The Compass. Winter Edition

Transcription

1 The Compass Winter Edition THE ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE PRACTICE THERAPISTS From the President s Desk The Compass Craig Caspari, LIMHP Hello again! The leaves have fallen, and it is getting colder. Now is a time for reflecting. Over the past year, we have had excellent educational and social events. I am grateful for the presenters Susan Meyerle, Adam Kuenning, Shari Conner, Stephanie Koraleski, Anne Barker, and Dale Battleson for their work in presenting helpful and interesting topics. I also had the pleasure of working with a brilliant board. As I look back on the year, I am thankful for the experience and the board s achievements. The Board began a quarterly newsletter, organized informative and fun events, added the availability of webinars, and created a presence on social media. The Board has also streamlined financial and recruitment/election processes, resumed gathering and disseminating legislative information, and reduced paper waste and increased convenience by beginning to use online surveys. Anne Barker, Melissa Ibanez, Bob Kraft, and Kristen Lilla are transitioning the APPT. I cannot Holidayfrom Gala thank them enough for their efforts and support. Jennifer Daggett, Ryan Evans, Kristan Kiger (as Executive Director), Reka Kluver, and Ashley Snowden will continue to serve in their instrumental roles on the Board. I am looking forward to working with the new board members, who will help to lead APPT in the next year. I would like to thank the members of APPT for making this a wonderful year, as well. I have enjoyed the interactions on the forums and our interactions at lunch-and-learns, socials, and conferences. I am looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces in the next year! I also greatly appreciate the input and feedback you have given us over the year. If you have not yet perused the forums, I recommend doing so. A number of APPT members have said that the forums are one of the aspects of APPT they appreciate the most. You can also find useful information about upcoming events and connect with others on our Facebook page. Volume 2017, Issue 4 Fourth Quarter Inside this issue: A Moment to Say Thank s at the End of the Year 2 Election Results 4 Barriers To Change 5

2 The Compass Page 2 Bob Kraft, Ph.D. A Moment to Say Thanks at the End of the Year As I finish my term as Past President and my tenure on the Board, I have thought of a few loose ends. These are mostly thanks to Board members and the Executive Director for making such a great Board and great organization. First, a thank you to Kristan for being such a dedicated Executive Director. There have been some stresses in her life and she has still put a lot of herself into APPT. She is the one so often behind the scenes making this organization as strong as it is. Thank you so much. Anne Barker has thoroughly revised the nomination and election process for the Board into an excellent system that will be used for many years into the future. And she has always been thoughtful and persuasive, an excellent Board member in many ways. Thanks, Annie. Reka Kluver has transformed the books and financial recordkeeping to a sound system, made it so our taxes are paid in a timely fashion, and made us a fully functioning corporation again. That is an amazing set of tasks that have been crucial to our functioning. Thanks, Reka. Craig Caspari, previously as Secretary, has helped transform the recordkeeping to a new system (yeah!) that will also help us for years to come, making sure that we can see who we have been and that we have our legally required documents. He has also shifted from the Secretary position to President of the Board, leading the Board and the organization forward. Thanks, Craig. Ashley Snowden has taken over as a key person by being the Programming Chair, one of the most demanding and important jobs associated with the Board and the Association. She has continued to build our programming, the heart of APPT. She has stepped up in marvelous ways. Thanks, Ashley. Melissa Ibanez has taken over the Secretary position as Craig has moved to his work as President, and continues to maintain the records. She also has restarted the newsletter, doing an outstanding job of bringing information to the membership. Thanks, Melissa. Ryan Evans has made us technologically sound and continues to grow our use of electronics. As well, he has been trying to build our knowledge of what happens with the legislature. Thanks, Ryan. Jennifer Daggett and Kristen Lilla have both helped at multiple events, provide thoughtful insights at Board meetingw, helped us to laugh, and been exemplary board members. Jennifer has helped with the Programming Committee as well and Kristen has been building our social media presence on Facebook. Thanks Jennifer and Kristen. This board has face difficulties and pressed through, making for a better APPT. Those that remain on the Board into next year will bring on the new Board members and lead APPT forward. You are in good hands. You have an amazing Board of Directors. Please talk to them and let them know what you want for APPT. And, if you think of it, thank them.

3 Volume 2017, Issue 4 Page 3 Calling all aspiring authors! Your article may be published here. Contact Kristan Kiger for more information. Thanks to all contributors. A Blessed New Year to All! Your Editor: Melissa Ibanez, LIMHP Happy Holidays!

