I hope that you all have had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. I am glad to report that, despite the heat and the temptation to enjoy the great outdoors, the SVC-CAMFT board remained very productive in the last couple of months. On the programs front, we had the pleasure of learning, “How to Be supportive of Clients who are Trans-gendered" back in June from Heather Blessing and Joe Borders. In July, we had a successful, two-day Law and ethics workshop, which was facilitated by the Amazing Dr. Ben Cladwell.
As we near the last quarter of the year, we are in the process of finalizing the strategic plan for 2019. Board members and committee chairs have been working very hard at planning next year's initiatives. We hope that with your support, we can grow our membership and expand the services that we offer to you and our community. This is also the time of year that we recruit and interview new candidates for the SVC-CAMFT board. So, if you or someone you know is interested in a very unique and rewarding volunteering opportunity with the board, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly, or to any other board members. Feel free to ask us about our volunteering experience and the available opportunities most suited for your skill set, interests, and availability.
We often receive calls from people that have questions on becoming licensed. Many of these answers can be found here. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/mft_faq.pdf This document was updated April of this year so it has all of the recent changes.
Ethics Corner
For 2018, in each newsletter we will be featuring different CAMFT ethics codes and looking deeper at how to implement them into your clinical practice.
This month we are looking at fees for therapeutic services. Whether you are a trainee, registered associate, or licensed for 20+ years, there must be a discussion of fees for the service you provide prior to the start of services, per BBS regulations.
CAMFT’s ethics code further describes our ethical responsibility:
“CAMFT Code of Ethics - Section 9.3 DISCLOSURE OF FEES: Marriage and Family Therapists disclose, in advance, their fees and the basis upon which they are computed, including, but not limited to, charges for canceled or missed appointments and any interest to be charged on unpaid balances, at the beginning of treatment and give reasonable notice of any changes in fees or other charges.”
CAMFT has written several articles discussing fee disclosure. Some key things to be aware of:
Fees are to be discussed with the client at the initiation of treatment, and it’s strongly recommended that written disclosure is provided;
Know and understand the health insurance benefits your clients may use, including limitations for out-of-network services, or services provided by a trainee or registered associate (which may not be covered by health insurance benefits);
Disclose fees for missed appointments, arriving late for appointments, how clients will be notified of increases to rates.
How to be Supportive of Clients who are Transgender presented by Heather Blessing, LMFT and Joe Borders
(2CEs)
The topic of being supportive of and working transgender individuals is certainly a complex topic, even so, Heather and Joe pulled off an amazing job. They hit high points, and the low points of developing skills for supporting Transgender people and their spouses, parents, siblings, and family members. They started with a poignant video that expressed the pain and struggle many transgender youth experience daily. They described the differences between intersex and transgender, and introduced terminology often used for different gender identities under the umbrella term “trans” or “transgender.” A discussion of sexuality, sex, and gender helped to clarify these challenges of many clients. Requirements for hormone and surgery letters, ages and stages, intersex people, family members, school, and support systems, were all included topics in this training. Additionally, Heather and Joe covered school safety, access to safe bathrooms, and difficulties many youth experience attending school while transgender. Also, they covered parenting around gender, gender authenticity, confusion between sexual orientation and gender identity many parents [and people] experience, WPATH requirements of informed consent, and the value of working with an interdisciplinary team when supporting transgender and intersex clients. They also provided a helpful list of resources, including WPATH, a go to for all professionals who work with transgender and intersex people. long list of resources for ensuring approaches for transgender clients. This is a heavy difficult topic to cover in such a short time, but these two presenters did an excellent job of giving information in a straight forward way, keeping open communication and inviting questions which made learning accessible for the attendees.
