Meet Dr. Josh Woolstenhulme, DPT, PhD

Here is a link to his current resume: Josh Woolstenhulme Resume (PDF).

Here are some additional resources for writing excellent resumes:

• Specific for mental health professionals: Writing Effective CV’s and Resumes by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. (pschologytoday.com): link here.
• The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) has a helpful video on developing a resume specifically for MFTs: link here.
• Syracuse University’s resources on how to write effective resumes with examples of effective resumes: link here.

What is AAMFT? The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is the premiere professional association for marriage and family therapists (MFT) based in the United States. The AAMFT provides professional resources for MFTs as well as helpful resources for anyone one interested in finding a therapist and to obtain information on a wide range of topics such as marital problems, infidelity, suicide prevention and bullying, same sex parents, adoption, infertility, among other topics.

Here is a link to the AAMFT main website: aamft.org.

How do you become a member? Here is the link to the membership page which provides information on how to become a member of the AAMFT. There are two tiers of membership: “Professional” and “Student”. The Professional tier is for fully licensed professionals and costs $216 per year for residents of the US. Reduced “Professional” rates are available for professionals who have recently graduated and are working towards full licensure ($146 per year) and for doctoral students ($82 per year). Student member yearly dues are $82. Here is a link to the AAMFT 2020 Dues Chart [updated 10-1-20] which lists current membership dues and fees. Want to join? Here is the link to join the AAMFT.

Am I a member? Yes! Here is a copy of my AAMFT student membership verification: AAMFT Welcome Letter.

Liability Insurance. One benefit for being a student AAMFT member is that becoming a member also includes professional liability insurance at no additional cost. Here is my certificate of liability insurance.

Dr. Woolstenhulme resides in the state of Idaho and plans to practice as an MFT in Idaho.

The official website for the Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists provides links to all relevant information that relates to MFT licensing in the state of Idaho. The scope of practice, guidelines, rules, and laws that govern the practice of MFTs in Idaho, as well as licensure information can be found in Idaho Code Title 54: Professions, Vocations, and Businesses, Chapter 34: Counselors and Therapists and in the Rules of the Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors.

“Marriage and family therapy” is defined in the state of Idaho as: “the evaluation and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Marriage and family therapy includes the professional application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples and families for the purpose of treating nervous and mental disorders including, but not limited to, addictive disorders.” (Idaho Code 54-3401 (8), p. 1)

“The Practice of marriage and family therapy” in the state of Idaho is defined as: “the rendering of professional marriage and family therapy services to individuals, couples and families, singly or in groups, whether such services are offered directly to the general public or through organizations, either public or private. A licensed associate marriage and family therapist shall only practice marriage and family therapy under supervision as established in this chapter and rules of the board. The practice of marriage and family therapy is restricted to marriage and family therapists competent in the area of practice, and in the use of such methods, techniques or modalities.” (Idaho Code 54-3401 (9), p. 1)

There are two levels of MFT licensure in Idaho: a licensed associate marriage and family therapist and a licensed marriage and family therapist. The licensed associate MFT is usually a new graduate and must practice under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Qualifications for licensure in the state of Idaho as a Licensed associate marriage and family therapist are as follows:
“(1) In addition to such other information as the board may require by rule, each applicant for licensure as a licensed associate marriage and family therapist shall:
(a) Hold a master’s degree or higher in marriage and family therapy or a related field of study as approved by the board and complete a practicum of supervised clinical contact with individuals, couples, families and other systems as part of the graduate program and as defined by rule;
(b) Submit an application in the form prescribed by the board;
(c) Pay the fee determined by the board by rule; and
(d) Provide evidence satisfactory to the board of having successfully passed an examination approved by the board and defined by rule.
(2) A license will not be allowed an individual whose license, certification or registration has been revoked or suspended in this or any other state and in this or any other related field. Such an individual may not be licensed under this chapter unless the period of revocation or suspension has been completed and the board has conducted a competency review and determined that an acceptable degree of rehabilitation has been accomplished.” (Idaho Code 54-3405B, p. 6)

