Psychotherapy Notes

10 years of blogging: Jeff’s favorite posts

November 28, 2018 by Jeffrey Liebert

Nicole de Khors / Burst / Used under license I can hardly believe that Psychotherapy Notes has been around now for a decade! For 10 years, we’ve challenged you (and ourselves) to think differently, reconsider professional boundaries, and actively work to improve the field of psychotherapy. Since long before I started here, Psychotherapy Notes has had a positive impact on my professional career and the way that I interact with both clients and colleagues.

I want to start my list of favorite Psychotherapy Notes posts by highlighting some of those that were also covered by Ben and Emma. First is “Why we’re launching #PostThePay,” which advocates for employers to post the salary or salary-range for perspective jobs. The #PostThePay campaign continues to have a significant positive impact on employment postings on social media. That launch post serves as a useful reminder of how easy it can be to create meaningful change in our field.

Great gifts for therapists (updated for 2018)

November 26, 2018 by Ben Caldwell

Sarah Pflug / Burst / Used under license Looking for holiday gifts for therapists and counselors in your life? Don’t get them another therapy-themed card game. Here are some gift ideas that counselors and psychotherapists of all types might find fun and useful, organized by cost.

We’ve updated this post a bit again for 2018, ensuring all links and prices are current as of publication.

10 years of blogging: Emma’s favorite posts

November 21, 2018 by Emma Jaegle

Nicole de Khors / Burst / Used under license It’s unreal to me that Psychotherapy Notes has been around since long before I even decided to pursue therapy. But the fact that I discovered it shortly after I started grad school shows how much of an impact it has made for the field in general, and for prelicensees specifically. Whenever I would Google a question about the path to MFT licensure, Psychotherapy Notes was one of the first links to pop up with an easy breakdown of what I needed to know. Here are some of my favorite posts from the past 10 years.

10 years of blogging: Ben’s favorite posts

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 by Ben Caldwell

Wait, we’ve been at this for 10 years? Huh. Guess so. Well, happy birthday to PsychotherapyNotes! This little blog is turning 10 years old. We now boast more than 300 articles, many of which are even good! (Some of mine are questionable.) Here are some of my favorites from over the years. They’re still worth a read, I think.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a mess

November 5, 2018 by Ben Caldwell

When the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) started in 2007, mental health professionals all over the country expressed optimism and relief. Student debt is crushing younger mental health professionals — hear two stories, in their own words, here. The PSLF program promised those working in nonprofit agencies and in public service that if they just stuck it out for 10 years, the remainder of their direct student loans would be forgiven.

Any kind of mental health work is challenging, but nonprofit clinics and public systems are notoriously difficult to work in. They offer low pay, low-functioning clients, a ton of paperwork, and often, little support. It’s no wonder that many counties struggle to fill those jobs at all.

For those clinicians who experience the work as a calling, though, the PSLF program offered a lifeline. It would be a reward for staying put in positions that most therapists understandably leave. For those who otherwise faced a possible lifetime of debt, PSLF suggested a way out.

It’s not going well so far.