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Carlos Zalaquett, Ph.D.

FMHCA President 

carlosz@usf.edu 

July 2013 -2014
Board of Directors

 

President Elect

Darlene Silvernail, PhD, LMHC, CAP

DocSilvernail@aol.com  

 

Past President

Elvis Lester, MA, LMHC

learnusa@tampabay.rr.com

  

Treasurer 

Norman Hoffman
forensic@nbfe.net

 

Secretary

Kathie Erwin, PhD, LMHC

drkterwin@verizon.net 

 

Member-at-Large

Joe Skelly, MS, LMHC

JoeSkel@cox.net

 

Member-at-Large

Bob Decker,PhD, NCC, LMHC

bobdecker@earthlink.net 

 

Newsletter Editor

Darlene Silvernail, PhD, LMHC, CAP

DocSilvernail@aol.com

 

Administrator

Nancy Montgomery

Professional Administrator

admin@flmhca.com
FMHCA's Mission... 

The Mission of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association is to advance the profession of clinical mental health counseling through intentional and strength-based advocacy, networking, professional development, legislative efforts, public education, and the promotion of positive mental health for our communities.

Greetings! 
Why we hired a lobbyist, and why this is good for you...
 
Our annual conference will address many of the issues Mental Health Counselors are facing today. Furthermore, keynote presentations will showcase multiple dimensions related to current legislative efforts, and will give you the opportunity to answer the questions you always wanted to ask about these issues. In the meantime, I can share with you that AMHCA and ACA have their own lobbyists working towards achieving a large number of legislative goals, such as inclusion in Medicare and Obamacare. Their efforts are at the federal level and are met with successes and frustrations, but they will continue until achieving success. A major recent success, meant to positively affect your practice, is The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. This means that mental illness will be treated in the same way physical illness is. This represents the largest expansion of behavioral health benefits in a generation and puts mental health and behavioral health on equal level!  This is a major change and AMHCA was there during the official signature (see related article in this issue). Of course, we support their efforts by distributing their calls for action to our members.  

 

We also work at the State level with the Mixons, our lobbyists. Why do we hire the Mixons?  Because our lobbyist are (a) experts in examining complex and difficult legislative issues, (b) capable to translate such issues in a clear and understandable fashion that we can understand, (c) listen to our responses and goals relative to those issues, (d) works as an advocate on behalf of FMHCA, (d) engage in discussion with members of other sister organizations, legislators, and other governmental stakeholders, (e) made us aware of legislation that can limit our professional scope of practice, (f) take action to stop legislation that may infringe in our well-earned scope of practice, (g) explicate the reasons for our positions and advocate for our rights, and (h) work on expanding our professional practice and goals.

 

Our members often underestimate how much we are impacted by new legislative efforts. Moreover, many do not know that new legislation is being introduced all the time!

 

Each new legislation could negatively or positively affect your practice, reimbursement, and acceptance on different areas of mental health services and beyond. Without our lobbyist we will be at the mercy of newly introduced legislation and of those who introduced them.

 

So what is in it for me, you may ask? As president, I can give a well-informed response. Protection of your well-earned professional practice in the State of Florida, expansion of your scope of practice, and work on your behalf to increase future coverage. In sum, hiring our lobbyist is in your best interest and in the best interest of your organization. It is a major investment in your and our future!

 

By joining FMHCA you are de facto supporting our best efforts at protection, sustainability, and growth!

 

The Mixons work with us to protect everything you have worked for and to create a better future. Visit our FMHCA website and click on the "Legislative" link to read about them and the work they do on your behalf.

 

Moreover, come to learn more at our fabulous FMHCA Conference, on Feb 7th - 8th, 2014, at the Orlando Marriot in beautiful Lake Mary, Orlando Florida.

Carlos Zalaquett, Ph.D.
FMHCA President 2013-2014
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You're Invited! 


People are talking and the consensus agrees this will be the best conference the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association has ever held! Join us February 6th for a 1-day pre-conference and February 7th thru 8th for the 2-day full conference in Orlando, Florida. Don't miss out on these three day back-to-back presentations geared toward clinical mental health professionals, we will have a number of prominent speakers this year that will address concerns by focusing on CACREP updates and dispelling myths, numerous DSM5 workshops, Accreditation and Certification, legislative updates on Veterans issues and TriCare, and Affordable Healthcare Reform and Concerns.

