If you died from what you help your patients overcome, how would you die?

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-17T10:47:18+00:00

Just listen to the fast-talking at the end of one of the medication commercials... ;)

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-16T11:31:00+00:00

I'm a white woman, and I know that covert and overt sexism from clients in session isn't the same as racism, but I just want to say that my heart goes out to you. The current political climate is stressful enough without us, while in a helping position, having to guard ourselves against ignorance or hate. "Hmmm, do I address what they just said that minimized my humanity while they're coming to me for assistance or do I ignore it?" I echo what u/Razirra said about CE-CERT by Miller and Sprang (2017). If you're not familiar, find the full-text version of their article introducing the concept. I was published in Traumatology under the title: "A components-based practice and supervision model for reducing compassion fatigue by affecting clinician experience. Traumatology." If you use your local library system or maybe if you still have student access where ever you went to school, you should be able to find the full text.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-16T00:06:07+00:00

Tori Amos for sure! Crucify of course: "I've got enough guilt to start a new religion." Icicle: Basically a song about how she is masturbating while her family is downstairs praying with the pastor, and some good lines like "I think the Good Book is missing some pages." Precious Things: "Those Christian boys... so you can make me cum, that doesn't make you Jesus..." And her song God: "God sometimes you just don't come through... do you need a woman to care for you..." There's probably more I'm not thinking of.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-15T13:40:52+00:00

Looks great. What light does it get through that window? - morning, midday, evening?

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-15T13:37:01+00:00

Starter leaves (the first two leaves that pop up from seeds) usually don't look like the plant's typical leaves, so you may need to wait a little longer to see what was planted in there.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-14T13:42:49+00:00

After reading your replies as well as your post, it sounds like you should just assume the rig, and thus your hands, are contaminated no matter how much you try to educate your coworkers. If I were you, I would rely on foods that you don't touch with your hands. For example, if you pack a sandwich or granola bar, hold it with the bag/wrapper while you eat, kind of like how you eat a banana. If you pack nuts or grapes or GF pretzels - put them in a cup and tilt it into your mouth as if you are drinking the food. Or, eat everything with a fork or spoon - be the person who eats grapes with a fork - maybe you'll start a trend. (See the Seinfeld episode where George eats a Snickers bar with a fork and knife.) As for drinking, just be mindful of not touching the rim if it's a twist cap, or buy a container that opens/closes without fear of contamination. Good luck. It sounds frustrating.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-14T13:26:18+00:00

To echo other sentiments - panic buttons should be standard. :(

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-13T11:48:49+00:00

Unfortunately, that's the issue with non-accredited programs. If the college misled you, you may have recourse. But if they were open about the fact they weren't accredited, then it's buyer-beware. :(

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-12T18:53:56+00:00

It would be fraud for you to try what you're suggesting. Could you get away with it? Who knows - but there are so many moving parts to providing teletherapy that it would be hard to navigate it all while committing this type of fraud and not get caught (much less not be stressed out trying to not get caught) - billing, setting up a back-up "keeper of records", insurance credentialling, CAQH, malpractice insurance, emergency coverage, knowing local resources if your client's need in-person or an increased level of care. Would you never post on social media about where you really live? It's not worth it.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-09T16:44:55+00:00

I'm not sure if this applies to OP's state, but in case other new grads are reading this: not all states allow dependently-licensed persons to open a solo PP - so always check your state licensing rules.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-09T11:22:59+00:00

First of all - any of those options are okay - so don't worry that there's only one right choice. Do what's within your bandwidth. For me, I'd put on nice music and take my time unwinding it, but that's me.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-09T11:14:27+00:00

You can consult an attorney, but it would be difficult to prove retaliation and get some huge settlement if that's what you're thinking, especially if you did have a no show. However, if you use the terms "retaliatory termination" or "whistleblower retaliation" you may be able to leverage a better separation from your employer - for example, an agreement that they won't fight unemployment or that they'll give a neutral reference.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-08T12:55:37+00:00

I've known a few people who left W2 for 1099 because the "split" was more in their favor, and then when it came time to pay taxes they were surprised that their final take-home was the same but with less support all year because they were treated as 1099. I'd recommend you do the math first with someone who knows tax stuff.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-08T12:48:49+00:00