4 The Compass Page 4 Election Results: Reka Kluver. LIMFT Reka is originally from London, England and has lived in the United States for eighteen years. She has been in private practice for just over three years, and primarily serves individuals and couples with relationship issues, depression and anxiety using Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. Reka has been on the APPT Board for four years and has served as its Treasurer for three (using her previous training as a certified accountant). She enjoys working with the board and hopes to continue to give back to the therapy community in this way. Ashley Snowdon, LIMHP, LMFT Ashley is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She has been practicing for nine years, working with a variety of populations including children, adolescents, adults, individuals, couples and families. She is certified in EMDR and currently practices at Great Oaks Counseling in Omaha, treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and a variety of relational issues. Ashley has served on the APPT Board for the past two years, and has served as the Programming Chair for the past year. She is looking forward to serving on the Board for a second term. TJ Gorman, LIMHP, LADC TJ has worked as a therapist since 2001, specializing in addictions (substance abuse and gambling) and co-occurring mental health issues. She has specialized training in EMDR, substance abuse, gambling and trauma therapies, and has also presented on trauma and addictions locally and at regional conferences. Her decision to stand for election to the Board is motivated by both a desire to be a more integral part of the local therapy community, and a sense of duty to help maintain high standards within the profession. Samantha Greene, LIMHP, LPC Samantha is a board certified and licensed clinical therapist. She works with a wide variety of client needs and diagnoses, concentrating on health and wellness as well as the LGBTQ population. Samantha is committed to enhancing awareness of the organization throughout the counseling community so that more therapists are able to take advantage of the resources APPT offers to private practitioners.

5 Volume 2017, Issue 4 Page 5 Mary Ellen Keeley, MS, LIMHP Mary Ellen has worked as a clinician for over twenty-two years. She has extensive experience working with both men and women in the areas of depression, anxiety, stress management, relaxation, grief, trauma/post traumatic stress disorder and spiritual issues. Mary Ellen has additional experience in treating Adult Children of Alcoholics. She hopes to have a chance to use her natural optimism, value of teamwork and problemsolving skills to help APPT and its members grow toward positive change. Chris Pilcher, LMHP Chris specializes in working with childhood trauma (including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse), problematic sexual behaviors in adolescents, general parenting issues, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, depression, and anxiety. She has specialized training in CBT, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Problematic Sexual Behavior Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). Chris feels her organizational skills, positive attitude and experience working in task groups will help her be an asset to the Board, and she is open to assisting in any way she can with various APPT projects and tasks. Laura Pryor, LIMHP, PLADC Laura serves individuals, couples and families looking for help with depression, anxiety, trauma (including sexual assault and intimate partner violence), self-harming, suicide ideation and chemical dependency. She is skilled in the use of DBT and EMDR, and provides chemical dependency evaluations. Laura is hoping a position on the Board will offer her a chance to become more involved with, and serve, the professional therapist community. Brian Shaw, LCSW, LIMHP Brian has over twenty-two years of behavioral health experience, and currently specializes in working with clients on issues such as grief, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, sexuality, relationship and LGBTQIA issues. He is trained in the utilization of CBT, EMDR, DBT, sand tray, psychodynamic and other expressive interventions. Brian has stated that he wants to see APPT thrive as an organization and believes his strong interpersonal skills and knowledge of the mental health community will serve him well as he works to reach engage both current and new members. Kellie Willms, MA, LMHP Kellie has been a mental health professional for over ten years. She currently specializes in working with individuals experiencing sexual concerns and adolescents who have experienced significant trauma. Kellie has specialized training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and is currently in the sex therapy certification process.

6 T H E A S S O C I A T I O N O F P R I V A T E P R A C T I C E T H E R A P I S T S The Association of Private Practice Therapists (APPT) is a multidisciplinary group of mental health professionals in Nebraska. The organization provides a forum for the exchange of practice management information and the development of advocacy plans for mental health practitioners and consumers. Contact: Kristan Kiger, LMHP PO Box Omaha, NE Phone: (402) We are on the Web! APPT is the result of grassroots meetings of private practice professionals who were interested in impacting the regulation and legislation of mental health services. At the time the meetings were held in the fall of 1993, 45 participants established the initial organizational structure of APPT. Currently the organization has close to 200 members. Any mental health practitioner in Nebraska is invited and encouraged to join.