Chris M. Sanchez AMFT
Pronouns: They, Them, Theirs
September & October Events
SEPTEMBER FREE 3000 CLUB WORKSHOP
Topic: Understanding & Effectively Managing Suicide Risk: Fundamentals for the Systemic Therapist Presenter: David Rogers, LMFT Date: Friday, September 7. 2018 Time: 8:30am to 9:30am
Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map) Free Coffee and Donuts Space is limited so please register here
Workshop Information: The need to effectively understand, manage, and document suicide risk is increasing at an exponential rate. On September 1, 2017, the California Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 89, requiring psychologists to get trained in suicide prevention. It is speculated that the same will eventually be required of Marriage and Family Therapists. How comfortable are you when a client alludes to experiencing suicidal ideation? This lecture will cover the phenomenology of suicide; how to gather the right information; and developing/documenting a solid risk formulation that sufficiently justifies a specific outcome. Case examples will demonstrate how systemic principles can be utilized to collaboratively promote short and long-term client safety across a continuum of care.
Presenter Bio:
David Rogers is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in Folsom. David manages a team of mental health workers at two emergency departments for Sierra Mental Wellness Group. He designed and implemented Sierra’s Continuing Education division and develops cutting-edge training which he delivers across interagency divisions. David is a nationally certified trainer in Assessing and Managing Suicidal Risk (AMSR). He is currently researching explanatory factors associated with advanced brief strategic paradoxical intervention and remains passionate about translating research into practical results.
** Please be courteous and send us an email at info@svccamft.org if you are unable to attend after you have registered. **
SEPTEMBER WORKSHOP
Topic: Family Court/Forensic Mental Health Work Presenter: Jack D. Love and Diane Wasznicky Date: Friday, September 7, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00PM Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map)
Doors Open at 9:00AM Networking starts at 9:00 AM
This program will benefit LMFT, LPCC, LEP and LCSW licensees and pre licensees since the clinician may be called upon to defend his or her recommendation, court-involved therapy and child custody forensic work requires consistent attention to legal, ethical, and clinical boundaries and considerations. In addition to discussion of the various aspects of including a family court/forensic specialization in your practice, this presentation will discuss in some detail the additional training necessary, and where to find it. Although this training is specialized, it also typically meets standards necessary for clinical licensure.
Includes: Breakfast and meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Sacramento Valley Chapter of California Marriage and Family Therapist CAMFT CEPA CE Provider #62279 CE Credit will be awarded after the completion of the course via email.
No CEs will be awarded to persons arriving late or leaving early. Partial CE credit will not be awarded.
Workshop Information:
Child custody legal forensic work includes court-involved therapy, mediation and custody evaluation. This work is an important, interesting, and fulfilling opportunity for licensed mental health professionals to expand their private practice and their earning ability. Mental health professionals often serve as “the voice of the child” in family law proceedings. This area of practice is an important way to help families and children in crisis by providing the court with accurate and helpful information on which to base decisions. Helping families navigate custody arrangements and finding solutions to meet the child's needs can be rewarding both professionally and financially. Because there is currently a shortage of trained professionals providing these specialized services, the Sacramento Valley Child Custody Mediators and Evaluators Group and the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section have collaborated to design this presentation to help interested mental health professionals learn more about the intersection of family law and behavioral health, and about ways to effectively include this area of specialization in your practice.
Information about professional training requirements and where to find it.
An overview of the court process relating to child custody.
Discussion about other opportunities for mental health professionals to help families during their involvement in the family court system.
Presenter Bio:
Ms. Wasznicky received her undergraduate degree in psychology, sociology and law from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1977. A native of Massachusetts, she moved to California in 1977 to attend law school at the University of California, Davis, receiving her Juris Doctor in 1980. In 1989, she co-founded the firm of Bartholomew & Wasznicky, specializing in Family Law. She is certified by the State Bar of California as a Family Law Specialist.
Mr. Love has been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California since 1976. He provides counseling and psychotherapy for individuals and families, and specializes in divorce and custody related counseling and psychotherapy, mediation, evaluation, and consultation. He is frequently appointed by local Courts to serve as Child Custody Recommending Counselor, Child Custody Evaluator, and Special Master.
