints.

Both movements are demanding to reduce rates paid to network mental health providers in the area of 30-35%.

While both of these behemoths decry any organized movement on providers’ parts as something tantamount to price-fixing, they vaguely seem to mirror each other’s rates and arrive roughly at the same figures, using

methodologically specious reasoning to justify their perfidy.

And, ultimately, it is the patients who suffer as more and more clinicians drop out of network programs or out of accepting any insurance at all before they will accept the inadequate rates and cumbersome compliance demands. In many areas - ours is typical - most psychiatrists do not accept ANY insurance anymore. These are the frontline of psychopharmacology and their scarcity is matched by their difficulties

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being fairly reimbursed and subjected to the same assaults as the psychotherapeutic community.

So, what I’m suggesting is a coordinated effort to fight back. We need to: a) approach the media; b) confront and communicate intensively with both Humana Military and with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida; c) approach our legislators - both Federal and State; d) approach State Insurance commissioners; e) coordinate our own efforts - both regionally and statewide. To that end, I will be bringing this to our FMHCA Board on Wednesday morning and have specific strategies, contacts and facts below to oppose this grubby threat.

Call them - write them - engage them as much as possible in the expenditure of resources, as they are doing to us individually. Ask the questions we outline below and any that you might conjure as well.

I am not going to sign either contract today. We have time on the Humana issue (how much is debatable), while BCBS has “set” a final date of July 2nd while brandishing there Closed Network Panel as implicit coercion. These are gross bullying tactics, unworthy of corporations we have supported, often as consumers, veterans, active service members (for their families), and loyal clinicians. This ain’t no way to treat your friends. Simply, shame on them.

So, get mad, get active. And, like video gamers, let’s “light em’ up.”

Call us with any additional data & contacts you collect in your efforts.

Joe P. Skelly, M.S., L.M.H.C. President Emerald Coast Mental Health Counselors Association (ECMHCA) NWF Regional Director Florida Mental Health Counselors Association(FMHCA)

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Stetson University Employment Opportunity Is seeking a Director of the Counseling Center. To see the full position description and information about applying, please visit: https://stetson-careers.silkroad.com/.

This position will coordinate the Counseling Center department’s efforts, staffing and direction in an effort to provide appropriate mental health services to the student population as well as effective outreach to the campus community. The Director serves as the lead student advocate and voice for mental health needs on campus, while keeping in mind the holistic academic needs of Stetson students. The Director supervises three full time Counselors, an Outreach Coordinator/Counselor and an administrative specialist while reporting to the Dean of Students.

They provide consultation services to student groups, faculty, and staff within the university.

The Director is a member of the Leadership team of Campus Life and Student Success at Stetson, a dynamic, evolving division driven by transformational leadership and continuous improvement. We seek team members who are highly motivated, strategic thinkers and relationship builders who thrive on shared governance. Our high expectations are matched by a robust professional development curriculum, which promotes achievement and significance through self-assessment, reflection, and holistic goal setting. We actualize a philosophy of challenge and support grounded in liberal learning and development as it relates to student persistence and success. We are committed to facilitating student discovery and exploration consistent with the aims of a broad liberal arts education; offering impactful learning opportunities based on current research and empirical data; cultivating the unique strengths and perspectives of individual students; fostering global awareness, social justice values, and civic engagement; and providing a healthy and vibrant educational environment conducive to holistic well-being.

Questions about this exciting position can be directed to Dean of Students, Lynn Schoenberg, lschoenb@stetson.edu.

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Jackson’s ALL WELLness Services, LLC Interpersonal Transformation - Our Newest Group Therapy Program Addiction and mental illness can be very overwhelming and destructive in the life of the sufferer. Loved ones of individuals with addiction and/or mental health problems may experience similar feelings of powerlessness. At times, these loved ones may feel that their own lives are spinning out of control because they have tried everything to help the sufferer to no avail.

There is hope. If you know of anyone who is suffering from someone else’s addiction and/or mental health problems, please call us directly at (727) 767-9850. Our newest program, Interpersonal Transformation, Transformation includes an initial individual counseling session, 10 group therapy sessions, and a closing individual therapy session.

The curriculum of this newest program is based on Dr. Daniella Jackson’s qualitative multiplecase study with adult children of alcoholics, with and without personal addictions, after their long-term recovery.