Qualifications for licensure in the state of Idaho as a Licensed marriage and family therapist are as follows:
“(1) In addition to such other information as the board may require by rule, each applicant for licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist shall:
(a) Hold a master’s degree or higher in marriage and family therapy or a related field of study as approved by the board and complete a practicum of supervised clinical contact with individuals, couples, families and other systems as part of the graduate program and as defined by rule;
(b) Document postgraduate supervised experience in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the board as defined by rule;
(c) Submit an application in the form prescribed by the board;
(d) Pay the fee determined by the board by rule; and
(e) Provide evidence satisfactory to the board of having successfully passed an examination approved by the board and defined by rule.
(2) A license will not be allowed an individual whose license, certification or registration has been revoked or suspended in this or any other state and in this or any other related field. Such an individual may not be licensed under this chapter unless the period of revocation or suspension has been completed and the board has conducted a competency review and determined that an acceptable degree of rehabilitation has been accomplished.” (Idaho Code 54-3405C, p. 6)

The Rules of the Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors provides specific guidance regarding what constitutes an acceptable graduate degree program, the practicum experience that takes place during the graduate program, the supervised marriage and family therapy experience that takes place after graduation, supervisor requirements, supervision requirements, information on the examination for licensure, and fees associated with licensure. Each is covered in detail in the following sections:

The Graduate Degree:
“A master’s degree or higher in marriage and family therapy or a related field from an accredited university or college provided that the program is either: a) Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE); or b) a program of at least sixty (60) semester hours or ninety (90) quarter hours in length and that includes at a minimum:
i. Marriage and family studies – Nine (9) semester credit hours or twelve (12) quarter credit hours: includes theoretical foundations, history, philosophy, etiology and contemporary conceptual directions of marriage and family therapy or marriage and family counseling; family systems theories and other relevant theories and their application in working with a wide variety of family structures, including families in transition, nontraditional families and blended families, and a diverse range of presenting issues; and preventive approaches, including premarital counseling, parent skill training and relationship enhancement, for working with couples, families, individuals, subsystems and other systems;
ii. Marriage and family therapy – Nine (9) semester credit hours or twelve (12) quarter credit hours: includes the practice of marriage and family therapy related to theory, and a comprehensive survey and substantive understanding of the major models of marriage and family therapy or marriage and family counseling; and interviewing and assessment skills for working with couples, families, individuals, subsystems and other systems, and skills in the appropriate implementation of systematic interventions across a variety of presenting clinical issues including, but not limited to, socioeconomic disadvantage, abuse and addiction;
iii. Biopsychosocial health and development across the lifespan – Nine (9) semester credit hours or twelve (12) quarter credit hours: includes individual development and transitions across the life span; family, marital and couple life cycle development and family relationships, family of origin and intergenerational influences, cultural influences, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, social and equity issues and disability; human sexual development, function and dysfunction, impacts on individuals, couples and families, and strategies for intervention and resolution; and issues of violence, abuse and substance use in a relational context, and strategies for intervention and resolution;
iv. Psychological and mental health competency – Six (6) semester credit hours or eight (8) quarter credit hours: includes psychopathology, including etiology, assessment, evaluation and treatment of mental disorders, use of the current diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, differential diagnosis and multiaxial diagnosis; standard mental health diagnostic assessment methods and instruments, including standardized tests; and psychotropic medications and the role of referral to and cooperation with other mental health practitioners in treatment planning, and case management skills for working with individuals, couples, families, and other systems and relational groups;
v. Professional ethics and identity – Three (3) semester credit hours or four (4) quarter credit hours: includes professional identity, including professional socialization, professional organizations, training standards, credentialing bodies, licensure, certification, practice settings and collaboration with other disciplines; ethical and legal issues related to the practice of marriage and family therapy, legal responsibilities of marriage and family therapy and marriage and family counseling practice and research, business aspects, reimbursement, record keeping, family law, confidentiality issues and the relevant codes of ethics, including the code of ethics specified by the board; and the interface between therapist responsibility and the professional, social and political context of treatment;
vi. Research – Three (3) semester credit hours or four (4) quarter credit hours: includes research in marriage and family therapy or marriage and family counseling and its application to working with couples and families; and research methodology, quantitative and qualitative methods, statistics, data analysis, ethics and legal considerations of conducting research, and evaluation of research.” (Rules Section 238 01, p. 6-7)

Practicum:
“Completion of a supervised practicum in no less than a twelve (12) month period as part of the graduate program. The practicum must consist of at least three hundred (300) hours of direct client contact, of which at least one hundred fifty (150) hours must be with couples, families and other systems, provided that the Board may grant a license to an applicant who completed a practicum with fewer than the required hours and completed one (1) supplemental practicum hour for every hour in which the practicum was deficient. Supplemental practicum hours must be completed as:
a. A Registered Intern under Section 245 of these rules; or
b. Supervised practice in another jurisdiction that is sufficient to be considered substantially similar to the supplemental practicum hour requirements of these rules; or
c. A combination of Paragraph 02.a. and 02.b. of this subsection.” (Rules Section 230 02, p. 6)

