Carol Ann’s Newsletter
November 2018
Table of Contents
1.
2019 Maintenance Tax Law Changes
2.
Special Offer!!
3.
13 Questions to Ask a Therapist
4.
Quotes
1.
2019 Maintenance Tax Law Changes
This article amends and corrects information in a prior article. One of the many changes to the tax code in 2017 is a change to the maintenance (spousal support) tax laws. That provision that takes effect January 1, 2019.
Maintenance will no longer be tax deductible to the payor, and will no longer be taxable income, if it is provided for in divorce or separation instruments that are signed after December 31, 2018.
The term “divorce or separation instrument” means— (A) a decree of divorce or separate maintenance or a written instrument incident to such a decree, (B) a written separation agreement, or (C) a decree (not described in subparagraph (A)) requiring a spouse to make payments for the support or maintenance of the other spouse.
Maintenance payments provided for in a divorce or separation instrument signed before January 1, 2019 are still deductible to the payor, and taxable income to the payee.
Maintenance payments that are in a pre-January 1, 2019 divorce or separation instrument that are modified on or after January 2019, will be subject to the new "no income, no deduction" law, unless the parties opt into the old law status of "income to the payee and deductible to the payor."
2.
Special Offer!!
Many of you have asked about getting more copies of the book,
Ultimate Guide to Surviving Your Divorce
at a lower price to give to your clients.
Now you can!
The book normally sells for $25. For a limited time, until December 15, 2018, you can get the following discounts:
2 copies (minimum) at $12 each with Free Shipping
4 copies at $10 each with Free Shipping
8 copies at $8 each with Free Shipping
Click here to order your books:
To get your Free Shipping, use the code ULTIMATEFREESHIP on your order.
Remember, this offer is only good through December 15
th
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3
.
13 Questions to Ask a Therapist
1. What is your educational background and training?
The therapist may have a doctorate or a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or in a field such as psychiatry, clinical social work, psychiatric nursing, or the ministry. If the professional’s degree is not in marriage and family therapy, ask about what additional postgraduate training the therapist has completed in marriage and family therapy.
2. Do you have a state license? What is it in?
In most states, you do not have to have a state license to hold yourself out as a “therapist.” We believe that a therapist should be licensed if the state has a licensing program.
3. Are you a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)?
A therapist who has clinical membership in the AAMFT must have met the educational supervision and training standards of the association. These standards meet or surpass the training and experience requirements for the states that license marriage and family therapists.
4. Do you have experience treating or dealing with my kind of problem?
The therapist must understand your problem and should have experience dealing with that type of problem.
5. How much do you charge? Are your fees negotiable?
Many therapists will work with you even when you have minimal dollars. The important thing to do is to ask. Fees will range from $50 to $170 an hour.
6. What insurance or managed care plans do you participate in?
Most insurance providers have an allowance for mental health coverage. Check with your employer and your policy. If still in doubt, call you insurance provider’s customer service department.
7. Do you use psychological testing?
Test can help diagnose a problem, determine the course of treatment, and reduce the number of sessions needed.
8. How long do sessions last?
The usual session is 50 minutes. Group sessions may average two hours.
9. How often are sessions held?
Most therapists will see you once a week, but will see you less frequently once there is improvement.
10. Based on what I have told you, do you have an idea of how many sessions my therapy may take?
Some therapists have a minimum number of sessions they want to work with, others don’t. Ask.
11. Do you set goals for treatment at the beginning of my therapy?
The therapist should set goals and should be actively involved in the course of your treatment. You do not want a therapist who is passive and merely reflects what you have said.
12. Do you give your patients assignments?
Some therapists may ask you to keep a journal, real certain books, or complete other types of activities. The objective is to enhance your self-resilience and confidence.
13. How will you know when I do not need any more therapy?
When you begin to ask this kind of question, you are on your way to recover. When you begin therapy, this is a good question to throw on the table. Ask the therapist to identify various benchmarks that you can check as you go through the process.
4.
Quotes
There are only about a half dozen things that make 80% of the difference in any area of our lives.
-
Jim Rohn
