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:

Please find all of this important information below. If you have any questions, or any information to share, please email us at: info@ColoradoCounselingAssociation.org

 

Thank you from all of us here!

The CCA Foundations Student Conference and the Annual Conference is just a few weeks away and there is still time to register to attend. Join us in beautiful Keystone on August 21 for the Student Conference and August 22-23 for the Annual Conference. Our lineup of speakers is outstanding! Join other mental health professionals in this opportunity to strengthen advocacy efforts, empower our clinical practice, and advance our profession. Your registration directly benefits the collective resources needed to enhance the CCA’s efforts to promote the identity and interests of professional counselors. In addition, you will earn Professional Development Hours (PDH) toward your license renewal and for select presentations directly addressing supervision, you’ll earn PDH toward keeping your supervisory credentials active.

Humanistic Principles for Providing Culturally Sensitive Supervision, Dr. Vasti Holstun, CCA President

Creating an Engaged, Cohesive Team that Supports a Culture of High Performance, Carla D'Agostino-Vigil

Supervision and Gen Z Supervisees: Navigating Challenges and Best Practices, Karen Thacker, Jordan Fink, Michelle Hollomon, and Danielle Ojeabulu

Psilocybin and MDMA and the Treatment of Human Trafficking Survivors, Billie McIntire

Helping Clinicians Heal from Client Suicide, Khara Crosswait Brindle

Men's Work for the Modern Era, Marc Azoulay

Beyond Self Care: Healing the Healers, Alyssa Cedillo, Maurico Verduzco

Enhance your Counseling Impact with Neurofeedback, Dr. Yvonne Tate and Shari Johansson

LGBTQ+ Counseling Competence: Moving from an Affirming to a Competent Counselor, Andrew Tessmer, Dr. Stacy A. Pinto, and Jennifer Grubb

Embodied Presence: A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Experiential Therapy, Dr. Ryan Kennedy

The Addicted Parts: IFS and Addiction, Mark Blakeley

Cross-Cultural Trauma Work With Military Families: Lessons from the Trenches of War in Ukraine, Dr. Joshua Kreimeyer

It's Not Compassion Fatiguing You, Danielle Schlagel

Moral Injury and the Military Veteran, Tim Spalla

Sound Healing and Trauma: An Alternative Approach to Therapy and Why "Woo Woo" Works, Hannah Sheehan-Farris

Clinical Supervision & the Suicidal Client, Dr. Gregory Elliott

From 9 to 5 to Thrive: Mastering Retirement Transitions, Dr. Michelle A. Johnston

Born for a Better World: Addressing the impacts of our consumer culture on our individual and collective well-being, Carl Nassar

Connecting Before Correcting: Deepening and Exploring Polyvagal Theory to Support Co-Regulation, Healing Space, and Resiliency, Barbara Sheehan-Zeidler

Working with Oppressive Trauma While Caring for Ourselves, Jessica Ladd-Webert

How Neurofeedback Brain Wave Training Can be an Aid in Talk Therapy, Marina Buswell

Starting & Managing Your Supervision Group, Shannon Heers

Thriving Through Turbulence: Building Foundations for Resilience, Taylor LaRocco

Running on Empty: Fueling Wellness in the Age of Burnout, Dr. Ashley Pechek and Dr. Gregory Elliott

Critically Conscious Professional Development, Shanae Adams

You, Me and ADHD - Navigating Better Relationships, Deb Felio

The False Summit: A trauma informed model for breast cancer recovery, Erin Henry and Heather Dekeyser

Anytime, Anywhere: How Mobile Crisis Response Supports Coloradans in Need, Blake Rubble and Heather Westbarnh

We might cheat death if we worship it: The impact of death anxiety on counselors'-in-training efficacy with substance use populations, Jason Rose and Claire Critchlow

From Insecurity to Security: Supporting Clients in Developing Secure Attachments, Bria Tavakoli

Embodying Liberation in Trauma Care, Chase Worth and Elizabeth Wagner

Sexual Health and Wellness of Children and Adolescents: Having the difficult conversation, Mauricio Verduzo

Advanced Approaches to Clinical Supervision: Cultivating the Leader Within For Effective Guidance and Support, Francisca Mix

Interventions with Children in Divorce Scenarios; An overview of Play Based Approaches, Dr. Karalynn Royster

Nuances in Counseling the Justice-Involved Client, Daniel Schellenger

The Intersectionality of Archetypal Imagery and Play Therapy across the lifespan, Kathryn J. Raley

Growing as a Counselor of Influence: Fresh Conceptualizations from the world of Leadership Development, Dr. Mark E. Bolte

"You are What You Eat": The Connection Between Food & Mental Health, Lesley Loftis

Machismo: Addressing Toxic Masculinity in a culturally conscious manner, Mauricio Verduzo

We still need volunteers to help out at the Student and Annual Conferences August 21-23. If you would like to volunteer or would like more information about the benefits of volunteering, please reach out to Kellyanne at Kellyanne@coloradocounselingassociation.org.

