The conversation around AI tools for therapists has never been more urgent, or more complicated. In the span of just a few years, artificial intelligence has moved from a distant abstraction to a daily presence in clinical practice: drafting notes, generating treatment plan language, powering chatbots that millions of people are already using for emotional […]
Forensic Social Work: Where Human Need Meets Legal Consequence – An Interview with Tireeka Watson, LCSW
TL;DR Forensic social work is where clinical practice meets the legal system – courtrooms, corrections, child welfare, and reentry The forensic role is fundamentally different from the therapeutic one: the court is your primary client, not the individual Objectivity and compassion are not opposites; the best forensic practitioners bring both Trauma-informed practice matters even more […]
Workplace Violence Prevention for Social Workers
Workplace violence prevention is a topic of great interest to social workers and mental health clinicians. This is because health care workers are more likely than workers overall to be assaulted at work, as per the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO, 2016). The most common types of assaults are hitting, kicking and beating and the […]
HIPAA Compliance: Private Practice Security Tips
HIPAA compliance private practice guide: Roy Huggins explains HIPAA security for therapists including secure email/texting (Hushmail, Signal), payment processing (Square, Stripe), online therapy best practices, electronic record-keeping with encryption (FileVault 2, BitLocker), website requirements, and secure intake forms. Includes training recommendations and free resources.
Therapy Notes: How to Document Gray Areas
Not every therapy client is high-risk or worry-free—most fall somewhere in between. These “medium risk” situations include ongoing depression, self-harm behaviors without suicidal intent, impulsivity, and substance use. They require consistent assessment but don’t typically warrant hospitalization. The challenge? Knowing what to document and how often. This guide provides five practical tips from clinical documentation expert Maelisa Hall for managing therapy notes with medium risk clients. You’ll learn how to identify what’s truly relevant to document (without writing excessive notes), see a real DAP note example for a client with moderate depression, and discover why reviewing your documentation monthly can transform your practice. Whether you’re a new clinician or experienced therapist, these strategies help you create meaningful, legally sound therapy notes without burning out on paperwork
