two articles about secondary trauma

Here are links to two articles which might be of interest to providers:

• Beneath the Surface: An Exploration of Neurobiological Alterations in Therapists Working With Trauma
• Vicarious Trauma and Decreased Sexual Desire: A Hidden Hazard of Helping Others

JOB POSTING: APAIT | Project Coordinator, Integrated Behavioral Health Team

SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS

Job Description

Title:  Project Coordinator                                   

Division:  Integrated Behavioral Health Team

FLSA:  Non-Exempt                                                                                         

Supervisor:  IBHT Director

Pay Range:  DOE                                                                                               

Revised: January 6, 2015

Summary

Under the direction of the IBHT Director, the Project Coordinator shall oversee all aspects of the HI ARC grant, including budget and contract compliance, managing staff and providing clinical supervision.  The Project Coordinator will serve as the identified Project Director on the SAMHSA award.  The Project Coordinator will engage in multiple and various tasks encompassing the core areas of management/leadership, and contracts administration.

Essential Functions

• Directly supervise program staff, including MFTI, MSW, and Registered Interns.
• Provide routine clinical supervision and managing scheduling, timesheets, etc.
• Oversee implementation of evidence-based practices utilized in the program.
• Oversee data collection and quality assurance functions for the contract, including chart reviews, documentation training, tracking/monitoring of contract performance.
• Facilitate frequent Team meetings to ensure contract compliance, achievement of program goals, facilitate team building and maintain open communication.
• Serve as primary contact for SAMHSA regarding program progress, requests for other info, etc.
• Ensures overall contract compliance, including but not limited to budget management in accordance with SAMHSA restrictions.
• Oversee subcontract agreement with partnering primary care provider.
• Communicate regularly with immediate supervisor regarding progress, goals, issues and concerns.
• Complete written and verbal correspondence and reports, as needed.
• Engage in recruitment, retention, and routine evaluation strategies for Staff. Evaluation includes at minimum annual written evaluation and frequent feedback on performance to facilitate professional development of the staff.

Minimum Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• LMFT or LCSW with 2 years clinical experience post-licensure.
• Bilingual Spanish speaking required
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Experience serving ethnic minority communities at risk due to substance abuse and/or mental health disorders.
• Experience managing behavioral health programs.
• Valid CA driver’s license, proof of current automobile insurance, DMV check and reliable transportation
• Background check and Verification of employment eligibility required.

Non Essential Qualifications – Desirable knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Ability to work overtime, weekends and holidays may be required.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervise the performance of all staff assigned to the HI ARC grant with the exception of the psychiatrist, a total of 4-5 FTE.  Supervision of staff shared with other grants will be coordinated with respective project coordinators as needed.

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

The environment for this position is an office environment as well as working within at-risk areas including home and school based services. Driving is required when in the field, own transportation is required.

Physical Requirements

In the course of performing this job, there will be driving, walking and sitting required.

Mental Requirements

The incumbent in this position must be able to accommodate to all of the following: constant distractions, interruptions; uncontrollable changes in priorities/work schedules; think conceptualize and handle stress.

To apply, please email cover letter and resume to Peter Cruz, Associate Director. No phone calls please.

Special Service for Groups is an Equal Opportunity Employer/ Affirmative Action Employer

JOB POSTING: APAIT | Bilingual Mental Health Therapist

SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS

Title: Bilingual Mental Health Therapist                Division: SSG Integrated Behavioral Health Team

FLSA:            Full-Time, Non-Exempt                              Supervisor:  Project Coordinator

Pay Range or Rate: TBD

Summary:  Under direct supervision from the Project Coordinator, the Bilingual Mental Health Therapist will screen and assess clients related to co-occurring mental and substance use disorders; provide individual and group therapy, case management, and crisis-intervention counseling as needed. Coordinate referrals/admission to other appropriate SSG programs and services.

Essential Functions

• Provide psychosocial assessments to clients at clinics, in homes or other offsite locations
• Provide individual, group therapy and case management services to clients at clinic, in home or other offsite locations.
• Participate in the inter-disciplinary clinical team with in the development of individual treatment plans, goals and discharge plans for the clients.
• Collaborate with family, probation officers, care givers and  others in the community as part of the treatment team
• Complete all documentation in a timely manner
• Work on other appropriate tasks as assigned by the supervisor
• Driving is a required aspect of the job (for example: must drive to multiple field sites).
• Maintain and uphold agency policy, procedures and principles
• Complete documentation in electronic health record system in timely manner

Other Duties:

• As needed, attending/presenting in community meetings, trainings, and/or conferences as related to projects goals
• Maintain relationships and networks with other service providers and organizations that serve the project’s targeted population.
• Report on project successes and barriers for monthly, quarterly and annual evaluation.
• Represent and advocate on behalf of the agency and the community at related collaboratives, planning groups, conferences, and other events as assigned.
• Develop and maintain list of agency and community/mental health resources.
• Attend and actively participate in internal staff in-service and management meetings.

