Professional Development

As clinicians, we often learn something new every day. Education comes from experience in the clinical setting and our quest for continued learning in the field. One area that many clinicians need to continue to grow is working with LGBTQIA+ clients. I use LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, plus) acronym because I feel like it is more inclusive. Often you will see LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQI, and other acronyms for the community. As a clinician, advocate, and ally, I wanted to share a few mistakes that some providers make when working with the community. Mistake

Substance abuse disorders affect millions of individuals. There is a need for trained clinicians to work with individuals struggling with alcohol and drugs. Addiction counseling can be one of the most challenging and rewarding fields of specialty. The nature of addiction, recovery, and continued sobriety is life-altering. Just because there are many drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers offering services, doesn’t mean there aren’t difficulties seeking treatment. Here are a few common barriers that clients face when seeking addiction counseling. Judgmental clinicians A potential client

You enjoy individual and couples counseling, but you notice that intimacy continues to present as a problem in most of your sessions. If you are open to learning new clinical skills to help these clients consider becoming a certified sex therapist. Marriage and family therapists, social workers, and licensed counselors have the option of studying sex counseling. Sex therapy is a great field to study if you are interested in helping individuals and couples explore intimacy in their lives. Through a sex therapy certification program and supervision, you will be able to help individuals on a

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) implemented many new changes that affect Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASWs) who are currently pursuing licensure and those who supervise ASWs as well. There are a few laws that will affect others, including MFTs and PCCs, seeking licensure and those already licensed with the BBS; be on the lookout for those down below as well. We thought it might be helpful to highlight the big changes that are taking place, but as always it's good to read the new laws in detail here: BBS Law Changes for 2019 What are the major changes? The BBS has

You feel confident and competent in your clinical skills, but there is always something you can improve on. Even the most skilled clinician has room to grow. One area to ensure you are providing the best care is for your LGBTQIA+ clients. They face many barriers throughout their lives, and you can be great support for the community. Let’s start with defining the acronym LGBTQIA+. This stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and the (+) plus includes all of the other identities along the spectrum. This symbol is used to be inclusive of identities that aren’t

You may be feeling overwhelmed by the number of new terms, theories, and practices you are learning. With all of the clinical information, you are consuming it can be easy to gloss over the concepts of transference and countertransference. You know it makes sense that as a clinician you may be triggered by a client or you remind the client of someone they know. You may feel it’s common sense and it will be easy to identify in the clinical setting. However, transference and countertransference can be the areas that cause the most significant issues for you as a clinician. Here is why these

[caption id="attachment_1881" align="alignright" width="300"] Image courtesy of Urine Drug Test[/caption] Think back to grade school when you heard the slogan “Just Say No” to drugs. Your perception of drug addiction may have involved dimly lit streets, shady characters, and feeling far removed from your daily life. At that time, you may not have thought of a doctor office or a 70-year-old grandmother as being involved in substance abuse. The same individuals who use a few pain pills can quickly find themselves injecting heroin. The opioid epidemic has changed societies perception of drug

If you provide marriage counseling or couples counseling you probably have discussed sex during a session. Maybe your client brought the topic up as an issue in their relationship, or you asked if there are any problems with intimacy. As a therapist, there is no way to escape the topic of sex and intimacy. Sex is a significant issue that leads people to begin couples therapy. In relationship counseling and marriage therapy, there is always something to learn about sex and intimacy. Even though I have a doctorate in clinical sexology and am a certified sex therapist, I continue to attend

Millions of people struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs. There is no barrier to entry to using substances such as alcohol and drugs. Substances are inexpensive and easy to access. You can buy drugs online, and alcohol is served at many movie theaters. Almost anywhere you go, from the pharmacy to a football game, you have access to alcohol and drugs. For many people, there is a strong genetic predisposition to addiction. A substance abuse disorder must meet the DSM 5 criteria. Determination of a substance abuse disorder is made by a counselor who is trained in substance abuse and

Even after 12 years of clinical work with the LGBTQIA+ community I learn new terms and phrases almost on a weekly basis. With more visibility, awareness, and advocacy, people are expanding their understanding of their identities. As a clinician, it is vital that you receive training and education to work with the LGBTQIA+ community. If you know that LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual, then you have taken the first step. Along with other people I use LGBTQIA+ versus LGBTQIA to be more inclusive of all other identities. Adding the + sign is