Journey Clinical’s Post

Potentially unpopular question: why are we giving away our time? It seems to be pretty common practice to offer free 15-20 minute phone consults with private practice mental health therapists. As someone who has spent most of my adult life working in and around medical centers, this is bizarre to me. Although I can certainly appreciate the need to screen and triage incoming referrals, I am not sure that giving away a therapist’s time to do this is the best approach. Would anyone expect a free phone call with a pediatrician, dermatologist, surgeon, etc., etc. to see if that provider was “a good fit”? Why are mental health clinicians behaving like our time isn’t valuable when we know we are chronically overworked and underpaid? I view every intake appointment as a consultation, not as the beginning of therapy. The goal is to gather enough info to see if I can be helpful, and/or to make a referral if I determine a different approach/level of care is required. It is also the time for the patient to assess goodness of fit. I make a point of explaining that the decision to proceed – or not – with a follow up appointment will be a collaborative one. I encourage them to take their time to decide. When I do give away my time, it is in service of collaborating with other members of the treatment team. My experience is that the more I am able to educate referring providers on what it is I can and can’t do, the less I need to prescreen referrals. And the more I have an established network, the less I worry about the "what ifs" of someone coming through the door with presenting concerns outside my scope, because I know where I can send them. What do others think of these free consult calls? Curious to hear all perspectives on this one 😊

*Related to the topic of this post, but not saying the original poster is doing this.* I am so frustrated when I see people who aren't mental health clinicians talk about what they think I should be doing for free, like consultation sessions. I screen clients but don't advertise it as a consult because people misuse that term. Consult calls are not mini intakes. The purpose of a consult call is to see if the potential client and I have overlapping availability, needs, and abilities; many people don't know/ respect this boundary. I establish boundaries with clients at the intake and we enter into an agreement of mutual respect for each others' time/ expertise. When we have an initial scheduling/screening call, I ask about what they're coming in for and insurance/scheduling info; I don't schedule if I don't sense a good fit. (Example: seeking family therapy- outside of my scope of practice.) Dentists and gynecologists aren't expected to buy into this idea that a free mini appointment is a "small price to pay" for a new client. Additionally, another commenter's response suggesting most clients stay for ~12 sessions seems misleading/misled. This is the average for efficacy, meaning the average # of sessions before clients start reporting substantial change, but the modal # of sessions outpatient clients attend is 1. Being asked to offer a "free" anything is dismissive of my time and expertise. (Sources: anecdotally and https://lnkd.in/gu3PgCNG)

Recently, a colleague asked me what sets Mindpath apart from our competitors. Here are three key points that define us: - We provide a streamlined referral process that is easy and accessible. - Our clinical leadership team ensures our patients receive quality, evidenced-based care. - We maintain a crucial feedback loop with our referral partners to prevent any patient from falling into the referral gap. Good mental healthcare should be both accessible and effective. That's why I believe Mindpath Health is leading the way. If you are interested in partnering or referring to Mindpath, let's connect and explore how we can help bridge the gap in obtaining quality mental healthcare.

The title of this presentation ("Perspectives on Financing Strategies for Evidence-Based Treatment Implementation in Youth Mental Health Systems") is also the title of a paper I recently published in The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics with my colleagues at RAND and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center!

Course of the day: Psychiatric Patient Care Understanding the needs of those with serious mental illness is crucial for promoting recovery, which involves finding new meaning and purpose beyond the impact of mental health issues. While recovery is individual, support from family, friends, and a multidisciplinary team (MDT) is essential. The MDT, comprising various health professionals, collaborates to provide comprehensive patient care. This short learning programme is designed by industry experts to equip healthcare professionals with a strong understanding of psychiatric patient care. Click here to enroll now: https://hubs.la/Q02NMk6b0 Browse all courses: https://hubs.la/Q02NMkDT0