Early registration ends Thursday, August 30, 2018 Early registration rates:
2018 Licensed, Associate or Affiliate Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $20
2018 Pre-Licensed Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $15
Non-Member: $30
Starting Friday, August 31, 2018 rates:
2018 Licensed, Associate or Affiliate Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $25
2018 Pre-Licensed Member of SVC-CAMFT or a local chapter of CAMFT: $20
Non-Member: $35
Registration Ends Wednesday, September 5, 2018No Walk-in Registration unless announced.
OCTOBER 3000 CLUB WORKSHOP
Topic: Overview of the theoretical underpinnings and major treatment components of Intensive In-Home Family Treatment Presenter: Paul Sunseri, Psy.D. Date: Friday, October 5. 2018 Time: 8:30am to 9:30am
Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map) Free Coffee and Donuts Space is limited so please register here
Workshop Information: Dr. Sunseri will give a one-hour overview of the theoretical underpinnings and major treatment components of Intensive In-Home Family Treatment (myIIFT.org). IIFT is designed to stabilize children and teens in their home in order to reduce the likelihood of out of home care or for cases that have not responded well to traditional outpatient therapy. IIFT is based on a wraparound platform but with a number of unique enhancements including a novel use of in-home cameras designed to help families reduce conflict, improve communication, and effectively address and reduce problematic behavior.
Presenter Bio: Paul Sunseri, Psy.D. is a psychologist and the founder of three local community mental health agencies including two high level residential treatment programs for children and teens. He is currently the Executive Director of New Horizons Child & Family Services in El Dorado Hills which provides a variety of mental health services to children and families. In addition to being a clinician, Dr. Sunseri has conducted extensive research on treatment outcomes and has published several scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Sunseri is the developer of Intensive In-Home Family Treatment (IIFT), a new treatment approach for high conflict families.
** Please be courteous and send us an email at info@svccamft.org if you are unable to attend after you have registered.
OCTOBER WORKSHOP
Topic: Brain Imaging: The Neurobiological Underpinnings of Behavior and its Impact on Therapy Presenter: Amen Clinic Date: Friday, October 5, 2018 Time: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (map)
Doors Open at 8:30AM Networking starts at 8:30 AM Annual Membership Meeting Starts at 9:00 AM
This program will benefit LMFT, LPCC, LEP and LCSW licensees and pre licensees.
Includes: Breakfast and meets the qualifications for 6 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Sacramento Valley Chapter of California Marriage and Family Therapist CAMFT CEPA CE Provider #62279 CE Credit will be awarded after the completion of the course via email.
No CEs will be awarded to persons arriving late or leaving early. Partial CE credit will not be awarded.
(If you would like your article published in our newsletter please email info@svccamft.org)
Grief and Pending Death
by
Heather Cassandra Blessing, LMFT
One of my dear friends was recently diagnosed with cancer, Pancreatic Cancer to be more precise. I am helping her put many of her affairs in order and helping her move. While I have been with her, many of her friends and family have visited or helped out. I have noticed that they have been unintentionally dismissing my friend's feelings, experience and reality. I know they are doing it to make themselves feel better and feel like they need to make her feel better, but it actually makes my friend feel worse.
For example, not long after the diagnosis, when she realized she could not go back to work, would have to leave her home of 26 years and not sure what she was to do and had to face she probably only has about a year or so left, when a friend asked how she was, she stated, "I wish I would have never woken up. I just don't want to wake up anymore. " Her friend thinking she was being helpful said something like, "Oh, don't say that, things will get better." When my friend said something about probably only being around a year, another of her friends told her, "You never know, I have known people with cancer that live 10 years after their diagnosis."
I get what these friends were trying to do, they were trying to make themselves feel better by making my friend feel better. Discussing and dealing with death is uncomfortable. It is hard. I know as I have been dealing with it. This is not something you can just put a positive spin on and make someone feel better. Sometimes you have to sit in the feelings with a friend and just be there for them and hear them.
