The June 2013 SVC-CAMFT Newsletter.
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Sacramento
Valley Chapter
California Association of Marriage
& Family Therapists Newsletter
Editor: Heather Blessing, MFT
Registered Intern
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Having Problems Reading this E-Mail? Click here to read it on our website.
Letter from the President
Dear Colleagues, I hope this letter finds you well. There have been some troubling developments, in my opinion, with issues with State CAMFT that I feel obligated to inform you of. I also need to be equally clear that I am not speaking for the Board but as an individual. We have not had a chance to discuss this issue collectively yet thus the need for clarification
Unbeknownst to almost everyone, the new Bylaws which were presented to the Membership for approval or disapproval stated that the intent was to bring the documents into compliance with current State Law. We are led to believe that the Bylaws have not been updated since 1964, thus the need for the update. This is factually untrue. The Bylaws were updated as recently as 2009 to bring them into compliance with State law.
The Bylaws that have been presented to the Membership are, in my opinion, flawed and the pretext is misleading. The Bylaws are already in compliance with State Law. The material changes in the Bylaws presented to you for voting do several things, one of which is extraordinarily troubling for me personally thus my calling to speak directly to you.
The proposed New Bylaws OMITS THE NAME MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST IN IT'S ENTIRETY throughout the course of the document. The only thing that remains unchanged is the name: CAMFT. Upon discussion with State CAMFT this was not a mistake but a purposeful action. The statement has been made that CAMFT will not be an agency that promotes the profession of Marriage and Family Therapists but will promote all mental health professionals. While this is perhaps a noble idea, MFTs continue to be at a distinct disadvantage in several areas, including the ability to bill Medicare and obtain gainful employment at most Veterans Affairs facilities.
My colleagues and I have been discussing this at great lengths. We feel strongly that CAMFT needs to maintain it’s focus on promoting our professional licensure and our causes. Once parity amongst professionals is reached, perhaps we might entertain the notion of allowing all mental health professionals joining our organization. If these By-laws pass we will be the only licensed mental health professionals who do not have an organization focused specifically on our needs. The LCSW lobby will still be present, as will the lobbying arm for Psychologists and Psychiatrists. Ours may very well die as a result of this vote.
We have raised a platitude of issues with State CAMFT and have received unsatisfactory responses to all of our inquiries. Some of the issues brought up were transparency, accountability, openness, and a postponement of the vote until such time that the members have a complete understanding on what they are voting for.
We have been denied on all of our requests for postponement as well as answers to our questions. The vote will proceed and if one voted for the changes only to find out now what those changes are, the response is essentially to bad.
I will not ask you to vote one way or another. I will ask that you read the documents and make your own choice on whether these documents represent the core values you require for your career to advance along the appropriate path. Once you have done that, please vote whether it be a Yes or No.
Sincerely yours, Chad Thompson
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This issue:
· Letter From the President
· Legal Beagle
· May Presentation Summary
· June Meeting Information
· Upcoming Board Meetings · Law & Ethics Training· Gottman Level II Training · Special Feature · Psyched about Books and Movies· Advertising and Announcements· Advertising Polcy for the Newsletter
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Chad Thompson, MFT President-Elect: Jill P. Lawler, MFT Past President: Eva Tak, MFT Secretary: Brad Gilbert, MFT Intern Treasurer: Beverly
Baldwin, MFT Intern Members-At-Large: Dr.
Linda Sessions, MFT
Althea
Lee, MFT Intern Program
Chair: Tracy Thomas Assistant
Program Chair: Karla Amanda Brown, MFT Intern Hospitality
Co-Chairs: Carol Mahr, MFT Kimberlie Flowers, MFT Pre-License
Chair: Luis Gonzalez, MFT Intern Volunteer Chair: Catherine Zanzi, MFT Intern Membership
Co-Chairs: Cheryl Cleveland, MFT Intern
Miriam Hernandez, MFT Intern Newsletter
Editor: Heather Blessing, MFT Intern
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Welcome to the section of the SVC-CAMFT newsletter, Legal Beagle written
by Darlene Davis, LMFT. The chapter thought it would be helpful to keep you
updated on new laws, legislative pursuits or actions, as well as ongoing legal
and ethical dilemmas we all face in our career as Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapists, Interns, and Trainees. Please feel free to ask questions that you
have and I will do my best to investigate and post your answer in the
newsletter. Please note that articles are based on information from CAMFT
and/or the BBS and have been researched to the best of my ability. This is not
meant to be legal advice. Please
contact CAMFT or Board of Behavioral Sciences for any legal matters you need
assistance for.
