It’s official- we have new rules effective February 28, 2019.

Click here for an overview of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (TSBEPC) recently adopted rules

You can also GO HERE to see the new LPC Rules (Texas Administrative Code 22, Part 30, Chapter 681)

You can also access the new rules through the LPC Website

There are some substantial changes made, and it’s important to review and know what’s new and different. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of the bigger changes noted in the new rules. To continue reading about changing, check back to my other website HERE!

For starters, there are some changes in the Ethics section that should be noted:

• You must keep records for 6 YEARS after your last contact with the client.

• Clarifications made to the section regarding nontherapeutic and sexual relationships with past clients.

• Clarifies that any deferred adjudication plea must be reported to the board.

• A licensee must provide a written response to the board's request for information or other correspondence and that the board may consider a failure to respond to the board grounds for disciplinary action.

In the Ethics section, the main change that impacts us is the new requirement to maintain records for 6 YEARS. This means keeping records an additional year when compared to previous LPC rules.

PLEASE NOTE: these are some of the highlighted changes/clarifications to the LPC Rules. It is recommended you read the new rules in their entirety. Also, this is my thoughts and interpretations of the new rules. It is recommended you consult with the LPC Board if you have any questions regarding the new rules.

Are you an LPC Supervisor in Texas?  Did you know that you are REQUIRED by the state to obtain 6 HOURS of supervision CEU's every two years?? 

These hours can be difficult to find, and even more difficult to find pre-approved hours in the state of Texas. This is why I’ve created an online CEU specifically designed to meet the needs of LPC Supervisors in Texas. The course is titled:

Models of Supervision: A Training Guide for LPC Supervisors

My company (Neuroucounseling & Consulting Services, PLLC) is a pre-approved LPC CEU provider for the state of Texas (#3335).

This course will meet your bi-annual CEU requirements for you LPC Supervision license by offering the required 6 hours of CEU’s specifically related to supervision. Don’t allow your license and livelihood to be at risk over something you can do in 6 hours. For less than the typical price of one supervision session, you can make sure you meet the standards set out by our board.

Keep in mind, the board allows for 15 hours to be completed online!! The remaining 9 of the 24 required hours must be completed in face-to-face opportunities (such as attending a conference).

A little about the course:

The course gives you an overview of the supervision process, and identifies some of the most common models of supervision currently being used. I think you will find the course informative and interesting. Other benefits of taking the course are:

• It’s affordable: for less than the cost of most supervision sessions, you can gain 6 hours of CEU’s and remain in compliance with the LPC Board for only $79.99!

• It’s convenient: you can complete the course from anywhere, and on most electronic devices. This course is designed to be completed on your time, when you want to complete it. You can access the material, and complete the entire course from you smartphone!

The course is hosted on Thinkific, so you will create a login, pay the fee, and then receive unlimited access to the material. Once you’ve read the downloadable PDF, you will be prompted to complete a short quiz. After passing the quiz with a minimum score of 70%, you will be asked to complete a short survey regarding the course. After completing the survey, you’re DONE! That’s it! You will receive your completion certificate within 24 hours of completing the course.

I want this to be an extremely efficient, and informative way for you to obtain your 6 hours of Supervision CEU’s required by the Texas LPC rules.

To complete your required 6 hours of LPC Supervision CEU’s, click below!

Looking for additional CEU's?  If you are a Texas LPC and/or LSOTP- I am offering a new 6 hour ETHICS training titled:

Ethical Decision Making When Utilizing Technology

Click the link above to go directly to my CEU website.  Click "Enroll Now" and get started.  This course dives into the appropriate use of technology in counseling.  I think you will find it extremely informative, and it's available for ONLY $79!

Earning CEU's doesn't have to be expensive and overwhelming.  Through my CEU website, you can get CEU's in the comfort of your own home or office. Please note: this course is not pre-approved by CSOT at this time.

Good News!

I recently received PRE-APPROVAL status from Texas CSOT (Council on Sex Offender Treatment) to offer my online Trauma Informed Care course as "sexual assault victim-related" CEU hours.  The course provides six hours of pre-approved CEU's for only $79!  As you know, every LSOTP is now required to complete a minimum of six "victim related" hours during each two year license renewal cycle.  You can complete this licensure obligation, get some great information, and do it all while sitting in the comfort of your own home for an extremely affordable price.

I developed this course as a way for other LSOTP's to obtain their "victim-related" hours in a convenient, efficient manner.  Please note, CSOT allows only six hours of online training per renewal cycle, so if you purchase this course, the remaining 18 hours must come from in person trainings.

My hope is that you will utilize this service for your "sexual assault victim related training" hours, and then attend the annual CSOT conference to complete your remaining hours.  Conferences are still the best way to gain first hand knowledge, meet new people, and learn from others.