Things you can do are responses like this: "I don't think I would want to wake up either. This is really hard and overwhelming stuff. Is there anything I can do to help? Do you want to talk about it?" or "It must be tough to wrap your brain around having limited time in this life. How are you doing?" In most cases someone who just got diagnosed with a terminal illness, they feel like they have lost all control, so see where you can give them some control while handling some of the overwhelming issues. For example, my friend needed to have a garage sale. We helped her put things out for the garage sale. We let her set the prices and talk to people and sell how she wanted. We just made it physically easier on her by moving the stuff and putting it out. I also ask for guidelines - "What files do you want kept? How do you want to handle these things?" and then do the physical work of sorting and ask questions when I am not sure.
Most importantly, allow them their feelings and their perception of reality. They need time to process and remember everyone grieves and processes differently. Let them do it and don't try to make it all better, some things cannot be made better. Some things are just painful and hard. Get support for your own grief. I increased the amount of therapy I was getting so I could keep processing my grief and issues of being overwhelmed while still being the safe place for my friend to cry, yell, scream, complain, process, and laugh. I ask myself before saying anything harsh or trying to correct my friend, is this really going to benefit her. Most of the time the answer is no. It doesn't help if I were to remind her that she said she would do something and she didn't. It doesn't help if I get upset or frustrated with her. I know she doesn't mean to because she is just going through a lot of stuff right now.
By holding space for my friend and whatever she is going through and dealing with my own stuff away from her, it has helped us become closer and enjoy the time we have together more. It also has deepened our relationship to being much more authentic than it ever was because she can see that I can hold that space for her feelings and she doesn't have to filter things for fear of my reactions.
I read this to my friend and she said this is exactly what she needs.
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The views expressed in the Special Feature Articles do not necessarily reflect the Sacramento Valley Chapter of CAMFT or CAMFT. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the author. No information in this article will be understood as official. Other views and commentary are welcome and will be published as long as they are respectful and stick to the topic.
Letters to the Editor
Welcome to the Letters to the editor Section. We want to hear what you want to say about SVC-CAMFT, CAMFT, current events and issues. Please see below guidelines on submitting a letter.
We Have No Letters to the Editor! Let your voice be heard! Write a letter to the editor!
__________________________________
Letters to the Editor Guidelines
You must be a current SVC-CAMFT member.
You cannot be a SVC-CAMFT board member or employee.
It must be no more than 250 words.
You must send in your full name so I can verify that you are a member.
If you wish your name not to be published please indicate.
Any letter published without a name will be listed as Anonymous MFT or Anonymous pre-license or Anonymous Associate
All letters must be respectful and without inappropriate words or phrases including name calling.
If you do not get a response back within 2 days that it has been received please email back.
ALL LETTERS RECEIVED WILL RECEIVE A RESPONSE THAT IT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER.
If there is a problem with the letter (language, misspellings, length or appropriateness) you will receive an email back with the reason for the rejection and a chance to fix the problem and send it back in.
Psyched about Books and Movies
Welcome to "Psyched about Books and Movies!" Each month we include a book or movie review by one of our readers. Please see below guidelines on submitting a review.
Title: Saying Goodbye: A Guide to Coping with a Loved One's Terminal Illness Authors: Barbara Okun and Joseph Nowinski Copyright: 2012 Reviewer: Heather Blessing, LMFT
Review: A reasonably comprehensive guide that is helpful one someone you love has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. It doesn't cover everything but gives a lot for you to think about.
Book/Movie Review Submission Policy
All reviews are not to exceed 1000 key strokes. Your review should include the title, a short synopsis about why you like or dislike it, and the author’s name & publication date.You can also include a picture of the book and/or movie. After review, we will publish your review in our next newsletter. Reviews submitted that are longer than 1000 characters will be returned for editing. It is best to type your review in a Microsoft Word document to note how many key strokes (characters with spaces), how big your review is, and for your own record keeping. You can then copy and paste it into the online submission form located here (http://www.svccamft.org/Newsletter.html) To learn more about checking your review for key strokes, spelling grammar and size click below: (http://www.svccamft.org/How_to_check_review_in_microsoft_word.doc).
