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Clinical social work

What we know about online therapy

April 7, 2017April 10, 2017 by Ben Caldwell

Best practices in the online practice of couple and family therapy - coverThe world of online therapy continues to develop rapidly. There are now dozens of videoconference platforms designed or marketed specifically to therapists. The research base is steadily growing. States and provinces are working feverishly to provide clarity in law for therapists working online.

In such a rapidly-changing environment, it can be difficult for therapists to reasonably assess the current state of online psychotherapy. Here’s what we can safely say we know as of April 2017. Unless otherwise noted, “online therapy” here refers to interactive, video-based work. Other forms of technology, including phone, text, and chat, are often used in therapy, but less is known about them.

Read moreWhat we know about online therapy

Lift the ban on soliciting testimonials

January 19, 2017 by Ben Caldwell

Basics of California Law, 4th edition (2017) - (c) Copyright Benjamin E. CaldwellNote: The following opinion is a lightly-edited excerpt from the new fourth edition of Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. The ban on soliciting testimonials from clients is discussed in one of the book’s new “Room for Debate” segments. To see Emma Jaegle’s counterargument supporting the ban, get the book. For more on what’s in the new edition, which is updated to 2017 state law, click here.

Read moreLift the ban on soliciting testimonials

Therapists should not write Emotional Support Animal letters

June 3, 2019January 4, 2017 by Ben Caldwell

Basics of California Law, 4th edition (2017) - (c) Copyright Benjamin E. CaldwellNote: The following opinion is a lightly-edited excerpt from the new fourth edition of Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letters are discussed in one of the book’s new “Room for Debate” segments. To see Emma Jaegle’s counterargument supporting therapists writing ESA letters, get the book. For more on what’s in the new edition, which is updated to 2017 state law, click here.

Read moreTherapists should not write Emotional Support Animal letters

Two new interviews

September 13, 2016September 14, 2016 by Ben Caldwell

Saving psychotherapy cover image (c) Copyright 2015 Benjamin E. Caldwell.I’m presenting at the Networking Luncheon at this week’s AAMFT Annual Conference in Indianapolis. (Come see!) The topic of the presentation will be the big picture of what’s happening in the field of psychotherapy: Fewer people are coming for services, they’re paying less for them, and our salaries as professionals are dropping relative to inflation. I’ll be talking about what individual practitioners can do to turn the ship. With the steps I outline in the book Saving Psychotherapy (and in next week’s talk), you can improve your own practice while helping the field as a whole. If you’d like a brief taste of what I’ll be talking about next week, I’ve recently done a couple of interviews you might like.

Read moreTwo new interviews

NLRB: Private university teaching and research assistants can unionize

August 25, 2016August 25, 2016 by Ben Caldwell

Golden gavel 1, By walknboston (Flickr: Gavel) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsThe National Labor Relations Board declared this week that student assistants at private universities are employees and have the right to unionize. The decision overturned a 2004 precedent. It will allow thousands of teaching and research assistants to use collective bargaining to demand better pay and working conditions.

Read moreNLRB: Private university teaching and research assistants can unionize

License portability: Where the professions stand

August 15, 2016August 15, 2016 by Ben Caldwell

By Mk2010 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia CommonsSince the qualifications for each of the psychotherapy professions is largely consistent across state lines, it makes sense for the professions to do what they can to make it easier to take your license from one state to another. In recent months, there have been a handful of advances in license portability. Here’s where each of the professions stands today.

Read moreLicense portability: Where the professions stand

What to do with exam prep material after you pass

April 12, 2016April 12, 2016 by Ben Caldwell

By English: Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsOver the past months, a number of readers have privately, and very kindly, asked whether I would be okay with them selling their used copies of my exam prep book, Preparing for the California MFT Law & Ethics Exam, once they’re done with it. In short, I am. But selling isn’t your only option for using test prep materials after you have passed the test you bought them for. And there are a couple of options you shouldn’t take. Let’s run down the list of what you can and can’t do with used exam prep materials.

Read moreWhat to do with exam prep material after you pass

Five wrong things therapists say about law & ethics

March 7, 2018March 29, 2016 by Ben Caldwell

Golden gavel 1, By walknboston (Flickr: Gavel) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsI am part of several online groups for psychotherapists, on Facebook and elsewhere. We talk about ethics, about theories, and sometimes about cases (without identifying details, of course, to protect confidentiality). Most of the time, when people say something that isn’t right, the collective wisdom of the group corrects the error. That’s one of many positives of social media: It allows professionals all over the world to share information and hold each other to high standards of knowledge and behavior.

Sometimes, though, a myth or misstatement is so common that the collective doesn’t effectively stop it. Here are the five misstatements about legal and ethical issues that I see most often from therapists.

Read moreFive wrong things therapists say about law & ethics

Proposed Massachusetts law would give therapists collective bargaining

May 5, 2016March 8, 2016 by Ben Caldwell

USCurrency_Federal_ReserveThe so-called “gig economy” — best exemplified by ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft — has brought political attention to the plight of workers who are hired as independent contractors rather than employees. As independent contractors, these workers typically have no ability to engage in collective bargaining, often receive little or no benefits, and have limited workplace protections. The attention they are receiving might end up helping therapists and counselors who take insurance — or who would, if the pay and benefits were better. It could also help clients by improving accessibility of care.

Read moreProposed Massachusetts law would give therapists collective bargaining

New laws impacting California therapists in 2016

February 28, 2016January 22, 2016 by Ben Caldwell

2016 update to Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs, 3rd edition. Cover image (c) Copyright 2016 Benjamin Caldwell.I’ve put the finishing touches on a booklet to update Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. The booklet addresses new laws impacting master’s level therapists in the state for 2016.

There weren’t enough changes for this year to warrant a whole new edition of the book, but there are a number of new laws worth knowing if you practice in California. The update includes new rules surrounding:

Read moreNew laws impacting California therapists in 2016

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Saving Psychotherapy
Saving Psychotherapy: How therapists can bring the talking cure back from the brink
An action plan to improve your practice while helping the whole field. An unflinching, data-driven, and ultimately optimistic look at where we are and how your practice matters to all of our shared futures.
 
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Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs – 7th ed

Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs, 7th ed coverSeventh edition (2020). A concise, digestible summary of vital elements of state law for master’s level therapists and mental health professionals.

Online California MFT Law & Ethics Exam Prep

Matthew Henry via Burst / Used under licenseBe ready for your test in 7 days with our study plan, video lectures, and practice questions. All for less than half of what competitors charge.
 
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Preparing for the 2020 California MFT Law & Ethics Exam

Preparing for the 2020 California MFT Law & Ethics Exam - coverThe easiest way to get ready for California’s MFT Law & Ethics exam. Includes a study guide and more than 100 practice test questions with rationales.

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  • Exam Prep
  • Advocacy
  • Books
    • Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs (7th ed)
    • Saving Psychotherapy
    • Preparing for the 2020 California MFT Law & Ethics Exam
    • Preparing for the 2019 California Clinical Social Work Law & Ethics Exam
  • Blog
    • Blog home
    • Psychology
    • Professional Counseling
    • Family therapy
    • Clinical social work
    • Law and ethics
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Licensure
    • Public policy