Mandated Reporting of consensual oral sexual activity There has been some discussion
lately on whether we as mandated reporters should report consensual oral sex
between two minors. Please take note we are talking about consensual sexual activity.
It seems clear to practitioners what to do when there is consensual
intercourse between two minors of like age but more controversy around oral sexual
activity. Ben Caldwell, AAMFT-CA recently
presented historical information at a BBS meeting earlier this year where he
pointed out the possible incongruity between not reporting consensual
intercourse between two 13-yr-old’s (as an example) yet we are supposed to
report consensual oral sexual activity between the same two 13-yr-old’s. Catherine
L. Atkins, JD, Staff Attorney and the Deputy Executive Director at CAMFT
recently updated an article, Reporting Consensual Activity Between
Minors: The
Confusion Unraveled, The Therapist magazine (May 2013) where she sites Penal Code section 11165.1, all sodomy, oral
copulation, penetration of a genital or anal opening by a foreign object, even
if consensual, with a partner of any age, was a mandatory report. In the same
article Catherine writes, Counsel to the BBS recently stated, in summary, that court
interpretations throughout the years confirmed that minors can lawfully engage
in consensual sex with other minors of like age, without the necessity of a
mandatory report. Counsel further stated that while the cases cited in her
analysis did not directly discuss oral copulation and sodomy between minors,
the same reasoning applied and as such, practitioners were not required to
report all conduct by minors that fell under the definition of sodomy and oral
copulation. This adds to the confusion of
whether we as mandated reporters are supposed to report consensual oral sexual
activities between minors of certain ages. Although, the findings of the above
summary stated that practitioners may not be required to report consensual oral
sexual activity it important to note that the Penal Code section 11165.1 is
still in effect and therefore compels us to report. What might I do? If I find two
mature minors that are involved in consensual sexual activity and I am sure
there is no coercion, or force, and after consulting with colleagues, and
possibly legal counsel I may be persuaded not to report and to document reasons
to support my decision. I understand that there are many reasons why a minor
may choose oral sexual activity over intercourse; religious reasons,
abstinence, pregnancy precautions, etc. Whatever decision we make we need to
follow the intent of the law. Hopefully this issue will be addressed in a way
that protects clients and increases our understanding as mandated reporters. What
would you do? Darlene Davis, LMFT
Executive Director HOPE; Healthy
Outcomes for Personal Enrichment
MFT Stipend Coordinator for Greater
Sacramento
Instructor of University of Phoenix
www.darlenedavismft.com
www.hope-counselingcenter.org
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Emotional Intelligence Our May meeting was held a week early on May 10th, so as to not conflict with the CAMFT Conference the following week. Speaker Florence Soares-Dabalos, LMFT, spoke about Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, and it's importance in maintaining healthy relationships.
EQ can be simply defined as "the ability to perceive, accept, and regulate one's own emotions, and to be able to read others' emotions accurately."
Though the concept of emotional intelligence has been around since at least the 1970's, the term become more commonly used after the 1995 publication of Daniel Goleman's book Emotional Intelligence.
In a therapeutic setting, emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened. Through psychoeducation and CBT activities our clients can learn to become more attuned to their own emotions and to those of others. Florence gave several fun and interactive examples of ways to help enhance our clients' EQ.
If you are interested in learning more about EQ, please visit www.6seconds.org
Submitted by Catherine Zanzi MFT Intern
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June Meeting InformationPre-license Meeting There will be NO FREE Pre-License Meeting this month due to the 9:00AM start time. Pre-Licenses are welcome to join but do have to pay for the meeting.
General Meeting Date: Friday, June 21, 2013 from 9:00 to
Noon Location: University of Phoenix, 2860 Gateway
Oaks Drive, Sacramento 95833 (Map) Topic 1: Expanding Your Private Practice - Hiring and Supervising Interns by Deborah Cohen, LMFT
Topic 2: Overview of Affect Centered Therapy (ACT) by John Omaha Ph.D.