As the incoming president of the Colorado Counseling Association (CCA), I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to the new elected officials: Dr. Michelle Temple (multicultural liaison), Dr. Jillian Bluebird (counselor education and supervision liaison), Dr. Kendal Humes (Southern Region Liaison), and Carmen Peebles – incoming president elect-elect. I commend each of them for their commitment to becoming part of the leadership of this great professional organization. As you all know, CCA is an organization of volunteers. We all take time from our busy schedules to share and support a vision to equip, empower, and advocate for licensed professional counselors in Colorado. While it is an honor to be part of the leadership of our organization, what we “signed up” for is service. What we offer is an opportunity to serve the profession and ensure that the licensed professional counselors in Colorado are protected professionally and have the tools and opportunities they need to practice under the best possible conditions.

 

As counselors, we understand that we are the most important therapeutic “tool” we take with us in the counseling room and because of that, we tend to be very self-sufficient. What is the purpose of being part of a professional organization then? We tend to function just fine on our own. However, we also understand the power of relationships, and the healing dynamics of a group of people with the same goal and purpose. While we may have different theoretical orientations and personal beliefs, we are united in the purpose of serving this profession and advancing it in Colorado.

 

As such, I believe that the most important step in becoming involved with CCA is to show up. That’s what the newly elected officials have done. And it is what the voting members have done as well. In an election year, we can all appreciate the importance of showing up to vote and make our voices heard. A lot of times we may underestimate the power of showing up. As an Eastern European immigrant, I have noticed that in the American culture of majority, showing up is not valued as much as doing something. We all get a lot of satisfaction from the results of something we did or accomplished. However, it is very difficult to do something without being somewhere. As a young adolescent in Romania, I remember the fall of a dictatorial communist regime simply because thousands of people showed up. They showed up despite being threatened, arrested, and shot at.

 

Colorado Counseling Association is offering all professional counselors an opportunity to be here – to be part of an organization that has a strong voice. It can be easy to sit on the sidelines and criticize what we are doing wrong, or not doing, however you are invited to come in and add your voice to the voice of our organization. If you are wondering what CCA has accomplished, I invite you to take a look at our website and again, remember that all this was accomplished by volunteers.

 

Many of us feel like we are not “political” – we just want to do our job in peace and we already give so much to our clients. Why do we need to give more? I would like to suggest that the reason why we can practice in peace in Colorado is because of the efforts of CCA. Licensed professional counselors in other states with less involved associations have had to contend with difficult pieces of legislation that have complicated their ability to practice and focus on the needs of their clients. That is why showing up as a member of CCA and paying attention to what is going on at Colorado Counseling Association is crucial for our profession.

 

In addition to keeping an eye on legislative areas that impact our profession, Colorado Counseling Association also provides professional development opportunities and other membership benefits that are important for practice. This year, for the first time at CCA, our Foundations Student Conference is scheduled a day before the Professional Conference. The idea is to offer counseling students and upcoming new professionals opportunities to connect with existing professionals and to focus on issues important to beginner professionals. This change originated a while back, when I was elected president elect-elect, and it is now finally coming to fruition. A lot of our initiatives take time. That is why showing up and contributing patiently is important.

 

Showing up doesn’t mean that you need to make big things happen in a spectacular manner. Showing up means faithfully contributing small things. “Little things make big things happen” (Philomon Sylvester) until we accomplish the “really big” things. When I started my tenure as president elect-elect in 2020, we did not yet have a recurring annual conference. We are now in our third year. Our Interstate Compact was just starting out, and now we have a fully executed compact in Colorado. Advocacy for minority clients was also in its infancy, and now we have a full COSAIGE chapter and a liaison for multicultural counseling. While these were the main topics that were part of my focus in 2020, I am not implying that I “made” all these things happen. I am, however, saying that these big things that we have today were made possible through the contribution of all of us who are part of CCA.

 

I invite all of you to ”show up” soon. Our first opportunity is attending the CCA Annual Conference 2024 in beautiful Keystone, Colorado in August 22-23. Join us for opportunities to connect, share, learn, rejuvenate and relax. CCA Conference is an opportunity to become equipped and empowered for another year as a professional counselor. Looking forward to meeting you all in Keystone!

Each July, the CCA welcomes new members to our Governing Council. Each new member means a transition has occurred on our team. The success of the CCA is a collective effort of our current council members, who have the opportunity to build upon the service of those who came before them. While leadership always brings inherent challenges, I am extremely grateful for all those who have served our profession in the past through the CCA.