Why Evidence-Based Practice Matters in Mental Health Care 🧠 Are you integrating the best available research into your clinical decision-making? Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is crucial for improving patient outcomes and ensuring high-quality care. Our latest blog explores the importance of EBP and how tools like My Best Practice can streamline your approach, making EBP easier to implement. 📖 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gpMGRa8U #MentalHealth #EvidenceBasedPractice #Therapists #EHR #PatientCare #ClinicalExcellence #MyBestPractice

Thank you for the thought-provoking question, my dear friend Esther Goldstein LCSW! 🤔 What do you think is the biggest struggle for mental health professionals right now? This is a topic many of us ponder regularly. For me, I believe it’s the challenge of staying true to our clinical judgment. In our field, we often face pressures from organizations, peers, and societal expectations that can cloud our ability to trust our instincts and insights. However, it is crucial to recognize that our clinical judgment is not just a professional skill; it is an essential reflection of our commitment to our patients' well-being. Here are some ways we can respectfully reserve our clinical judgment: 1. Embrace Continuous Learning: Staying informed about the latest research and therapeutic practices can enhance our confidence in our judgment. Engaging in ongoing education ensures that our insights are rooted in evidence-based practice. 2. Create a Supportive Network: Collaborating with fellow professionals fosters an environment where we can share experiences and seek advice. Open discussions can reinforce our confidence in our clinical decisions. 3. Prioritize Patient-Centered Care: Always grounding our judgment in the unique needs and experiences of our patients helps us navigate challenges with empathy. This approach allows us to see our decisions through the lens of what is best for those we serve. 4. Practice Self-Reflection: Regularly reflecting on our clinical experiences and decisions helps clarify our thought processes. This can enhance our ability to stand firm in our judgment, knowing it is informed and intentional. 5. Set Boundaries with External Pressures: While it’s important to be open to feedback, we must also set boundaries that protect our clinical insights. Learning to differentiate between constructive criticism and undue influence can empower us to make decisions that truly benefit our patients. By respecting and preserving our clinical judgment, we not only enhance our own professional integrity but also contribute to the overall well-being of our patients. Let’s encourage one another to prioritize our insights, fostering an environment where we can thrive and provide the best care. 💬I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts on this!

Grateful the findings of research I collaborated on with Morgan Shields, Ph.D. were published in the Journal of Patient Experience. We analyzed 510 people's perspectives on how to improve inpatient psychiatric services. I recognized many of my own experiences in this research, and those of so many I know. This included the harms that are often ignored or that people are actively discouraged from talking about-- both personally and in advocacy. If we want to provide truly supportive services, we should not ignore the *real* experiences people have. The article provides examples, including non-therapeutic to traumatic, and how to improve. We identified ten themes. Examples include (1) humane care, (2) continuity of care (including alternatives), (3) empathic connection, and (4) respecting rights and autonomy. Trust, agency, hope, and healing are critical to mental health recovery and *foundational* to whether services will be helpful. The spaces and places that do this work should be held to this standard and be responsive to the folks using services to be considered therapeutic. https://lnkd.in/ecU35SFj

This is an important article on two levels: 1) the first-hand experience and input about how to improve care delivery is powerful and right. 2) with increasing emphasis on measurement-based care in mental health, the perspective and expertise of people with mental health conditions (the true experts) is paramount. I applaud Journal of Patient Experience and the authors, especially Kelly Davis. And I hold out the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) as an ally in establishing a new standard for quality: results of care (outcomes) that are important to the people receiving care. #measurewhatmatters #patientcenteredhealthcare #mentalhealthishealth

IHI has released a new Innovation Report titled "Advancing Measure-Informed Care in Mental Health," describing how practices can improve the adoption of measurement-based and measure-informed strategies in mental health care, within their infrastructure and workforce constraints. Measure-informed care, another avenue for practices to integrate measurement, focuses less on protocols and more on using the best available evidence like leveraging standardized measures to track symptomatology and treatment progress. While measurement-based care has a more robust evidence base, measure-informed care is a newer, innovative practice with potential to address some of the patient- and clinician-driven barriers to implementing measurement-based care. Download the IHI Innovation Report here: https://bit.ly/3TsJ9r4