Supervised Marriage and Family Therapy Experience:
“Complete at least three thousand (3,000) hours of graduate or post-graduate supervised experience in marriage and family therapy that meets the following requirements:
a. A minimum of two thousand (2,000) post-master’s direct client contact hours, over a period of not less than two (2) years, which must include a minimum of one thousand (1,000) direct client contact hours with couples, families, and other systems; and
b. A minimum of two hundred (200) hours of post-master’s supervision.
c. Other hours must support development as a marriage and family therapist, and may include: additional hours of supervision, additional practicum hours above the three hundred (300) hours required in Subsection 230.02 of these rules, writing clinical reports, writing case notes, case consultation, coordination of care, administering tests, and attending workshops, training sessions, and conferences.
d. A minimum of one hundred (100) hours post-master’s supervision must be obtained from a registered marriage and family therapist supervisor. The remaining one hundred (100) hours of supervision may also be obtained from a licensed mental health professional supervisor as defined in these rules who documents:
i. A minimum of five (5) years of experience providing marriage and family therapy; and
ii. Fifteen (15) contact hours of education in supervisor training; and
iii. Has not been the subject of any disciplinary action for five (5) years immediately prior to providing supervision.
e. No more than one hundred (100) hours of group supervision are allowed. Group supervision is defined as up to six (6) supervisees and one (1) supervisor; and
f. Individual supervision is defined as up to two (2) supervisees per supervisor; and
g. Supervision must employ observation of client contact such as the use of audio technologies or video technologies or co-therapy, or live supervision; and
h. A supervisor may not act as an applicant’s personal Professional Counselor/Therapist.
i. The Board considers the recommendation of the supervisor(s) when determining the acceptability of the applicant’s supervised experience.
j. Supervision obtained in another jurisdiction or from a supervisor in another jurisdiction must conform with the jurisdiction’s requirements provided they are substantially equivalent to Idaho’s requirements.” (Rules Section 238 03, p. 7-8)

Supervisor Requirements:
“Licensees in Idaho must be registered with the board to provide supervision for those individuals pursuing licensure in the state of Idaho as a counselor or marriage and family therapist…The board will register an applicant who:
a. Possesses two (2) years experience as a licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist, respective to the profession for which the applicant seeks registration as a supervisor, and document at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of direct client contact as a counselor or two thousand (2,000) hours of direct client contact with couples, families, and other systems as a marriage and family therapist.
b. Documents fifteen (15) contact hours of education in supervisor training as approved by the Board.
c. Has not been subject to discipline for five (5) years prior to registration, provided that the Board may in its discretion approve a supervisor with disciplinary action for failing to complete continuing education requirements.
…
A supervisor’s registration is valid for a term of five (5) years, provided the supervisor’s license remains current, active, in good standing, and is not subject to discipline. To renew a supervisor registration, the licensee must submit to the Board a complete application for registration renewal and document six (6) hours of continuing education in advanced supervisor training as approved by the Board and completed within the previous twenty-four (24) months, unless good cause is shown.” (Rules Section 239, p. 8)

Supervision:
“a. A registered supervisor must provide supervision in conformance with the guidelines for supervisors set forth in the… American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists and the guidelines set forth in the AAMFT Code of Ethics for marriage and family therapist supervisors.
b. Unless the primary work role of an individual is as a clinical supervisor, a registered supervisor may not supervise more than six (6) supervisees concurrently.
c. Supervision must be provided in a face-to-face setting.
d. A registered supervisor must ensure that informed consent containing information about the roles of the supervisor and supervisee is obtained from clients of the supervisee.” (Rules Section 239, p. 8)

Examination for Licensure:
“Applicants must have successfully completed the required written examination. The required written examination for associate marriage and family therapist and marriage and family therapist applicants, the National Marital and Family Therapy Examination as approved by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) or another recognized competency examination in marriage and family therapy that is approved by the Board. Successful passage of the examination is defined as achievement of the passing score set by the preparer of the examination. Reexamination consists of the entire examination. (Rules Section 240, p. 8-9)

Fees:
In Idaho the initial application fee is $100; the initial license fee is $100; the examination fee is “the fees set by the provider of the approved examination plus an administration fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) for the Marriage and Family Therapy examination”; and the annual renewal fee is $120. (Rules Section 250, p. 9-10)

The Idaho license application form for a licensed associate marriage and family therapist and a licensed marriage and family therapist can be obtained at this link.