Conference Overview
Two Day Conference Workshop:

"Accreditation & Certification Heightening Awareness & Removing Obstacles, Where is our Profession headed?"

16 CEUs total for LMHC/LCSW/LMFT

 

Three Pre-Conference Workshops that are being offered:

Qualified Supervisor Training - February 6th and 7th - Satisfies State of FL Requirements

CE Broker#: 50-748 (State of Florida)

 

Hypnosis Basic Training (Pre-Conference - 1 Day - 6 CE hours)

CE Broker Course Tracking #20-406870

 

Forensic Mental Health Evaluators Certification Training
(1 Day - Feb. 6th)

 

register now     

 

 

Hotel Reservations 

Don't forget to secure your hotel room early to receive the early bird discount! Click here to secure your room.  

 

 

Poster Session Submission

We are still looking for poster session submissions, please click the link below for more information. Click here for more information. 

 

  

Volunteering Opportunities at FMHCA 2014 Conference Still Available 

Registered Interns and Students,

If you are interested in volunteering for the FMHCA 2014 conference in Lake Mary, Florida there are still some spaces left. You get about 50% off from the registration fee. If interested contact Coralis Solomon at coraliss@yahoo.com.

Best regards,

Coralis Solomon, MSCP

Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern FMHCA Registered Intern Representative MHCCF Board Member  

www.Quietmindscounseling.com 

407-968-6534

Become an FMHCA Member! 
There are four types of memberships to choose from. Each membership is for one year! 


As a FMHCA member you will be able to enjoy many benefits:

  • Help shape public policy that makes FMHCA a powerful advocate for our profession
  • Keep abreast of legislative and rule making efforts through our interactions with the 491 board
  • Improve upon your skills and experience by taking advantage of educational opportunities through FMHCA's continuing education programs;
  • Connect with fellow professionals on LinkedIn through our online groups such as the LinkedIn Member Group, Qualified Supervisor Group or Chapter Leadership Groups.

As you may already know, FMHCA is the only organization in the state dedicated exclusively to meeting the professional needs of Florida's Licensed Mental Health Counselors. For more than 20 years, FMHCA has diligently served its members in a variety of personal and professional ways, proving that it is dedicated to your success as a mental health professional and the growth of our profession.

 

We invite you to contribute your efforts and encourage you volunteer as there are numerous opportunities for you to get involved and make a difference!

 

We look forward to having YOU as part of FMHCA this year!

 

sign up today  

The Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern's Corner

 

Five Important Reasons Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns and Students Should Attend the FMHCA 2014 Conference

By Coralis Solomon, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern  

At FMHCA we are excited about our annual conference coming up in February 2014. As a member of the conference committee, we had made sure to include events and presentations that specifically target topics of interest for the students and registered interns. If you are wondering what benefits you get from attending the conference at this stage in your career, below are five important reasons to consider:

 

  1. Networking, networking and more networking. Never underestimate the power of networking. Robert Kiyosaki stated once: "If you want to get somewhere, it is best to find someone who has already been there." What a better place than at a conference full of well-seasoned counselors? We have set a time slot dedicated for professionals to mingle and to interact. If you are getting ready to graduate or in the process of getting an internship or job this is the place to be.   
  2. This year we made sure to include interactive panel discussions dedicated to addressing the needs of students and registered interns. The benefit of these kinds of presentations is that you get to fully participate and address your concerns directly to a panel of experts on the subject. One of the panels that you don't want to miss is: What to expect after graduation. Topics will include: Licensure process, finding the right supervisor, and if private practice is a possibility for registered interns.   
  3. The benefits of continuing education, especially when you are new in the field, are priceless. It has been my experience that after graduation I found myself having to take additional training and certification courses in order to feel properly equipped to help my clients. The reality is that school is only the beginning to the road of education. Some of the presentations in the conference that will be critical to your early professional development are: The Mental Health Profession: Change is in the air; Preparing for your State Licensure Exam; I Don't Know What To Do! Ethical Dilemmas and Professional Accountability; and What Makes an Effective Therapist.   
  4. The conference it is not all just about learning. You will also have fun making new friends and watching the Olympics! We will have a room with the TV on all day to keep up with the 2014 Olympics. Now, that is what I call multitasking at its best. In addition, if you are having a stressful day, find time to attend my laughter yoga session. It will clear your mind to help you concentrate on the more serious presentations. And yes, you will laugh hard.   
  5. Members of the FMHCA pay a reduced rate for the conference. If you are not yet a member, it's not too late to join. This will give you additional benefits for an entire year including the following: monthly newsletter, networking and mentoring opportunities, numerous possibilities to volunteer, continued education, and most important by becoming a member you help support legislative action to advance our profession. These are all positive qualities that employers want to see on your resume!

