What mental health therapist professional organization should I join?
April 25, 2013 6:03 AM
After 27 years working in education, I'm transitioning into a career as a mental health therapist, a role I haven't formally been in for a whole lot of years and I'm attempting to determine which professional organizations I should consider joining.
My graduate degree is in Guidance and Counseling (M.A.), I hold a LMSW (Licensed Master’s Social Worker) certificate from the State of Michigan (Clinical and Macro).
I will be seeing individual clients (adults, adolescents, couples, families) in a small, private clinic that primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (but also incorporates other treatment modalities as is approprite), the clinic has a psychologist and psychiatrist on staff as well as about 10 Ph.D/Master's level therapists.
I'm excited about the new direction I'm taking and, I would like to examine professional organizations/associations which will facilite my being in tune with developments in the field, resources, activities, conferences, etc.
There are a multitude of organizations on both a state and national level and I'm finding it a bit difficult to sort down to those that provide significant benefits to members. Making it more difficult is the fact that my Social Work certificate is based on a non-social work degree and, although the state and insurance providers recognize it, some "social work" organizations don't see my degree as appropriate.
Any advice from those of you in the field as to organizations to consider (or avoid) would be appreciated.
My graduate degree is in Guidance and Counseling (M.A.), I hold a LMSW (Licensed Master’s Social Worker) certificate from the State of Michigan (Clinical and Macro).
I will be seeing individual clients (adults, adolescents, couples, families) in a small, private clinic that primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (but also incorporates other treatment modalities as is approprite), the clinic has a psychologist and psychiatrist on staff as well as about 10 Ph.D/Master's level therapists.
I'm excited about the new direction I'm taking and, I would like to examine professional organizations/associations which will facilite my being in tune with developments in the field, resources, activities, conferences, etc.
There are a multitude of organizations on both a state and national level and I'm finding it a bit difficult to sort down to those that provide significant benefits to members. Making it more difficult is the fact that my Social Work certificate is based on a non-social work degree and, although the state and insurance providers recognize it, some "social work" organizations don't see my degree as appropriate.
Any advice from those of you in the field as to organizations to consider (or avoid) would be appreciated.
OmieWise.. I hope to stay in touch with developments in the field, access information regarding conferences/workshops/training, use it to network with other professionals, as noted in the question. Also, I already have sufficient malpractice/liability insurance in place.
(As regards the licensure despite the lack of a SW degree, this is the result of being in the field for nearly 35 years as licensure and certification laws here changed/evolved and the state's decision to grandfather former Certified Social Workers into the LMSW licensure when the system changed. And, be certain that, in general, those with an MSW are not really happy with that decision. )
posted by HuronBob at 6:27 AM on April 25, 2013
(As regards the licensure despite the lack of a SW degree, this is the result of being in the field for nearly 35 years as licensure and certification laws here changed/evolved and the state's decision to grandfather former Certified Social Workers into the LMSW licensure when the system changed. And, be certain that, in general, those with an MSW are not really happy with that decision. )
posted by HuronBob at 6:27 AM on April 25, 2013
Yes, I wasn't suggesting that you needed insurance, I was saying that many people are leaving NASW because of how they are handling insurance now, making membership there less useful.
I read your question, but it's still pretty broad, in the sense that "the field" is very broad. As I said, my local listserv of clinical social workers is by far the most useful organization to which I belong (the listserv is attached to the org), as it raises local training, opportunities, and legislative issues to my attention. The other organizations to which I belong are more specific to my theoretical and practice allegiances. I don't belong to a CBT organization, say, because I don't practice CBT (except in the most pragmatic way). I would recommend joining a local organization and an organization devoted to the kind of practice you use. National organizations that are not practice based seem to be not as useful.
posted by OmieWise at 6:58 AM on April 25, 2013
I read your question, but it's still pretty broad, in the sense that "the field" is very broad. As I said, my local listserv of clinical social workers is by far the most useful organization to which I belong (the listserv is attached to the org), as it raises local training, opportunities, and legislative issues to my attention. The other organizations to which I belong are more specific to my theoretical and practice allegiances. I don't belong to a CBT organization, say, because I don't practice CBT (except in the most pragmatic way). I would recommend joining a local organization and an organization devoted to the kind of practice you use. National organizations that are not practice based seem to be not as useful.
posted by OmieWise at 6:58 AM on April 25, 2013
If you want to present yourself as a CBT professional, you really should become a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. (The CBT people I know basically won't hire someone if they aren't in ABCT.) It has approximately equal focus on research and practice and welcomes mental health practitioners from any discipline. It also has a great convention, a find a therapist directory, etc...
posted by synchronia at 10:23 AM on April 25, 2013
posted by synchronia at 10:23 AM on April 25, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
There is a clinical social work association in my area to which I belong. This is my most valuable membership because it is so local. There has been a debate there recently about the value of belonging to NASW now that one need not be a member to continue using the malpractice insurance many folks previously purchased from them. My own NASW membership does not provide many tangible benefits.
I also belong to a couple of other more specific clinical organizations, and my alumni listserv.
What is the goal of belonging to these organizations for you?
posted by OmieWise at 6:15 AM on April 25, 2013