How to Help Communities Recover From Disasters Have you wanted to find out how you may employ your clinical skills to help individuals/the community outside of the traditional setting? As per the inspiring talk “Outside the Four Walls,” Jack Saul, PhD gave at the 2015 Psychotherapy Networker Symposium, there are many different ways that mental health professionals and social […]
Race Matters: How to Talk Effectively About Race
Have you wanted to be able to have a conversation about race but not really known how? Or have you wanted to help your clients feel comfortable in talking to you about race? While many of us recognize that racism is a big problem in the United States, we tend to be uncomfortable discussing race. This is because […]
The Secrets of Aging Well
Many of us find getting older not what we expected and rather difficult to come to terms with. What steps can we take to age well? And how may we help our clients age well? In David Treadway, Ph.D.’s thoughtful talk about “Aging Well” at the 2015 Psychotherapy Networker Symposium, he provides the answers to these questions. While aging […]
10 Clinical Social Work Skills Social Workers Must Develop
10 essential clinical social work skills infographic from Dean Nancy Smyth: substance abuse screening, mental health assessment, domestic violence safety planning, trauma understanding, dissociation assessment, behavioral interviewing, CBT interventions, motivational interviewing, record-keeping, and couples/family skills. The MSW is just the beginning; develop these competencies through specialized training.
How Every Social Worker Can Succeed in Private Practice
Private practice success strategies from Lynn Grodzki, LCSW, MCC, based on her talk “Navigating the New Psychotherapy Marketplace” at the 2014 Psychotherapy Networker Symposium. Learn how to succeed in today’s competitive mental health marketplace where therapists face lower insurance reimbursements (mental health outlays reduced from 15% to 1% since 2000), fewer sessions per client, preference for medication over talk therapy despite evidence showing talk therapy equals or supersedes medication long-term, and utilitarian perceptions of therapy. Grodzki recommends adapting business strategies that work with educated consumer shoppers. Key areas covered: Marketing is critical (unique selling proposition, benefits vs features, preparation for negotiation), communicate persuasively (prepare for first contact without disadvantaging yourself, structure 15-30 minute consultations to give prospective clients experience of boundaries and your therapeutic style), and adapt working style (review results every session tracking goals and progress, set expectations using metaphors, partner with clients session-by-session). Includes detailed infographic summarizing main takeaways and guidance on fee negotiation, handling objections like “I need someone who takes my insurance,” and creating successful first contacts.