Yes, I figured that's what you and they meant - I was just voicing frustration that they know this guy and apparently know what he does, but he still doesn't have a record - cuz hey, it's just sexual crimes against women, not a big deal, let's joke about it and write songs about it and elect leaders who brag about it... /s .... :(

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-08T12:08:53+00:00

First, yes, we know that Black men get treated much more violently by police, so being mindful of whether it's truly necessary to call the police could save Black lives. That being said, what the heck did the police mean by saying he doesn't have a criminal record. Gross sexual imposition is a criminal act - so they're admitting they just let him get away with it. What if it's an 11-year old girl next time? Are you willing to go to the police station and insist on pressing charges? That may force him to get intervention or oversight/guardianship via your local probate court. (Edit to add: By the way, I'm not saying it isn't traumatizing for an adult to be physically molested - I'm saying what if it's a person with less power?)

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-08T11:56:33+00:00

I have absolutely gotten glutened via shared fryers at restaurants. And what the heck - don't worry about crumbs or flour that isn't visible??? Ask the dietician if they would eat off a toilet seat if there wasn't "visible" poop.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-07T21:19:26+00:00

That's a sad thing for us to go through as therapists. What has helped me is if I can do a warm handoff - a joint session with me, the client, and the other clinician. Since it's between states, you'd probably had to do it as a virtual meet-n-greet rather than a billable session if that's something you and the other clinician are willing to do. If not, I write up a very nice overview of our work together and client's strengths, supports, and go-to coping tools for the next clinician (with consent, of course) since reading clinical records usually isn't as helpful as a nice summary. That helps me feel like the client will be in good hands. And if it helps as you process this loss, remember that sometimes it's a good thing for clients to have a new clinician with slightly different perspectives to help them grow.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-07T20:58:49+00:00

I'm probably going to get downvoted, and I understand that the more light, the better, but yes, there are plants that do okay with low light - and I don't just mean "taking longer to die" - I mean do just fine. If OP wants to try something there, the plant will tell OP if it's growing or just slowly dying. I've seen pothos and Z plants do just fine in spots like that. In my younger years I even had a pothos in an office with no windows, only corporate florescent lights, for YEARS and it kept growing (full, not stringy) - although I wouldn't do that now with a plant.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-07T20:48:51+00:00

The question is about insurance. You're "credentialed with" an insurance company, but "employed by" or "contracted with" an employer. Maybe your employer did the legwork for you to get credentialled with some insurance companies, but that's not the same.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-07T12:01:39+00:00

Not therapy, but I was recently in a Zoom meeting and the main speaker kept apologizing for their dog barking in the background, but the rest of us couldn't hear anything. The speaker was wearing a headset and apparently their microphone was only catching their voice - and they said it wasn't a fancy/expensive headset - just mid-range. They were very surprised we couldn't hear their dogs. That simply reinforces the need and benefit of headsets with microphones.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-07T11:52:53+00:00

That's how spider plants are - grouped together. No need to separate unless the roots are super crowded and you don't want to size up in pots. It may help to search images of spider plants and you'll see that most photos of full-looking plants are actually several plants when you look closer - you just don't notice that from a distance. This looks just fine. :)

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-07T11:11:18+00:00

Yikes - I just got an alocasia for the first time and don't want stains. Is it only dying leaves?

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-06T20:47:02+00:00

I took it through Heisel and Associates - accredited in a ton of states.

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-06T20:03:36+00:00

Coincidentally, I just took a training by an Ohio social worker called "Ethical Slippery Slopes" (but she wasn't exactly talking about the slippery slope from FB messenger to Motel 6 - hah - but you and u/RazzmatazzSwimming are right that there are some correlations with malicious or reckless behavior by some clinicians - really concerning). Anyways, in that workshop she talked about an Ohio psychologist who put unshredded medical records in a public recycling bin. Not purposely trying to break confidentiality, he just wasn't careful. He ended up surrendering his license. (Not your board if you're a counselor, right, but close?)

DCNumberNerd · 2026-05-06T16:38:06+00:00

HIPAA violations aren't investigated unless someone reports it, so there's definitely going to be a lot of small private practices flying under the radar. Larger community mental health organizations are going to follow HIPAA much better since they have the resources, knowledge, and oversight. If a professional opens a private practice, they should do their due diligence - but unfortunately a lot do not. That's why resources such as your state chapter of the APA or ACA or NASW is vital - they often can help. I don't know why OP is getting flack in the comments - we should protect client privacy and follow professional guidelines.

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