Ellie Mental Health’s Post

Are you aware that CMS is expanding access to behavioral health services? Are you ready for this change? Check out the brief webinar (https://bit.ly/3sUad8N) reviewing the new enrollment guidelines and what it could mean for your organization. Advocates have requested adding licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC) for more than a decade, noting the shortage of workers and education of therapists and counselors. #zmarkhealth #behavioralhealth #therapists #counselors

Working in allied health gives healthcare professionals a wide variety of career options to consider. For instance, in behavioral health and social work, allied healthcare professionals can choose to become a case manager, a behavioral health clinician, a counselor, a mental health tech, or a social worker. In our latest blog we dive into the different disciplines of behavioral health and social work. Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/gyypvyu7 #favoritestaffing #healthcarestaffing #alliedhealth #socialwork #behavioralhealth

🎉 Excited to announce the successful completion of the Behavioral Health - Screening & Intervention course by Texas Health and Human Services! 🎓 As an EHS Professional, I'm now equipped to follow state requirements and best practices for psychosocial and behavioral health screening, diagnosis, and management in the primary care setting. Behavioral health is crucial for everyone, especially in the workforce. By understanding risk factors, diagnostic criteria, and integrating age-appropriate screening and prevention strategies, we can address behavioral and emotional disorders effectively. Key Takeaways: 🔍 Specify risk factors and diagnostic criteria for common behavioral and emotional disorders. 📋 Conduct age-appropriate mental health screening using approved tools. 🤝 Coordinate care for children and adolescents with behavioral health disorders. Let's prioritize behavioral health in our practice and promote well-being for all! #BehavioralHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Healthcare #TexasHealthSteps #PrimaryCare #Screening #Intervention #Wellness #Prevention #HealthcareProfessionals #PublicHealth #ChildHealth #AdolescentHealth #WorkplaceWellness #HealthEducation #HealthPromotion #HealthEquity #ProfessionalDevelopment #ContinuingEducation #TexasHHSC

What does it mean to be an outpatient clinician? It varies a lot depending on where you work! At the Advocates Community Behavioral Health Center, clinicians are part of a one-stop shop for mental health and substance abuse care, allowing them to deliver treatment as part of a true team. To learn more about what it's like to be a clinician at our CBHC, check out this video!

Attention Mental Health Agencies and businesses: It's time to address a critical issue in our field. Hiring associate therapists without having a clinical supervisor on staff to oversee their hours is not only unethical but also detrimental to the growth and well-being of these dedicated professionals. Associates are already overworked and underpaid, and now, without proper supervision, they can't even account for their hours. This oversight not only hinders their professional development but also compromises the quality of care provided to clients. If you don't have a clinical supervisor on staff, please reconsider hiring associate therapists until you can provide the necessary support. Let's work together to create a more sustainable and supportive environment for all mental health professionals. #MentalHealth #Therapy #ClinicalSupervision #EthicsInTherapy #SupportTherapists

It would be illegal as well as unethical for a provisionally licensed therapist to work in a practice without clinical supervision. It's the responsibility of the agency supervisor AND the worker/supervisee to be aware of the legal requirements for practice. However, many times agencies promise new provisionally licensed employees supervision when the agency does not have a clinical supervisor on staff who can supervise them. This is a huge ethical issue for the agency and creates legal liability for the agency and the worker. If an agency employs people who are not legally allowed to practice therapy then they can and should be held legally liable for allowing someone to work there who is practicing therapy in an illegal and unethical manner. Both parties are responsible for ensuring this takes place. Ultimately, though, the provisionally licensed worker must refuse to begin work until a clinical supervision contract is signed. I have seen this happen a few times - in fact I've experienced it myself - and the agency often puts a lot of pressure on the worker to "do it anyway." The worker needs to know they are at risk of having major consequences from the licensing board if they do this, and they won't be able to say "I didn't know". I've seen social workers working in places where they worked without receiving their promised supervision, and THEY were the ones held to account when they applied for independent licensure. The Board did not give them credit for sometimes YEARS of practice where supervision was not provided as promised. Not getting credit toward their required number of hours of clinical experience under supervision means making less money, often paying someone for outside supervision, while they completed hundreds of additional hours of work that they thought was already counted - all because they didn't have the courage stand up for themselves when they were being exploited by their employers. I've seen clinicians not get credit for hundreds of hours worked because they and the supervisor didn't sign a required supervision contract at the start of employment. The supervisor is supposed to know about this requirement. So is the supervisee. I've seen therapists believe their supervision will count when being supervised by someone who wasn't qualified by state requirements, and not finding out until years later when they are ready to apply for independent licensure that they're not getting credit for those hours. It comes down to practicing unethically. We are required to know the laws and regulations related to our work - welcome to the world of therapy! If boundaries are a new thing, it's time to start developing assertiveness and speak up! If you're a new clinician who is provisionally licensed, make it your business to know the laws and regulations governing your work, as well as best practices. It's in your best interest!

What community supervision means to #TeamDCS! Natoshia Burney, Behavioral Health Counselor, said, "Community supervision means supporting personal growth and change. It’s about helping individuals overcome their past and build a brighter future.” Guiding individuals toward personal growth and a brighter future is the heart of our community supervision approach!

In 2017, it was estimated that 70% of individuals in substance use services who use drugs also have a mental health need. For those using alcohol, this figure rises to an astounding 86%. To put this in perspective, imagine five football stadiums, each with an average capacity of 50,000 people, filled with individuals grappling with co-existing mental health and substance use issues. These staggering statistics underscore the urgent need for integrated care approaches that address both mental health and substance use issues simultaneously. Effective treatment must consider the complex interplay between these two challenges, ensuring that neither is treated in isolation. As healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community advocates, we must collaborate to create supportive environments that facilitate recovery. This includes developing comprehensive care models that address the holistic needs of individuals, from mental health support to substance use treatment. #MentalHealth #SubstanceUse #IntegratedCare #HealthcareInnovation #CommunitySupport #EndStigma #SupportRecovery #PublicHealth #Advocacy