The Rules of the Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors sets forth the requirements for continuing education for MFTs in Idaho:

“CONTINUING EDUCATION
All licensees must complete in each twenty-four-month period preceding the renewal of a license, forty (40) contact hours of continuing education. A contact hour is one (1) hour of actual participation in a continuing education activity, exclusive of breaks.

Contact Hours. The contact hours of continuing education must be obtained in areas of study germane to the practice for which the license is issued as approved by the Board. No less than six (6) contact hours for each renewal period must be in ethics, which must be specific to legal issues, law, or ethics. Therapeutic workshops, retreats and other self-help activities are not considered continuing education training unless specific parts of the experience are applicable to counseling or therapy practice.

Documentation of Attendance. Each licensee must maintain documentation verifying hours of attendance by securing authorized signatures or other documentation from the course instructors, providers, or sponsoring institution. This documentation is subject to audit and must be provided upon request by the Board or its agent.

Approved Contact Hours, Limitations, and Required Documents.

• College or University Courses for Credit or Audit. There is no limit to the contact hours that a licensee may obtain in this category during each reporting period. However, all courses are subject to Board approval.For college or university courses, one (1) semester credit equals fifteen (15) contact hours; one (1) quarter credits equals ten (10) contact hours. The licensee must provide the Board with a copy of the licensee’s transcript substantiating any hours attended by the licensee.

• Seminars, Workshops, Conferences. There is no limit to the contact hours that a licensee may obtain in this category during each reporting period. Verifying documentation is a copy of the certificate, or letter signed by course instructors, providers, or sponsoring institution substantiating any hours attended by the licensee.

• Publications. A maximum of eight (8) contact hours may be counted in this category during each reporting period. Publication activities are limited to articles in journals, a chapter in an edited book, or a published book or professional publication. Verifying documentation is a copy of the cover page or the article or book in which the licensee has been published. For a chapter in an edited book the licensee must submit a copy of the table of contents.

• Presentations. A maximum of eight (8) contact hours may be counted in this category during each reporting period. Class, conference, or workshop presentations may be used for contact hour credit if the topic is germane to the field. A specific presentation given repeatedly can only be counted once. A particular presentation will qualify for contact hour credit one (1) time in a five (5) year period. Only actual presentation time may be counted; preparation time does not qualify for contact hour credit. Verifying documentation is a copy of the conference program or a letter from the sponsor, host organization, or professional colleague.

• Clinical Supervision and Case Consultation. A maximum of ten (10) contact hours of received supervision/consultation may be counted in this category during each reporting period. In order to qualify for contact hour credit, supervision/consultation must be received on a regular basis with a set agenda. No credit will be given for the licensee’s supervision of others. Verifying documentation is a letter from the supervisor or consultant listing periods of supervision or consultation.

• Dissertation. A maximum of ten (10) contact hours may be counted in this category during each reporting period. Verifying documentation is a copy of the licensee’s transcript and the title of the dissertation.

• Leadership. A maximum of eight (8) contact hours may be counted in this category during each reporting period. Verifying documentation is a letter from a professional colleague listing the position of leadership, periods of leadership, and the name of the organization under which the leadership took place. The following leadership positions qualify for continuing education credits:

1. Executive officer of a state or national counseling or therapy organization;
2. Editor or editorial board service of a professional counseling or therapy journal;
3. Member of a national ethics disciplinary review committee rendering licenses, certification, or professional membership;
4. Active member of a counseling or therapy working committee producing a substantial written product;
5. Chair of a major counseling or therapy conference or convention; or
6. Other leadership positions with justifiable professional learning experiences.

• Home Study and On-line Education. There is no limit to the contact hours that a licensee may obtain in this category during each reporting period. Home study or on-line courses qualify for contact hours, provided that the course is provided by a Board-approved continuing education provider or a course pre-approved by the Board. Verifying documentation is a copy of the certification that is verified by the authorized signatures from the course instructors, providers, or sponsoring institution and substantiates any hours completed by the licensee. A licensee seeking contact credit for reading a publication must submit results from a test on the information contained within the publication and administered by an independent third-party.

• Board Meetings. Continuing education credit may be granted for a maximum of four (4) hours each renewal period for time spent attending two (2) Board meetings.

Waiver. The Board may waive continuing education requirements for reasons of individual hardship, including health (certified by a medical doctor) or other good cause. The licensee must request such waiver prior to renewal and provide any information requested by the Board to assist in substantiating hardship cases. This waiver is granted at the sole discretion of the Board” (Rules Section 425 01-04, p. 11-12).