Finally, I am also a pre-approved provider of continuing education for LPC's in the state of Texas.  This course will count for six hours of CEU's for those licenses as well.  Just think, if you are like me (an LPC and LSOTP), you can get 6 hours of CEU's for both licenses for the low price of $79.

If you have any questions, please send me an email.  Below is the direct link to the CEU course.

Treating Victims of Abuse Utilizing a Trauma Informed Care Approach

When providing treatment for forensic populations, the major focus is on the crime that led to being ordered into treatment.  Though this is a crucial component of any treatment program, it's not the only part that should be addressed.  As in any therapeutic environment, the goal is to help the client develop skills and coping strategies to create a healthier lifestyle.

It's simply not enough to tell a person what they shouldn't do.  We must begin teaching skills that focus on what TO DO.  In many cases, clients are unaware of their skill set and strengths.  Teaching a client to access his/her strengths can help him/her find employment, social support, and resources that compliment them rather than create more problems.  

If you work with forensic populations (court ordered clients that are required to attend counseling), ask yourself: how much time do I spend focusing on increasing my client's strengths? 

If the answer is "zero", I would challenge you to implement some form of strengths-based focus into your practice.  Finding a balance between accountability (and focusing on the behavior that led to the referral) and moving forward (developing the skills to prevent recidivism) is key to long term success.

A recent study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison measured whether or not "compassion meditation" can increase compassion in people.  The results appear to show we can in fact train others to develop greater empathy and compassion for others.  Below is an article on the study, and it also provides a link to the compassion meditation exercises used in the study.  Might be interesting to give it a try and see how it affects you?

http://www.fastcoexist.com/3037045/want-to-train-your-brain-to-feel-more-compassion-heres-how

Working in the forensic counseling field, we spend a lot of time working with clients in empathy development.  I'm thinking of using the compassion meditation exercises as part of our treatment program to see how it performs with my clients.  If we give it a try, I'll do a follow up post on the feedback I received from clients on it's effectiveness.

The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds has the compassion training audio downloads available for free at the follow link:

http://www.investigatinghealthyminds.org/compassion.html

If you use this training, please let us know your feedback on the impact it had on your clients.

Interesting article regarding some recent findings about effective strategies to prevent sexual assaults.

http://www.vox.com/2014/9/26/6840463/sexual-assault-prevention-bystander-intervention-green-dot-sex-signals

Check out the below article:

http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20140918/one-dose-of-antidepressant-changes-brain-connections-study-says

More and more research is aimed at identifying the true effects of psychotropic drugs.  One of the most interesting insights from this article was the speed at which the brain begins to change when taking anti-depressants.  Patients have been told for years that medications take "4 to 6 weeks" to begin taking effect, but this research found evidence that one dose can create changes in the brain.

Check out the below article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140827111946.htm

Recent research in mice indicates that serotonin levels might not play as significant a role in causing depression as was once assumed.  Granted, it's one study, and was conducted on mice, but calls to mind some important questions: 

1.  How much do we really know about the efficacy of psychotropics?  

2.  Do we have any true evidence that psychotropic drugs actually work?

My guess is we will see more studies related to answering these questions due to the growth in neuroscience research. 

Check out the below article:

"Patience is No Virtue on MSOP Injustice" by DJ Tice of the Star Tribune.

The article reports that about 20 states have civil commitment programs in the US.  These are highly restrictive programs for sex offenders that have been released from prison, but the state believes the risk of reoffending is too high to allow the individual to be fully released back into society.  Instead, the person is placed in a facility, being supervised at all times.

Texas is one of the states that has a civil commitment program.  Below is a recent article regarding civil commitment in Texas you might find interesting as well.

"For sex offenders who completed their sentences, 'the only way out appears to be to die'" by Mike Ward and Anita Hassan of the Houston Chronicle.

Check out the below article from sciencedaily.com:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521180016.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmind_brain+%28Mind+%26+Brain+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

 A recent research study says it is possible to activate brain patterns associated with empathic feelings.  Think of the future possibilities if this research continues to be validated!  One of the key components of court referred treatment is empathy development.  New research could help us identify the most effective strategies for increasing empathy, and decreasing recidivism in criminal offending behavior.

Glad you have found us!

This space on the web is specifically designed to post the most recent information in the field of forensic counseling, and neurobiology.  We will be posting current research articles, related news media, and general discussion topics within the field. 

If you have anything you feel is valuable, and would like to share, please comment on the post, or send me an email.

Our hope is to provide other mental health professionals in the field of forensics and neurobiology a place to learn, discuss, and grow.