Professional Development

We’re excited to share that Kansas recently enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, making it the 7th state to join the compact! This is momentous, because having at least seven states enact the compact was required to move forward with the implementation of the compact. The seven states who have enacted the compact so far include: Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. A number of additional states have pending legislation. Why this matters Historically, obtaining licensure across multiple states has been a tedious and laborious process, costing social

We’re thrilled to announce Amanda Rowan is presenting at the NASW-CA Annual Conference later this month, October 20-21, in Burbank, California. Together, you’ll take a deep dive into the Edge of Life Model: Introduction to Treating Suicidality. Imagine sitting on the literal Edge of Life with your client. What emotions do you experience? What physical sensations arise? What thoughts do you have? Treating suicidality is scary for both the client and the therapist. To help clients move away from the edge, we must first be able to welcome, explore, and understand the depths of their unique

As I coach our LMSW and LCSW customers, the question of the ‘why’-the purpose of the test- sometimes comes up. Ultimately, the ASWB exists for the purpose of public safety. The ASWB exists to be a gatekeeper to the profession, ensuring licensed social workers are able to practice safely and ethically. So many questions on the exam fall under safety and ethics. (And so many of our challenging situations once we’re licensed come from ethical issues; more on our ethics CE offerings below!). ASWB Exam Prep: Ethics So what happens when a social worker acts in a manner that is unsafe or that goes

If you think the questions on your licensing exam were tough, wait until the first time your client asks you a question that will force you to pause before answering. There are many difficult questions your clients will ask from your relationship status to your weekend plans. Prepare to be caught off guard or surprised by what they ask. Your boundaries will be pushed, so be aware of tough questions that will come your way in your clinical practice. Avoid being defensive when asked these questions because your client is opening up to you, and often they don’t know what’s okay versus not okay to

Have you ever wondered if your clinical skills were getting stale? Maybe you have the feeling that you need to add to your clinical toolbox, or while working with a client, you realized that you needed a different approach. Regardless if your a new clinician or have years of experience, there is a need to keep your clinical skills fresh. You’re responsible for delivering the best service possible for your client, and if it’s been a while since you worked on your skills, it’s time to learn something new. Here are five ways to refresh your clinical skills. 1) Attend a free webinar We are in a

If you’ve ever wondered how to become a sex therapist, you are not alone. As a therapist or counselor, you may be considering a specialty so you can better serve your clients. You already enjoy couples counseling, and if you want to enhance your clinical skills, then you should consider becoming a sex therapist. Both individual and couples clients that you work will benefit from your training as a sex therapist. However, before you jump into a specialization in sex therapy, here are a few basics to consider. What is sex therapy? There is a lot of misinformation and myths about sex therapy

Have you ever worked with a client and felt unsure if you are providing the best support? Whether you are a new or seasoned therapist in the mental health field, we all can benefit from ensuring we are giving the best care. When you work with transgender and non-binary clients, it’s essential to provide the clinical care they deserve. Many transgender and non-binary people face hardships, which can include discrimination, fear of violence, suicide, as well as lack of family support. Clinicians need to be aware of how their assumptions and perspective affect their clinical presence. As

The field of addiction counseling is a tough one at times. Helping a client along their journey from their life being out of control to recovery can be one of the most rewarding parts of being a therapist. However, just as exhilarating as it is to see a client succeed, it can be daunting when they don’t. There is no such thing as a perfect client or therapist. Here is what you need to know, so you don’t personalize a client’s relapse. What is a relapse? Relapse is the return of an illness after a period of improvement. The time frame of improvement differs from person to person. There is a

MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist ) - It is nearly impossible to move through adulthood without being asked (possibly too often) “What is it that you do?” And it’s often the case that a response of, “I’m an MFT,” is met with a look of confusion. The mental health field has more acronyms than one can count. MFT, LCSW, LPCC, HIPAA, BBS, CBT, DBT…and the list goes on. Even when the acronym is spelled out, “Marriage and Family Therapist,” an explanation is often still required. What is a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)? According to the Federal government, Marriage and Family Therapists are

When someone asks me what it’s like to be a therapist, I often reply that it’s never the same hour twice. Of course, each counseling client is different, but so is every session, whether it’s the variety of issues that clients present with to the different life experiences, every hour is different. Even though there are infinite possibilities of presenting problems that clients have, there is one question that you should be asking every counseling client. Regardless of your theoretical approach or counseling style, you should ask the question, “What do you want to work on today?” The power of