 

We want to recognize and thank Tonya Kron as the outgoing CCA President, who is now stepping into the role of Past President on the CCA. We also wish to thank Elizabeth Lembo for her service as the Counselor Education and Supervision Liaison, Brittany Helm, who served as the Southern Region Liaison, and Joseph Mendoza-Green who served as the Subscription Liaison: Multicultural Counseling and Development.

 

CCA would especially like to recognize Dr. Gregory Elliott who transitioned off our leadership team. Dr. Elliott's service to the CCA and the Colorado professional counseling profession deserves recognition. Dr. Elliott began with the CCA in 2018. In 2019, Dr. Elliott was elected as the President-Elect, taking a leadership position at the CCA and strengthening the Governing Council. In 2020, Dr. Elliott stepped into the CCA President role, where he led through several challenges within the Governing Council and assisted in updating the Bylaws regarding the CCA Elections Process. In 2021, Dr. Elliott and I attended many meetings on the initial drafting of the Professional Counselor Interstate Compact, which the CCA passed into Colorado law in 2022. Dr. Elliott served as the CCA-Past President in the 2021-2022 term and finally served as the CCA Treasurer in the 2023-2024 term.

 

Dr. Elliott served the CCA and the Colorado counseling profession for over five years. Dr. Elliott continues to serve our profession as the Western Region Chair of the American Counseling Association, a clinical supervisor, and a counselor educator in the Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral degree at Colorado Christian University.

 

The CCA wishes to thank Dr. Elliott for his past and continued service to the counseling profession, both within Colorado and at a national level. 

Dr. Ryan M. Burkhart, CCA Executive Director

On July 11th, DORA sent an email discussing the new laws, especially SB24-115, affecting LPCCs and LPCs. CCA received many questions regarding these new laws. Dr. Ryan Burkhart, CCA Executive Director, addresses these laws in a new video. CCA members may watch this by clicking the link below. Note that you must login with your member ID and password to view the video. 

We often receive questions about the requirements to be a supervisor in Colorado. LPCs providing clinical supervision must meet what CCA calls the 3-3-4 Rule:

• Three years OR 3,000 hours post-degree clinical expertise as a counselor;

        • Your 2,000 post-degree hours earned towards your LPC can be included in the 3,000-hour requirement;

• Three Professional Development Hours, as defined in Rule 1.18, specific to clinical supervision, each renewal period;

• AND, you must complete ONE of the following four options:

        • Option 1: A minimum two-credit-hour graduate-level course on clinical supervision from a CACREP accredited or equivalent program;

        • Option 2: The Approved Clinical Supervisor, or the ACS, from the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE).

        • Option 3: A doctorate degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from a CACREP accredited or equivalent program (or a counseling doctorate that has a supervision component).

        • Or Option 4: A minimum six-clock hour training that covers seven content areas: Role and functions of clinical supervisors; Models and methods of clinical supervision; Supervisory relationship issues; Cultural issues in clinical supervision; Group supervision; Legal and ethical issues in clinical supervision; and Evaluation of supervisee competency and the supervision process.

 

Note the need for three Professional Development Hours for each renewal period. This is required for all of the options above. A great way to get these hours is to attend the supervision sessions offered at the Annual CCA Conference, including the Student and Foundations Conference. If you attend the 2024 Conference in August, you can complete the three hours needed for your 2025 license renewal.

 

There is no LPC-S designation for supervisors in Colorado. When HB20-1206 became effective in 2021, we thought there would be this designation. However, it wasn’t included so therefore DORA doesn’t recognize the LPC-S as an official license designation in Colorado.

 

There is no specific form in which to report these hours to DORA. You will need to attest on your next license renewal that you have completed all the requirements to be a supervisor in the state. Therefore, it is important that you keep documentation certifying that you have met all the qualifications for supervision in Colorado.

 

Rule 1.14.4.b(3) states that a clinician needs 2000 hours for their LPC, with at least 1500 hours of face-to-face direct client contact under clinical supervision that is in-person or telesupervision, and no more than 500 hours as indirect. While you are only reporting total hours when you apply for your LPC, you will need to keep track of your direct and indirect hours separately in case you should be audited. There is not a specific form to use to track your hours so feel free to develop your own. 

Do you like to write? Is there an inner editor in you just waiting to get out? If so, we'd love to talk with you about joining the CCA newsletter staff. We need people who want to submit articles of interest and/or who can write articles on topics we choose. We are also looking for an assistant newsletter editor. There are perks to being on the newsletter staff. Not only will you be helping to keep your peers informed, you will earn Professional Development Hours for your LPC license renewal (under independent learning or volunteer service). Plus, writing articles for the CCA newsletter looks great on your CV. For more information, email us at newsletter@coloradocounselingassociation.org and we'll be happy to talk with you.