It is your responsibility to check for spelling and grammar errors. Reviews must be received by the 20th of the month in order to appear in the next newsletter.
You can submit your review by: Visiting our webpage: www.svccamft.org
Mailing it in: P.O. Box 163385, Sacramento, CA 95816
Paid Internships Listing Provided by:
Prelicensed is a free resource for MFT registered interns, trainees, and students in California. We offer numerous services that are designed to help you prepare and prevail over the course of your journey to licensure
For more job listings and other free resources, visit Prelicensed!
Advertising and Announcements
CLINICIAN / THERAPIST WANTED FOR FULL PRIVATE PRACTICE ROSEVILLE AND/OR FAIR OAKS
We are a growing grp practice focusing on couples & individuals. We value great customer service, professionalism, ambition, humility, team work, integrity, and enthusiasm.
Looking for licensed clinician (at least 1 year in outpatient) to work in a private practice setting providing clinical services to individuals and couples. Specialties in couples (EFT or Gottman plus), Trauma (EMDR or other trauma focused training), or skilled in ind. therapy (psychodynamic, CBT, Solution)
This is a great opportunity for a clinician looking to expand their career into private practice working with ideal clients that are private pay. Limited paperwork.
Start part time with unlimited potential to increase hours as the practice grows. Flexible hours - Weekdays, evenings and weekend hours available.
You will be provided furnished office space, referrals, website, online scheduling and EMR System.
Individual and group consultation meetings offered regularly.
Employee status with pay varying depending on volume of clients
Must be licensed, in good standing, LMFT or LPCC, have liability insurance and computer.
WOMEN AND AGING, new group for older women who want to explore the many facets of aging in a supportive environment. Group will meet weekly in Midtown Sacramento, $60 per 1 1/2 hour meeting, 8 week commitment. Call Sally Weiler, 916-446-6257.
GROUP: DIVORCE: HEALING AND MOVING ON
My group, Divorce: Healing and Moving On, focuses on envisioning what members want their lives to be like so they can move forward and create the life and relationships they want. This group is a safe place to share these feelings without fear of judgment.
In this support group, members will gain strategies, learn to cope, and begin to heal by relating to others in similar situations. One of the stages of healing is working on the harm that was done in the relationship as well as being accountable for one’s part in the dynamic. The focus is placed on the individual and their relationship with themselves.
Divorce is the starting point and our goal for the group is to transform who members will become. They will meet people who want the right kind of support so you can get through this part of your separation together.
Group Details:
● San Francisco Group: 5:30pm - 7:00pm Tuesdays
● Intake therapy session required to join
Advertising Policy for the Newsletter
All ads and reviews are not to exceed 1000 key strokes. Chapter members advertise at no cost. Non-members can advertise about employment opportunities at no cost. Non-members, non employment-related ads follow these rates:
$10 for 200 key strokes
$20 for 201-600 key strokes
$30 for 601-1000 key strokes
Full page and ½ page ads are not accepted.
All ads contain text only; no graphics will be included.
Ads submitted that are longer than 1000 characters will be returned for editing. It is best to type your ad in a Microsoft Word document to note how many characters, how big your ad is, and for your own record keeping. Please visit our site to find more information on how to use Microsoft word for editing. You can then copy and paste it on our online submission form located here (http://www.svccamft.org/Newsletter.html)
It is your responsibility to check for spelling and grammar errors.
Ads must be received by the 25th of the month in order to appear in the next newsletter. Ads are placed in the order that they are received.
SVC-CAMFT Contact us mail: P.O. Box 163385, Sacramento, CA 95816 Phone: (916) 597-0811 Email: info@svccamft.org We are on the Web! www.svccamft.org To post to the listserve, please email to: info@svccamft.org
You are receiving this newsletter because you are member of Sacramento Valley Chapter of CAMFT.
Newsletter Editor: Heather Blessing, MA, LMFT
