The Colorado Counseling Association is made up of more than 1,400 members throughout the state of Colorado. We are so grateful to serve each member! The mission of the CCA is to serve its membership by promoting legislative advocacy efforts, education resources, and professional resources offered to its members. What's in this newsletter: - FAQ: Can I renew my LPCC?
- Advocacy Update
- Did you know?
- Medicaid Symposium
- Holiday Self-Care
Thank you from all of us here! |
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Colorado Counseling Association |
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www.coloradocounselingassociation.org |
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FAQ: Can I renew my LPCC? Answer from Dr. Ryan M. Burkhart, CCA’s Executive Director: Renew, no. Extend, yes! While the LPC Board does have authority to renew or reinstate an expired LPC designation, they do not have the same authority to renew or reinstate an expired LPCC designation. However, they do have authority to consider extending your LPCC before its expiration date. There are many reasons someone would seek an extension: medical issues, pregnancies, and sudden life circumstances that prevent you from earning your post-degree hours are all situations CCA members have encountered. Currently, once your LPCC is expired, there is no path forward. While I have good news regarding upcoming legislation (see below) the CCA is hoping to pass this coming spring, that legislation would not go into effect until 2024. So what do you do right now? If you feel as though you may need an extension, do not procrastinate My recommendation is to request an extension one year in advance of your LPCC’s expiration date. If your LPCC expires December 2024, that means you’re requesting an extension in December 2023. Why so early? Because the LPC Board meets periodically, and they need time to review and consider your request. This word “consider” is important to note: the decision to grant you an extension is entirely at the discretion of the LPC Board. How do you begin the extension request? You begin by emailing DORA directly indicating this need: dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us. So what is the good news? In 2024, the CCA expects to pass legislation that will create a renewal process, not just an extension process, for the LPCC! |
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The CCA has begun preparing for the 2024 Legislative Season. Across the profession, much is already in motion. This coming Spring, you can expect: 1.The Opioid Interim Committee to issue recommendations, which will most likely seek to expand who can supervise substance use counselors towards full licensure; 2. Legislation to bring Colorado into the Social Worker Compact; and 3. The CCA to address licensure issues with both the LPCC and LPC. Originally, the Counselor Interstate Compact was expected to go “live” late 2023/early 2024, once the rule making process was completed. Going “live” simply means counselors who reside in states where legislation for the Counselor Interstate Compact has been passed (the CCA did this for Colorado in 2021) are able to apply for a privilege to practice in another state. Currently, the rule making process is still underway and is expected to finish in mid-late 2024. |
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The CCA and DORA recommend LPCCs total all supervision hours, direct practice hours, and in-direct practice hours monthly, recording these totals on the Post-Degree Supervision form. This form should then be signed by your clinical supervisor each month. This is an important component of record keeping to ensure your hard-earned hours are not lost. |
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The CCA has made a recording of this informative and necessary webinar available. If you are thinking about taking Medicaid, or taking Medicaid now and struggling with all the various requirements, this symposium is for you. Click here to purchase your recording of the symposium. |
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It’s the holiday season and most of us are talking about self-care with our clients, especially clients with trauma, depression and anxiety issues. But are we talking self-care with ourselves? And more importantly, are we giving ourselves the gift of self-care by putting into practice our own self-care plan? Following are 10 self-care tips most of us know and talk about, but tend to ignore when it comes to ourselves. Consider these your reminders for your own self-care. - Make a plan for self-care. Write down your self-care activities so you don’t lose focus in the busyness of the holiday season and review this plan daily. Focus on your physical, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive self-care.
- Take some time off. When I was in my internship, the clinic where I worked took off the last two weeks of the year because as the clinic director so aptly said, we all need time to rest and focus on ourselves and our families and friends. She also reasoned that most clients don’t want to pursue therapy and cancellations were often high. You may not be able to take a full two weeks off, but plan to take some time off from seeing clients. You’ll be a better therapist if you rest and recharge.
- Exercise each day, even if it’s just a short walk. If you can, get outside as you exercise. Notice the beauty around you.
- The holidays are filled with rich food and rich drink. Enjoy the richness in moderation and focus on good nutrition the rest of the time. And remember, water is good for you.
- Focus on activities that bring you joy and rejuvenate you and include them in your schedule. Conversely, it’s okay to set boundaries around activities that don’t bring you joy. No isn’t a bad word.
- Set time aside to meditate, pray, read, or simply be. When I was a little girl, I loved to lay under the Christmas tree and just gaze at the colored lights. I had no idea that I was practicing mindfulness; I just knew that I found peace as I lay there. Find your own version of mindfulness and add it to your schedule. Your stress levels will thank you.
- Spend time with people who support you, especially in your self-care goals.
- Practice positive self-talk. Those “I have tos” and “I should bes” are damaging. Affirm yourself and thank yourself. You do good work for so many people and deserve a pat on the back.
- Pare down your to-do list. So many of us add a lot of extras to our holiday to-do lists that just add stress, not joy, to our holidays. Think about why you’re doing a particular activity. Just because your mom did something, doesn’t mean you have to.
- Sleep is good; really good, so give yourself the gift of a good night’s sleep. We all know what comprises good sleep hygiene. Now is a good time to put into practice what we know.
I know there are many more self-care ideas that you can add to this list. The bottom line is to not just add them to the list, but to actually do them. To quote Martha Stewart, “it’s a good thing.” |
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