Minimum Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Masters Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Psychology
• Must maintain a current and valid registration and/or license with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people, particularly with culturally/ethnically diverse communities.
• Be familiar with DMH billing and bill COS as appropriate. Possess strong clinical documentation skills.
• Excellent communication skills
• Bilingual Spanish a MUST-reading, writing, speaking
• Ability to effectively use word-processing, spreadsheet, PowerPoint and database programs.
• Ability to work independently and within team structure.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S.
• Valid California driver’s license, DMV check, reliable vehicle and proof of current automobile insurance required.
• Background check and Verification of employment eligibility
• Ability to perform duties on some weekday evenings and weekend days when required

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No supervisory duties

Working Conditions

• Conditions mostly suited for an office environment usually desk and chair in a seated position throughout the day.  Occasionally, must be able to work in the community or health clinic based settings.  Requires driving in all weather conditions as well as challenging neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles County.
• Some lifting of office equipment, supplies up to 30 lbs.
• Able to listen and communicate verbally
• Requires ability to adjust and adapt to changing priorities/work schedules
• Be able to process new information, think, and conceptualize tasks as appropriate

To apply, please email cover letter and resume to Peter Cruz, Associate Director.

Special Service for Groups is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

FREE short-term (10 sessions) couple or family therapy services in English therapy for any ANYONE

Hello All!

There is a truly awesome opportunity here at APAIT for people seeking therapy.  I am able to provide short-term (10 sessions) of ABSOLUTELY FREE therapy to any ANY individuals looking for couple or family therapy services in English.  Everyone who walks in our doors or gives me a call will be served, and right now there is no waiting list!!

There are NO eligibility requirement barriers.  The short intake process is less than 5 minutes, no client ID necessary, clients can be HIV+ or HIV-, services are very LGBTQ-friendly, I will take clients with or without insurance, etc… When I say everyone, I mean everyone!

If you or someone you know is looking for couple or family therapy, shoot me an email or give me call on my confidential voicemail.  Please feel free to circulate this to your colleagues, clients, and coworkers.

Hope to hear from you soon! Contact info below:

Taryn Feuerberg, MA
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern
IMF#71616, Supervised by Colleen Eckels, LMFT
1730 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Direct Tel: (213) 375-3830 ext 1819
Office Tel: (213) 553-1830
Fax: (213) 553-1833
Email: tarynf@apaitonline.org
http://www.apaitonline.org

Call for Papers: TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, Volume 3 Issue 1 | Trans/Feminisms

Redefining Mental Illness | NY Times

Redefining Mental Illness

TWO months ago, the British Psychological Society released a remarkable document entitled “Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia.” Its authors say that hearing voices and feeling paranoid are common experiences, and are often a reaction to trauma, abuse or deprivation: “Calling them symptoms of mental illness, psychosis or schizophrenia is only one way of thinking about them, with advantages and disadvantages.”

The report says that there is no strict dividing line between psychosis and normal experience: “Some people find it useful to think of themselves as having an illness. Others prefer to think of their problems as, for example, an aspect of their personality which sometimes gets them into trouble but which they would not want to be without.”

The report adds that antipsychotic medications are sometimes helpful, but that “there is no evidence that it corrects an underlying biological abnormality.” It then warns about the risk of taking these drugs for years.

FULL STORY: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/opinion/sunday/t-m-luhrmann-redefining-mental-illness.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=2

PrEP talk rescheduled for 02/11/15

02-11-15 MHTF flyer

041/14/15 meeting reminder and change to the agenda | PrEP inservice delayed

This is a reminder that our monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 14th at 9:30 am at the Village [1125 N. McCadden Place, LA, 90038.]

Here is the amended agenda:

• 01-14-15 agenda

Ruben Gamundi (our PrEP presenter) is rescheduling for a later time TBD. Our apologies for the late notice. Please note that the regular monthly meeting will happen as always.

01/13/15: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training

Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment are effective in a variety of settings. SBIRT has shown to be effective in primary care settings, where it is incorporated into other routine medical assessments such as measuring blood pressure. It has also been proven effective in hospital emergency departments and trauma centers with individuals with alcohol-related injuries. This training focuses on screening procedures to identify risk; key motivational interviewing concepts and principles that are tied to effective use of the FLO (Feedback; Listen and Understand; Options Explored) brief intervention; and referral to treatment for patients with more serious alcohol use-related problems. At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to: (1) Describe the background and rationale for conducting SBIRT in a variety of health settings; (2) Explain how to utilize screening procedures to identify patients engaged in at-risk alcohol use behaviors; and (3) Demonstrate a three-step motivational interviewing-based brief intervention strategy to motivate patients to change their at-risk behavior and/or seek treatment.

Targeted Audience

• Physicians
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Registered Nurses
• Psychologists
• MFTs
• LCSWs
• Medical Assistants
• Certified Substance Use Disorder Treatment Counselors
• Other Behavioral Health Specialists/Clinicians

Additional registration information can be found on the attached form.

Co-Sponsored by:
California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF), Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center, UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, and Harbage Consulting

This training is approved by the California Department of Health Care Services, and fulfills the 4-hour SBIRT training requirement noted in the Provider Manual and All Plan Letter dated February 10, 2014 (APL 14-004).

Charlotte Bullen
Training Coordinator
UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center
Phone: 310.267.5408
Fax: 310.312.0538
Email: charlottebullen@ucla.edu

01/14/15 meeting reminder & agenda | presentation: Ruben Gamundi talks about PrEP

This is a reminder that our monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 14th at 9:30 am at the Village [1125 N. McCadden Place, LA, 90038.]

Here is the agenda:

• 01-14-15 agenda

And stay tuned for the January, 2015 meeting in which we welcome Ruben Gamundi back to Los Angeles to present on PrEP