Hello IMHCA members!

I am very excited to serve as your 2021-2022 IMHCA President. This past year has brought us a lot of lessons. We have been challenged to shift and adapt to new circumstances and I am very proud of how we as counselors showed up in our communities. IMHCA wants to recognize you and your devotion to your clients. Moving forward we want to better serve you in the ways you want to be served. This year IMHCA is going to focus on bringing awareness to mental health in our communities.

What this will look like:

Ethics Training. IMHCA has been a huge resource for ethics CEs in the past.  Not only will we be hosting a live ethics training this fall, we will be developing a way to provide you “on-demand” ethics training that you can purchase from our website.

Membership Satisfaction. We know that there are more ways we can serve you, we just need to know more from you.  We will be sending out periodic surveys to help adapt our newsletters to provide the content you want to know.  

Community Outreach. IMHCA would like to be more visible in the community. Our plan is to be a resource that the general public can look to, to find mental health services. Through social media, advertising, and events, we hope that individuals throughout Idaho will know who we are and our efforts to bring mental health into the light.

IMHCA will continue to bring you:

• Awareness about mental health needs in Idaho through letter writing events, community events, use of listserv etc.  
• Sponsoring a distinguished speaker at the ICA and supporting Professional Development.
• Providing scholarships for students to attend the ICA conference. 
• We will continue to provide high-quality workshops/training.
• Continue to facilitate a members-only peer supervision group worth up to 10 CEs in a 24 month period.  
• Maintaining a presence at the IDOPL meetings and providing updates from the board’s discussions on issues that impact our members.
• Provide FREE student membership to help our future counselors have access to our many resources.

We want to welcome any graduate students or professionals that are interested in getting involved with our board. You will have the opportunity to follow your interests and show your strengths in whatever committee you find exciting. Please reach out to me at info@idahomhca.org for more information.

Sincerely, 

Stephanie Breitenstein MC, LCPC

info@idahomhca.org

Free Peer Consultation Sessions - 1.5 CEs

Friday, September 10, 12:15 - 1:45 pm
Wednesday, October 13, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Friday, November 12, 12:15 - 1:45 pm
Wednesday, December 1, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Our virtual peer consultation sessions welcome licensed mental health counselors and mental health counselors in training who are members of IMHCA or IDAMFC. Non-members are welcome to try it out one time (IMHCA's $50 membership fee pays for itself after approximately two peer consultation sessions*).

Participants receive feedback and provide support as they discuss their own challenging cases, ethical dilemmas, professional issues, and the effects of work on their well-being. Participants are able to:

• Receive emotional support and reduce burnout
• Improve clinical skills and effectiveness
  
• Network with colleagues and discover resources
• Reduce malpractice risk by recognizing and addressing ethical issues
  
• Earn 1.5 free CEs per session!*  

*Maximum of 10 consultation CE's per 24 month period for license renewal requirements (IBOL Rule 425.3.e). 10 CE's are valued at between $170 to $380 at Treasure Valley CE rates. This benefit alone more than pays for the $50 per year membership fee.

*The peer consultee retains all responsibility for their client's treatment and is free to accept or reject the input received from the group. 

**Peer Consultation requires active participation and a variety of viewpoints. If there are fewer than 3 participants (not including the facilitator) in attendance, IMHCA will have to cancel the event. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes. 

Learn More

Come give it a try!
Register for a Session

Contact Petra Morrison with questions.

If you are interested in facilitating a Peer Consultation session, please let us know by emailing peerconsultation@idahomhca.org 

Idaho Licensing Board Update

Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (IDOPL)

Submitted by IMHCA Ethics Chair, Cassidi Klimek, LPC

Attended by incoming IMHCA Ethics Chair Kayla Pedigo

New Office Location

IDOPL has moved its office location to 11351 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg. 6, Boise, ID 83714. They are open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Mountain Time, excluding holidays. Access to Building 6 is currently limited due to construction, but the website (per September 5) indicates "Our lobby remains open for walk-in customer service." You are encouraged to schedule an appointment whenever possible. You can reach the Board by phone at 208-334-3233, or by email at cou@dopl.idaho.gov. For the most current information, visit the IDOPL website.

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be October 22, 2021 at 8:30 am MST. IMHCA will have a representative attend the segments of the meeting that are open to visitors. 

Annual ICA Conference: 
Counseling for Change

November 3-6, 2021

At this time the Idaho Counseling Association (ICA) intends to hold a traditional, in-person 2021 Super Conference at Boise Centre East, as long as health guidelines support an event of this size. ICA also plans to offer an option to attend virtually. 

This year's Conference will explore the theme: How Do We as Counselors Affect Change? How do we engage in different levels of advocacy

—self, individual, and systemic— to support efforts in making 

meaningful impacts to our communities?

As in previous years, IMHCA will host a table at the event. Come visit us!

Learn More and Register 

IMHCA at Your College/University

IMHCA Grad Student Representative Mindy Haws will be reaching out to professors for times to present in grad school counseling classes in October. If you would like an IMHCA presentation in your master's counseling program, contact Mindy at studentrep@idahomhca.org. Remember that student membership in IMHCA is FREE!

_________________________________________________

Represent Central Idaho on the IMHCA Board

IMHCA's Board of Directors is seeking to have representation from all regions  of Idaho. We currently have Jason Byrd representing Eastern Idaho, including Pocatello, Idaho Falls. Ingrid Blinn represents Northern Idaho, including Lewiston, Moscow and Coeur D'Alene. While the Treasure Valley is well represented on the board, we would like to have a representative for Central Idaho that would include Sun Valley, Stanley, Twin Falls. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone, contact Stephanie Breitenstein at president@idahomhca.org

Legal and Ethical Issues of Telehealth

with Shane Bengoechea
February/March, 2022 - 6 CEs

This Ethics Training Workshop will be a must if you're thinking of starting a private practice from home using telehealth. The information is appropriate for all mental health counselors using, or planning to do therapy via telehealth options. Topics will include:

• What to do if you are being audited
• Common disciplinary matters
• Bringing awareness to avoidable issues

Shane O. Bengoechea is the owner of the law firm of Bengoechea Law Office, PLLC, in Boise, where he has a general practice and specializes in the area of health care, insurance, personal injury, business, contracts and corporate law. Prior to being in private practice, Mr. Bengoechea was of counsel for Saetrum Law Offices, the Chief staff attorney for Blue Cross of Idaho, city attorney for the City of Twin Falls, ID and taught business law as an adjunct professor for 10 years. Mr. Bengoechea received his law degree from Gonzaga School of Law and is a member of the Idaho Bar and the United State District Court of Idaho. He is a frequent speaker on various legal topics including governmental law.