Biopsychosocial assessment, how to write it and tips for conducting a biopsychosocial assessment will be covered in this blog post. Biopsychosocial assessment is a logical offshoot of Engel’s theory. It is an evaluation that takes into account the biological, social, and psychological aspects of someone’s life when determining what is the cause of their problems....

When does a therapist have to break confidentiality? Confidentiality is sacred in psychotherapy. Without it, there is no degree of trust between client and therapist. Think about it. Why would someone tell their deepest darkest secrets to a therapist if they thought that person could just tell whoever they wanted? The rules regarding the use of confidentiality are varied and do have exceptions. Before we explore those limits in more detail, let’s briefly discuss what confidentiality means in a counseling situation. ...

This blog entry will cover adult occupational therapy assessments including: The COPM, Berg Balance Scale, MoCA, the Kettle Test, Nine-hole peg test, ACLS, FIM and AMPS.The practice setting and context of occupational therapy for adults varies widely. From geriatrics to physical disabilities, and acute rehabilitation to mental health, client needs, occupational profile, goals, and length of stay will vary greatly. As will the occupational therapy assessments you select. Some settings will call for a very complex evaluation with multiple assessments, while others may only allow for a 15 minute informal screen. Below are selected assessment tools that can be used with a diverse range of clients. ...

Intake forms, consent forms for counseling and psychotherapy and other forms that every therapist needs such as release of information, social medial policy as well as tips will be covered in this post. When you think about conducting psychotherapy there are many things to consider: the client, your theoretical approach, and billing, to name a few. One critical—yet often overlooked—part of counseling is the forms that you give to the patient at the beginning of counseling. The proper forms can set the tone and boundaries for successful treatment. Here is what you need to know about the forms you will want to give to your clients....

Goals in counseling and psychotherapy; what makes an effective counseling treatment plan; tips for writing counseling goals and examples of counseling and psychotherapy goals in common treatment areas such as substance abuse, anger management and depression will be covered in this blog. Setting counseling goals is something almost all therapists do with their clients. But why do we do it? Is it because it looks good? Because it structures therapy? To get insurance off our backs? Although there are many different considerations, it is generally understood that making goals is associated with positive treatment outcomes. At least when you do it correctly. ...

Ice breakers for group therapy are one of the best tools you can have in your therapist’s toolbox. They are simple to implement, they’re fun, and they help participants to begin engaging with the group in ways that feel safe. These blog article will review icebreakers that can be used during group therapy and their benefits....

Family therapy activities and techniques will be covered in this blog post. No one has more influence on a person’s development than their family. Unfortunately, that can be both a blessing and a curse. When family members contribute to someone’s difficulties, we may require their assistance to help make the situation better. That is when we can turn to family therapy and use your family therapy techniques to come up with family therapy activities.. Although family therapy has many theoretical orientations, it shares the basic belief that family dynamics have the power to help solve problems. Here are some of the most well-known and effective family therapy techniques and a few family therapy activities:...

This blog will review anxiety counseling techniques that counselors and therapists can apply when treating individuals during the current coronavirus pandemic.The coronavirus has obvious physical health implications but it has also brought along with it significant anxiety problems. Not only are people afraid of catching COVID-19 but the resulting restrictions have led to worries about finances, education, and the future. For mental health professionals, the challenge is to help people cope effectively with their anxiety issues. Here are suggestions on what counseling techniques can be considered to assist the anxious client. ...

DAP Notes aka Data, Assessment and Plan Notes are progress notes that follow a very specific format to help clinicians to organize their notes. Let’s explore a few DAP note examples and tips. These examples will help you quickly review each part of DAP....

Family therapy techniques are ways to address family conflict by improving the communication and interaction of family members. There are numerous family therapy techniques, but four main models dominate the spectrum. This blog reviews the main therapy family techniques: structural, Bowenian, strategic and systematic....