MY CONTINUING EDUCATION INTERESTS

Sources of continuing education. Here are some providers of continuning education courses that seem interesting to me:

• PESI
• Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy
• Evergreen Certifications
• The Gottman Institute
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Workshops and advanced training. Here are some workshops and advanced training that I’d like to pursue:

• Gottman Certification Track

Certification information for specialities of interest:

• Clinical Telemental Health Provider (CTMH) certification.

Recording hours:

I plan to use this spreadsheet to log my continuing education courses: Hours Tracking Form

Certifications:

None related to MFT at this time.

Below are links to professional organizations and associations of interest:

• The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is “the oldest nonprofit, nonpartisan, multidisciplinary professional association focused solely on family research, practice, and education” (“about us”). The NCFR publishes 3 international peer-reviewed journals and provides a resource library, a resource collection, career resources, webinars, discussion groups, and annual conferences. This organization is of interest because of its multidisciplinary approach and areas of scholarship across a wide range of topics related to family and relationship health. 
• Idaho Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. This organization is of interest because it is a local organization. Affiliating with this association will provide opportunities for networking, local resources, meetings, and to find mentors.
• Idaho Mental Health Counselors Association. This organization is of interest because it is a local organization with a multidisciplinary member base. Affiliating with this association will provide opportunities for networking, local resources, meetings, and to find mentors.
• The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). This organization seeks to promote an “evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic intervention—including a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connection—as a primary modality, delivered by clinicians trained and certified in this specialty, to prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic disease” (“about” page). I plan to integrate my background in clinical exercise science and physical therapy with the mental and emotional health aspects of MFT to promote comprehensive lifestyle changes to promote wellness in my future clients. I will continue my affiliation with the ACLM to keep abreast of cutting edge research in these areas. 
• The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). This is the premiere organization for exercise science professionals. Many researchers who are investigating relationships between exercise/physical fitness and mental/emotional health are affiliated with this organization. I plan to contine my affiliation with the ACSM to keep abreast of new reserach in these areas. 

Here is a link to the AAMFT Code of Ethics. The code of ethics provides a useful framework to help guide MFTs to facilitate the most ethical practice possible.

The AAMFT provides fact sheets to provide ethics guidance for the following topics (and others):

• Informed consent
• Sexual attraction in the therapeutic relationship
• “No secrets” policy when working with clients 
• Confidentiality
• Maintaining confidentiality when using emails from clients
• Dual relationships in rural settings
• Ethical issues related to treating children 

The AAMFT provides ethics consultations for members. Consultations are available via email (ethics@aamft.org) or via phone. Here is the link to schedule a phone consultation. Consultations are available Monday-Thursday 10AM-4PM EST. 

CPH & Associates is a popular provider of liability insurance for mental health professionals. They provide resources on ethics aimed at helping improve the quality of service delivery while minimizing risk of liability. Select topics include: 

• Confidentiality
• Disclosures to clients 
• Helping clients during difficult economic times
• Sexual contact with clients
• Confidentiality issues surrounding seeking patient referrals via social media 
• Mental illness, guns, and dangerous clients 
• Spousal abuse and confidentiality 

CPH & Associates provide consultations and support for mental health professionals who purchase liability insurance through their company. They can be reached through their website and at the following phone number: (800) 875-1911.

IDAHO LAWS:

Here are some links to key laws and a summary articles that are relevant to the practice of marriage and family therapy in the state of Idaho:

• Duty to warn in Idaho
  • Title 6, Chapter 19, Section 6-1902
  • Title 6, Chapter 19, Section 6-1903
• Reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect in Idaho
  • Title 16, Chapter 16, Section 16-1605
  • Guidance from the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare
• Client-counselor privilege in Idaho
  • Idaho Rules of Evidence Rule 517
• Consent process for minors in Idaho
  • Article from healthcare attorney Kim Stanger from the Holland & Hart Law Firm
• Guidelines for “professional courtesies”
  • Article discussing waiving fees for physicians who may refer patients/client to your practice 

IDAHO CASE LAW

As I plan to practice occasionally from a home office, I have included a link to an interesting case: Ater v. Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses. The therapist in this case worked from a home office where he was seeing a client for court-mandated sex offender treatment. The client entered the therapist’s home unannounced one day and a physical altrication ensued between the two following an arguement between the therapist and the client regarding the client needing to attend a group session later that night. Although it was determined that the client was the agressor and that the therapist acted in self-defense, The Board suspended the therapist’s license for “violating certain provisions of the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics” by “following [the client] out of [the therapist’s home] office [where there was another person present, following the client into the hallway] and verbally confronting [the client] in [the client’s] extremely agitated state”. A district court overturned the suspension and the Idaho Supreme Court affirmed the district court’s decision.