Jackson’s ALL WELLness Services, LLC 7813 Mitchell Boulevard, Suite 106 New Port Richey, Florida 34655 Phone #: (727) 767-9850 / Fax #: (727) 767-9851 Web: www.daniellajackson.com Email: daniella@daniellajackson.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ JacksonsAllWellness/

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After brief introductions around the dialogue for the Florida Mental Health Counselors’ Association Annual Conference coming up this February, I’d love to provide for you a more thorough introduction to the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology (GCAT).

Green Cross was founded by Dr. Charles Figley as a three-winged organization, providing training, certification, and deployment to lay persons and mental health professionals in the areas of disaster relief, compassion fatigue, treating traumatized populations, and resiliency. Our offering of trainings, which are both online and at a number of on-site locations, include classes on compassion fatigue, disaster relief, treating traumatized families, and rapid reduction techniques, such as EMDR Level 1. Following membership in our organization and enrollment in our trainings, we also offer four certifications: Compassion Fatigue Educator, Compassion Fatigue Therapist, Field Traumatologist, and Certified Traumatologist.

Deployment is an activity of Green Cross as natural and man-made disasters occur, where we are able to function under relief agencies such as FEMA within the incident command system. Members of Green Cross are invited to serve first responders and victims in these cases, such as after hurricane destruction. As we continue to grow, we welcome your interest in our trainings, certifications, and membership.

Here are the certifications that can be achieved through Green Cross Academy of Traumatology, and here is a list of the courses we offer at our headquarters, most of which are also available as prerecorded trainings here by Regent University, through our website www.greencross.org.

In addition to our exciting partnership with FMHCA for the upcoming conference in February, we have been undergoing other exciting transitions as well. The first change I want to share with you is our recent relocation to Washington D.C. area from our previous housing in Virginia Beach. Within past months, the Green Cross of Traumatology has become permanently based at: Divine Mercy University 2001 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 102, Arlington VA 22202 The university has graciously offered the office space to Green Cross at no charge, as it is also currently Green Cross’ newest site location. Dr. Benjamin Keyes, the Executive Director of GCAT, has taken a position with Divine Mercy University (DMU) as its director of internship and training for the new masters in counseling program in the eastern states. He is also the Director of the Center for Trauma & Resiliency Studies, which is a new Green Cross training location. We provide both on site and virtually attended trainings at this new location, and here is our schedule. Please join us! Any and all inquiry regarding membership, certificates, deployment, et cetera should be directed to our office coordinator Danietta at this time at (571)-302-3486, andgcatofficemanager@gmail.com.

With Green Cross now within one mile of downtown Washington D.C., we have the opportunity to network with the Red Cross, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, FEMA, and many of the national first responder organizations that activate when natural or manmade disaster strikes. We have already had inquiry from the American Mental Health Counselors Association, Catholic Charities, the Order of Malta, and other outreach organizations, to partner with Green Cross for both training and outreach response in times of crisis. Growth and change can sometimes be quite a positive thing.

Over the last several months, we have reorganized our certification agency CoCA, who will be reviewing our proposal for new courses and the new certifications of Master Field Traumatologist and Master Clinical Traumatologist, to honor those who have been in this field for seven years or more. We are continuing to grow and to change, even with our certification offerings.

We also have acquired several new sites. Some are still in development, such as Richmont University in Atlanta, and Trinidad. Divine Mercy University has submitted their fees to be an accredited site, and we are in discussion with three other locations to also be training sites for Green Cross. We are looking to expand to all 50 states with multiple training locations for the next several years, this will be a theme which we will continue to update you on.

The FMHCA Conference in February comes as a welcome reprieve for many of us enduring winter weather, and we are thrilled to be represented by our founder, Dr. Charles Figley, and his wife Dr. Kathy Figley, who are speaking at this Conference. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn about what others are doing in the field, explore new opportunities, and to network with each other in building the solid ground of this organization as we continue to grow.

As I said earlier in this article: lots of change, lots of growth. I am so happy to share in it with you, and I look forward to meeting many of you at this years' conference.