 

These reasons are just the icing on the cake. Attending this conference could be the inspiration boost that you need to know that you have a great career ahead of you with so many different possibilities to explore. I hope to see you all on February 7th and 8th at the Orlando Marriott in beautiful Lake Mary, Florida.

 

Coralis Solomon is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern for the State of Florida. As a graduate of Troy University, she holds a master's degree in Counseling/Psychology. She is currently serving as Registered Intern Representative for FMHCA and MHCCF. Her private practice Quiet Minds Counseling is located in Orlando, Florida. She practices under the supervision of Joe Salg, LMHC. For questions related to Registered Interns please email them to Cory@quietmindscounseling.com 

Available Job Postings 

Special Note: Job postings for our newsletters must be submitted by the 25th of each month and we will run your posting for one month. Please submit your your posting to docsilvernail@aol.com.
Fully Furnished Therapist Office
Beautiful upscale office in Veranda Park/Metro West Orlando. Fully furnished. If you are a full or part time LMHC or licensed professional in related field, this office is for you. Rental is $650/month (for three days a week or a 36 hour week) and includes access to one private office, conference area, wi-fi, professional practice building guidance, and website presence with search engine optimization. Currently there are two office spaces remaining.

If interested please call regarding this listing at my local office: 407-278-1598. Serious inquiries only!
FMHCA seeking exhibitors & sponsors


FMHCA is seeking exhibitors and sponsors for our Feb 7th & 8th Orlando conference. For additional info please explore www.FLMHCA.org or download the form here.
NBFE 2014 Conference
 


National Board of Forensic Evaluators
Invites you to attend the second 
Annual Webinar/Conference
March 7th, 2014

How to Become a Dangerous Expert Witness
(Defeating Opposing Counsel's Deposition and Cross Examination Tactics)

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LIVE AND IN PERSON or FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

Do You Want to Become a Florida Qualified Clinical Supervisor?  

Qualified Supervision Training will be offering a Pre-Conference Workshop prior to FMHCA's 2014 Annual Conference!
  • Enhance your professional worth
  • Become a more desirable hiring choice
  • Increase your income potential
  • Increase personal satisfaction
  • Become a role model to new counselors

Join Dr. Denny and Dr. Wiggins on Thurs. and Fri. February 6th & 7th in Orlando. This two day course will complete the educational requirements to become a Qualified Clinical Supervisor in Florida.

  

You can register for this Pre-Conference workshop at www.flmhca.org 

 

You may also choose to add on Saturday (the final day of the FMHCA Annual Conference) for just an additional $80. This will provide an even greater opportunity to connect with other Florida mental health professionals as well as receive valuable training and earn additional CEUs.   

  

To reserve your room at the conference rate of $119/night, contact the Lake Mary Marriott Hotel at 407-995-1100.


Dr. Denny Cecil-Van Den Heuvel received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education with a minor in Psychology. Dr. Denny is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor in the state of Florida. Dr. Denny is a past President of the Mental Health Counseling Association of Palm Beach County and Past-President of the Florida Mental Health Association Dr. Denny is the Chair of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master Program at South University in Royal Palm Beach, FL.

Marsha Wiggins, Ph.D. is an LMFT in Florida and has over 20 years of experience as a counselor educator and supervisor. For 18 years, she was on the faculty at the University of Colorado Denver where she chaired the counseling department. Currently, she is the Executive Director for ACES (Association for Counselor Education and Supervision), a division of ACA. She has published in the area of clinical supervision and multiculturalism, with an emphasis on integrating religion and spirituality into counseling.


The QST course meets supervisory training and requirements of rule 64B4-6.0025. 