LEGAL RESOURCES:

The AAMFT provides several free legal resources for MFTs here, as well as training materials available for purchase. The AAMFT also has published a book titled Legal Guidance for Family Therapists which is also available for purchase.

The AAMFT provides fact sheets to provide legal guidance for the following topics (and others):

• Dealing with subpoenas
• HIPAA resources
• Legal issues with teletherapy
• Legal issues practicing via the internet
• Legal issues with minors in therapy
• Legal issues with children
• Legal issues with termination of treatment

There are also a number of helpful legal resources from the AAMFT for starting, running, and closing a private practice. As I plan to work in a private practice, I have included some helpful topics:

• Differences between incorporations and partnerships
• Starting a private practice
• Informed consent process
• Keeping clinical records two part series: part 1 and part 2
• Client record retention
• Billing insurance and other third party payors
• Legal issues when closing a practice

The AAMFT provides legal consultations for members. Here is the link to schedule a phone consultation. Consultations are available Monday-Thursday 10AM-4PM EST. 

This form will be used to track client contact hours, supervision hours, and continuing education hours: Hours Tracking Form

This form is required by the state of Idaho for reporting supervised clinic hours: Verification of Supervised Experience Application

I will use TheraNest as my practice management software. All documentation will be in a digital format. Clients will be send links to complete all forms online through TheraNest’s secure interface. All documents are stored on TheraNest’s secure server and protected by their professional security measures. No paper copies will be stored in my office. Here are some examples of some of the types of docuemnts I plan to use in my practice:

• Consent Form
• Notice of Privacy Practices
• Credit-Debit Card Payment Consent
• Consent for Telemental Health Treatment
• Intake form similar to this one from strohcofc.org

RESOURCES FOR LAUNCHING MY CAREER 

Here are some resources I will use to practice successfully in a private practice environment:

• I will use the AAMFT Private Practice resources to build the practice which includes the following:
  • How to market to insurance carriers
  • Marketing
  • Building a practice
  • Website design
  • Networking
• I will join Psychology Today to list my profile as a way for clients to find my practice
• I will use TheraNest as my practice management software which includes the following:
  
  
  • Scheduling feature
  • Client portal for streamlined communication
  • Appointement reminders for clients
  • Digitized progress notes, treatment plans, and initial assessment templates, each fully customizable
  • Automated billing workflow with a credit card billing option
  • Unlimited file storage
• I will use doxy.me for the video interface for all my online telemental health visits
  • doxy.me complies with HIPAA, GDPR, PHIPA/PIPEDA, & HITECH requirements
• To meet the needs of state residents in rural areas who cannot come to my clinic, I plan to offer online telemental health therapy. I will use Best Practices in the Online Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (published by the AAMFT) to ensure that my online therapy is effective

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR IDAHO

Idaho is a large rural state with most of the residents being underserved for mental health. In 2020 Idaho was ranked 33rd in the nation in terms of access to mental health providers. A recent SAMHSA report shows the following:

• Idaho has more adolescents (ages 12-17 years old) with major depressive episode that the national and regional averages (p. 6)
• Most adolescents in Idaho with depression do not seek treatment (p. 7)
• Thoughts of suicide are higher in Idaho young adults (ages 18-25 years old) compared to the national and regional averages (p. 16)
• Serious mental illnesses are more prevalent in Idaho young adults compared to the national and regional averages (p. 17)
• Thoughts of suicide are higher in Idaho adults compared to the national and regional averages (p. 31)
• Serious mental illnesses are more prevalent in Idaho adults compared to the national average (p. 32)
• Most adults in Idaho with any form of a mental illness do not seek mental health services (p. 33)

Idaho ranks poorly as well in terms of suicide. A 2020 fact sheet compiled from date sourced from the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the State Department of Education, reveals the following:

• Idaho ranks #5 in the US states for highest suicide rates
• Suicide rates are 1.5 times higher in Idaho compared to the nation
• High school students who seriously consider attempting suicide has steadily increased from 14.2% in 2009 to 21.6% in 2019

JOB SEARCH AND EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

Although I plan to work in my own private practice, here are some resources for finding jobs:

• AAMFT Job Connection
• indeed.com
• simplyhired.com
• ziprecruiter.com