Topic 1 overview:- Benefits of hiring interns in your private practice - Assessing your practice for "readiness to hire" - BBS requirements - interns as "employees" -
Business structure - costs associated with hiring interns (payroll,
worker compensation, banking, taxes, malpractice, supplies, etc) - Supervisor profitability opportunities - Length of commitment needed for optimal success - Marketing and entrepreneurial skills necessary for interns - Intern and supervisor skills needed for success
Topic 2 overview: Learn
how ACT, a new psychotherapeutic orientation created by John Omaha,
Ph.D., addresses the root cause of much psychopathology: emotion
dysregulation and the personality structures that have emerged to deal
with overwhelming, unresolved emotions. ACT has been used effectively in
couple's work. It has been applied to successful treatment of OCD,
Crohn's Disease, disorders characterized by sexual compulsion, and to
treatment of narcissistic and borderline personality disorders. ACT
provides an effective approach for brief, successful treatment of the
ingestive disorders - alcoholism, addictions, nicotine dependency, and
eating disorders. We encourage early registration as space is
limited.
Click here to register.
Cost: Pre-register: $15 stu/interns, $20 SVC-CAMFT
memb, $30 non-memb., +$5 "at-door" registration. Inclu. Cont brkfst.
& 2 CEUs. No cc's at door. Reserv req'd by June 18th -Laura (916) 350-1577,
email:membership@sacramentovalleycamft.org or reg,pay, directions at http://www.sacramentovalleycamft.org Reservations required: You can register and pre-pay online
at www.sacramentovalleycamft.org, or contact Laura Frederick at (916)
350-1577 or email membership@sacramentovalleycamft.org
to register and pay at
the door. Please help us contain the cost of presentations by making
reservations in a timely manner (by Tuesday before the meeting). This is much
appreciated. *Disclaimer: University of
Phoenix is a trade name and registered trademark of the Apollo Group, Inc. Its
use herein by SVC- CAMFT to identify the event location is not intended to
imply affiliation with, sponsorship or endorsement of the event by University
of Phoenix or Apollo Group, Inc.
Upcoming Board Meetings
All members are
invited to attend. June 21, 2013 at 12:30 pm at Ettores on
Fair Oaks Boulevard across the street from Loehman’s Plaza August 16, 2013 from 9:00am-11:00am at
3550 Watt Avenue in Sacramento CA 95821 (Watt and Whitney) October 18, 2013 immediately following the
Training Session.
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Law & Ethics Training
LEGAL and ETHICAL
ISSUES WORKSHOP WHAT DOES THE LAW
EXPECT OF ME? with David Jensen,
J.D. Date:
Friday,
July 19, 2013 Time:
9:00
a.m. To 4:00 p.m. Location:
University
of Phoenix, 2860 Gateway Oaks Drive, Room 301, Sacramento, CA 95833. Be
sure to attend The Sacramento Valley Chapter of CAMFT’s Legal and Ethical
Issues Workshop: What Does the Law Expect of Me? with David Jensen, J.D. In
this interactive workshop, David Jensen, J.D., Staff Attorney for CAMFT &
contributor to The Therapist magazine, will present an in-depth 6 hour workshop
to review: · The ten things that
the psychotherapy profession comes down to · The standard of care · The differences between
one's right to privacy and a therapist's duty to maintain confidentiality of
patient information (including both mandated and permitted exceptions to
confidentiality) · The fundamentals of
reporting elder and dependent adult abuse This
course satisfies the BBS requirements for law & ethics and includes 6
CEU's. Continental breakfast and lunch is included in the price. There is limited enrollment so be sure
to register early.
Pre-Register: $75 SVC-CAMFT member, $50 SVC-CAMFT student/intern, $85 non-member. Click Here to Register
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: Please register and prepay online at www.sacramentovalleycamft.org, or
contact Laura Frederick at (916) 350-1577 or email
membership@sacramentovalleycamft.org to register and pay at the door. Deadline
to register is July 2, 2013. |
Gottman Level 2 Training:
ASSESSMENT,
INTERVENTION, and CO-MORBIDITIES Date: October 25, 26, and 27, 2013 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: University of Phoenix, 2860 Gateway
Oaks Drive, Room 301, Sacramento, CA 95833 Special Discounted
Price: $650 Prerequisite: Level 1 $75
Discount for the Level 1 Home Study DVD Training (Reg. $299) Deepen
your understanding of Gottman Method Couples Therapy and expand your strategies
and interventions in your work with couples! In
this workshop, you will:
- Refine your
clinical skills
- Learn to
internalize and integrate the powerful, research-based Gottman Method
Assessment and Intervention techniques.
- Gain insight as
to when to use these methods and when couples therapy is contraindicated.
- Become skilled
in using our Level II Clinical Manual which now includes revised Gottman
Core Assessments, Gottman Supplemental Assessments and more than 50
Gottman Interventions
Participants will be able to:
- Assess a couple’s “Friendship Profile,” “Conflict Profile,” and
“Shared Meanings Profile.”