CE Broker #: 50-748/

16 CEUs for LMHC/LCSW/LMFT
This course also meets Ethics and
Professional Readiness for CAP Certification. (FCBAP)

 

 

Did You Know?
Do I have to have Domestic Violence this cycle? Two (2) hours of Domestic Violence are required every third license cycle. If not required this license cycle and you complete 2 hours of Domestic Violence, this will become your selected license cycle for the Domestic Violence requirement.


Please note a maximum of six (6) of the required thirty (30) hours of continuing education may be accrued for credit during one biennium by attending programs designed for the purpose of enhancing the licensee's administrative, office management, or other non-clinical skills.

 

Contact www.SilvernailConsultantServices.com for your educational hours

 

 

FMHCA Advocacy at the
491 Board Meeting
By Marielle Beniquez, M.S., NCC

During the recent 491 Board Meeting on October 25, at the Marriott Convention Center, Dr. Carlos Zalaquett (President of FMHCA) and Mrs. Marielle Beniquez, (FL Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and Representative of the National Military Family Association), appeared before the 491 Board to raise awareness about a potential situation that can impact mental health counseling students that are active duty military or their spouse(s) in the completion of their Register Intern requirements.
 
Students from military families may face relocation, assignments, and deployments that may prevent them to complete all of the Register Intern status requirements. Dr. Zalaquett and Mrs. Beniquez addressed the 491 Board to raise awareness of this situation and suggest possible accommodations to help active duty military students or their spouses complete this requirement.
 
In response to this appeal, the 491 Board Members stated that there is an increased awareness of the demands on mental health counseling students who are active duty military students and their spouses.  The Board suggested keeping track of all hours completed before relocation; applying for a possible "waiver or exemption" to accommodate the active duty military mental health counselor interns; and, ask Registered interns suggest other ways in which the Board may assist them in completing the supervised internship required towards state licensure.
 
Dr. Zalaquett and Mrs. Beniquez thanked the Board for their consideration and attention to this important issue.
 
Marielle Beniquez, M.S., NCC
FL Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, IMH11000
NMFA Representative
Southern Region
813.840.2920

Nat'l. Military Family Association
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Together, we're stronger!

 

Check out our new app: MyMilitaryLife - helping spouses navigate the adventures of military life.

Setting a Standard of Success for Mental Health Counselor Interns

By Corinne Mixon, Mixon & Associates

During the 2013 Florida Legislative Session, the Florida Mental Counselors Association, National Association of Social Workers Florida and Florida Association of Marriage and Family Therapists set out to pass a broad overhaul to Florida Statute, Chapter 491.

 

The bill would have changed numerous aspects of the statute by mandating CACREP standards for graduate programs as well as updating education standards for MFTs, changing dual licensure standards as requested by the MFTs, creating protections for court appointed counselors and closing the loophole that currently allows many interns to practice for far longer than the intended five-year registration. The resulting bill, HB 1161 by Baxley and SB 1368 by Ring, was appropriately assigned to numerous committees in the House and Senate and, as a result, ran out of time to pass during the brief 60-day legislative session.

 

The combined work of the 491 Regulatory Board and these three professional associations resulted in positive recognition before Florida Legislature. Because the bill could not pass due to its multitude of committee references and complicated content, FMHCA's current board of directors has decided to take a different approach for the upcoming legislative session. FMHCA will instead try to pass the portion of the bill that most impacts the safety, welfare and public interest of the people of Florida -- limiting intern registrations to five years.

 

The desired bill language has not yet been filed, but FMHCA plans to work with its neighboring 491 organizations to file legislation that will close the loophole that currently allows mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy and clinical social work interns to register for ten years or longer without ever passing the licensure exam.

 

There are currently 157 people that have been registered as interns since the inception of intern statute in 1998. Nearly 700 interns have been registered for ten years or longer.

 

The unintended consequence of this constant reregistering is that the "long-term" interns are responsible for 33% of the discipline cases that come before Florida's regulatory board and are often operating as though they are fully licensed. One currently registered intern has failed the licensure exam 21 times and is still able to register as an intern.


It is very early in the legislative process; however, FMHCA will be seeking your assistance in making sure this positive improvement becomes a bill and a law. Once the bill is filed, we will send you the bill numbers and detailed information about the language so that you can reach out to your local legislators.
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PO Box 272552, Tampa, FL 33688

Copyright � 2013 Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. All Rights Reserved.