Blessings all,-Dr. Benjamin Keyes, Executive Director of Green Cross Academy of Traumatology

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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-2014free/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-10coder/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 Courtesy from Coping.US. com and James Messina

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FROM AGENCY TO PRIVATE PRACTICE—A PSCHOTHERAPISTS JOURNEY For the intern navigating the future work possibilities, private practice is one consideration. I need to say at the outset that it wasn’t my firstchoice due to the comfortability I already had with agency work. The latest research says around 50% of small business will fail within the first five years according to the US Small Business Administration. The corporate ladder, per say, was appealing in that I could rise to level of clinical director or own my own agency like so many have done before.

The risk of failure was a piece for me also; not having a steady paycheck that I could depend on. Upon starting my internship, I hadn’t known anyone that had a successful private practice that was thriving, but had heard and seen friends unsuccessfully try but move in a different direction after a few years.

Now that I am in private practice I can’t see myself ever going back to agency work. Here are some differences I found at both: Agency work 1. Is typically a set schedule which is easier to plan around and includes vacation, sick, and mental health days which can be freeing

2. Comes with a consistent paycheck that is easier on a budget and planning for family events 3. Is by a set of known rules and codes of the agency and some unwanted demands like meetings, credentialing, and the drive for the corporate ladder 4. Gives the chance for a growth in a position or the ability to create a program with the help of the agency which can be very exciting While Private Practice work 1. Is typically a flexible schedule. One can work early mornings or late evenings, lunch when it feels best, and carve out time for exercise or family events 2. Pay is according to how much you want and need to work. If your partner has a full-time job and money is less of an issue then work when you want. If you’re a new practitioner and building for your own private practice than work without burnout.

3. Be your own boss. This gives the freedom to do things how you want but it comes with the responsibility of making decisions that could affect an audit or your professional license.

4. With a potential 20% increase in job outlook for LMHC/MFT through 2024 which is much faster than the national average according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, you as an intern or agency work, could benefit from taking the liberating step into private practice.

I am available for consultation, mentoring, and qualified supervision via my office in Orlando or telehealth within the state of FL and can be best reached through email at newdirections3623@gmail.com Wishing you the best in your future possibilities, Scott Jones LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) CAP (Certified Addictions Specialist) Qualified Supervisor in the state of FL New Directions Counseling (Orlando FL)

Newdirections3623@gmail.com

References Hanks, D. (2016). What I Wish I’d Known Before Starting A Private Practice. Psych Central. Retrieved on May 27, 2017, from https://pro.psychcentral.com/private-practice/2011/09/what-i-wish-id-known-before-startinga-private-practice/ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/mental-health-counselors-andmarriage-and-family-therapists.htm (visited May 27, 2017).

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



Military Service Committee



Research Committee

Education Training 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 you!

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.

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Member Perk

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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Working with Kinky Clients 28 Jul 2017 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM With the advent of the internet, those who participate in alternative forms of relationship and sexual expression have come together as a community and created a new subculture whose numbers are growing. The therapeutic and medical needs of this community are different than the traditional patient and it is important for all medical providers to be familiar with the standard of care that may be different in these populations. This text offers the fundamentals about this subculture and important considerations when treating them.

Learning Objectives: To provide fundamental information on working with kinky clients and patients (1) Understand the ethnographic concepts of kinky and alternative relationships, communities and their role, as a medical provider, in their care.

(2) Understand the difference between healthy kink and pathology.

(3) Learn therapeutic interventions and common issues seen with BDSM,Polyamory, Swinging, Asexual, Fetish and other kinky clients.

(4) Understand some Ethical and Legal Issues related to kinky clients.

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-548603

About the Presenter: Patsy Evans is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Supreme Court Certified Family Court Mediator, Clinical Sexologist, Transgender Care Specialist, and Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

She has a three-tiered area of expertise working in the field of Relationship Counseling, Traumatology/ Pathological Relationships and is a Kink Knowledgeable Sexologist Therapist working heavily in the Polyamory/ BDSM/ GTBL communities. Dr. Evans has been a professor; public speaker, published author, researcher, and advocate for the alternative culture community, domestic violence, and abused men. She has developed a collaborative and holistic therapeutic treatment model designed to help individuals and families struggling through many forms of life transitions and currently is training students and counselors in this innovative method of treatment. Presently she owns a private practice, HarmonyUs Inc., in Tampa, Florida where she supervises students and new therapists.

Patsy is also very active in community service and volunteers within several charitable organizations

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