- Develop interventions that couples can use as antidotes to the “Four
Horsemen.”
- Help couples to soothe physiological flooding.
- Apply six modes of changing the “Attack/Defend System” in a couple’s
interactions.
- Assist couples in establishing dialogue about their grid-locked
conflicts.
- Select and implement interventions to help couples deepen their
“Friendship System” with rituals of connection.
- Select and implement interventions to help couples create a shared
system of values and meaning
- Identify and implement five different co-morbidities common to
couples using Gottman Couples Therapy Assessment and Intervention
ADVANCED RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: Limited enrollment, so be sure
to register early. Please register
and prepay online at www.sacramentovalleycamft.org or contact Laura Frederick
at (916) 350-1577 or email membership@sacramentovalleycamft.org to register and
mail your payment. Registration
and Payment is due by September 15, 2013. Registration will be available shortly on the website.
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Special Feature
Just what is a PHP? It’s amazing how many varied work sites are available
for an MFT. I had never heard of a PHP until I got a job at one. PHP stands for Partial Hospitalization Program and they
are designed as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. A client may be
admitted directly into a PHP or may transfer from an inpatient hospital setting
to this lower level of care and support. It offers a client the support and intensity
of acute inpatient care without the restrictions of hospitalization. The PHP outpatient service is a group therapy setting offered
for adults and/or adolescents in a full day or six groups a day program or a
half day IOP, Intensive Outpatient Program, program of three groups. Some programs offer daily lunch and transportation
when needed and are funded by insurance carriers. “The ‘container’ for this work is perhaps best
described by the classical Greek word temenos, meaning a sacred enclosed
space, a vessel or environment in which transformation occurs. A safe place to
let go of playing it safe.” Robert
Masters, Ph.D. Clients participate in educational groups on mood and
thought disorders, medication, anger management, boundaries, addictive
behaviors, grief and loss, coping skills, stress management, and relaxation.
The clients also attend smaller therapy groups for processing individual
issues. Through these groups the client is afforded the opportunity to explore
the life events and conditions that have played a part in their current
situation with the support and understanding of kindred spirits. PHP
programs may vary but in the program I work in, all groups are led by licensed
therapists and clients see a psychiatrist weekly for medication management,
have access to an RN daily, and see a medical doctor after intake. The length
of stay depends on client need, but on average, can be from two weeks to two
months. Families are also invited to informational meetings to be a part of the
process and support the client. The PHP is an excellent resource for therapists who
have a client who could benefit from additional information, needs support
through a crisis, or have decompensated but would not benefit from hospitalization.
Charlotte Parks LMFT
Heritage Oaks Hospital
Roseville Outpatient Center Program Manager
1899 E. Roseville Parkway Suite 150
Roseville, 95661
(916) 784-2626
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 articles 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. |
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Psyched about Books and MoviesWelcome 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. Happy reading! Title: Insanity: A Love Story
Author: Melissa Miles McCarter
Copyright: 2012, Fat Daddy's Farm
Reviewer: Heather Blessing, MFT Intern
Review: The author writes of her experiences with "insanity". She has bipolar disorder and becomes so delusional that she is admitted into a mental hospital. Mrs. McCarter describes what it is like to be institutionalized and to be labeled insane. This book really can help someone see what losing a grip on reality is like and what living in an institution is like. I really thought her way of describing both what she was thinking and feeling before, during and after admittance helped give me more insight when working with clients who have been institutionalized before.
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.sacramentovalleycamft.org/Newsletter.html) To
learn more about checking your review for key strokes, spelling grammer and
size click below: (http://www.sacramentovalleycamft.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.sacramentovalleycamft.org
Mailing
it in: P.O. Box 163385, Sacramento, CA 95816
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Advertising and Announcements
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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.sacramentovalleycamft.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. You can submit and pay
for your ad by: Visiting
our webpage: www.sacramentovalleycamft.org Mailing
in payment: P.O. Box 163385, Sacramento, CA 95816 Emailing the Newsletter Editor: newslettereditor@sacramentovalleycamft.org Thank you
for contributing to the newsletter! |
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Copyright © 2013 {Organization_Name}. All rights reserved.
Contact email: {Organization_Contact_Email}
SVC-Camft Contact us mail: P.O. Box 163385, Sacramento, CA 95816 Phone: (916) 350-1577 Email: membership@sacramentovalleycamft.org We are on the Web! www.sacramentovalleycamft.org To post to the listserve, please email to: svccamft@yahoo.com
You are receiving this newsletter because you are member of Sacramento Valley Chapter of CAMFT.
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