Dear Healing Arts Professional,
Welcome to The Colorado Association of Psychotherapists |
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CAP Legislative Action: A Sensible Alternative
by Suzy Walz, CAP Board Vice-President
The Mental Health Grievance Board held a quarterly meeting December 14th and announced their decision regarding the proposed rule change CAP representatives introduced back in September. (See the September CAP newsletter). The acting chair of the board stated that they had decided not to adopt the draft rule proposed by CAP which would eliminate the ambiguity created around dual relationships resulting from two conflicting paragraphs in the Colorado Mental Health Code. The board announced that it had actually discussed the proposal "privately" at the September 28th meeting after CAP's presentation. CAP had not been informed about this despite several inquiries.
Gayle Fidler, Program Director of the Mental Health Section of DoRA, said she did not wish to propose a rule change with the same language to the other boards."That would be impossible [logistically]", she said. (Note: Several rules have been proposed and adopted by the boards. The ministerial exemption and the supervision rule are examples.) They also stated they did not agree that a rule change was necessary. Ms. Fidler announced her resignation effective January 1, 2008.
CAP will now move to the next step in its strategy to make positive change affecting all psychotherapists and clients in Colorado. The purpose of introducing this legislation is to give the public choices not presently available when selecting a therapist.
The Colorado Constitution places the power to make laws with the state legislature, the Colorado General Assembly. The General Assembly cannot delegate this power, and no other branch of state government can usurp it. The General Assembly can confer upon state government agencies the power to promulgate rules and regulations, which is considered a quasi-legislative function. The power to make laws is exercised through the process of considering and adopting bills.
Proposals discussed by the Colorado General Assembly during the legislative session are presented in the form of a written document called a bill. A bill generally creates new law, amends existing law, or repeals existing law.
The 2008 session of the state legislature begins in January and ends in early May - 120 days. The basic route of a bill to passage into a law is: 1) introduction on the floor of the senate or the house of representatives and assignment to committee. 2) Committee hearing and testimony and possible amendment and referral to either another committee or passage to the floor of the House or Senate. 3) (Second Reading on floor of House or Senate) Debate and amendments on the floor of the House or Senate and passage to 3rd Reading . 4) (3rd Reading , on floor of same house again and possible amendments and then passage to the other house where the whole process is repeated.
If the two houses agree in their versions of the bill, it is sent to the governor for signature. If the governor vetoes the bill, it takes a 2/3 majority of both houses to override the veto. If he does not sign it within a certain date, it becomes law. If the two versions of the bill do not agree, a conference committee of both houses is convened to reach a compromise. Then the compromise version is referred with conference committee recommendations for approval. There may still be differences and arguments on the bill that prevent concurrence and, if so, the bill is dead. If a compromise is reached and the bill is passed, it is sent to the governor for signature or veto.
Greg McHugh (CAP legislative chair), Suzy Walz (CAP vice-president) and Ellen Brilliant (CAP's lobbyist) are working to draft the legislation to modify the current statute to show that psychotherapists must avoid some dual relationships with clients where there may be a risk of impaired judgment or exploitation, but not ALL dual relationships are avoidable or undesirable. Please note this important point: Sexual relationships with clients are NEVER APPROPRIATE. This legislation will not change that part of the Mental Health Practice Act that already prohibits sexual dual relationships.
Before the hearings on the bill take place we will be asking CAP members to write or call the legislators on the committee to hear the bill to support our position. We will also be asking members to write or call legislators to support the bill when it gets to the floor of the House and in the Senate. If you want to be a volunteer for that effort, please let Greg McHugh know via email with your name, phone, address, etc. You can email Greg at gregmchughcht@earthlink.net.
As always, the CAP board welcomes you to join us at our January meeting. It will take place Tuesday, January 15th at 7p.m. at The People House in Denver. Please consider investing your time in supporting your professional organization. All are welcome!
Suzy Walz RN, CCHt
Vice President, CAP |
January 2008 President's Message
Dear Members and Friends:
For me, being the President of the Colorado Association of Psychotherapists, has been like having the opportunity to carry the Olympic Torch. It has been an honor and responsibility. I have always known that my term in office was a small part of a much larger journey. My theme when I came to office was "It is all about You" and my focus has been to build membership and member benefits. That remains my focus as I enter the last six months as your president.
Membership in CAP offers you a voice with Colorado legislation and with the Department of Regulatory Agencies. In a way, your membership helps to protect your right to practice psychotherapy. The majority of your dues go to pay for the costs of our lobbyist and the networking and legislative activities of our Board. CAP monitors legislative activity both during the regular legislative session from January through May and during Interim when various legislative study committees and other efforts are underway to develop legislation for the next session. We are currently developing legislation to change the incongruities in the mental health law. In addition, through CAP's networking with other practitioner groups, you participate in a larger collective voice addressing professional issues and consumers' rights.
CAP maintains a directory of potential supervisors and a list of malpractice insurance companies to assist your practice. We have been able to secure discounted rates for health insurance for self-employed psychotherapists. Our web site is designed to insure the viability and availability of complimentary therapeutic methods in Colorado. This website has a searchable member data base. As a member of CAP, you can increase your credibility and visibility by offering your services through our website. You can create and manage your own profile, visible to the public. You can customize your entry by adding a photo and advertise workshops or special services. You may place a button or banner, on your own web site indicating your association with the Colorado Association of Psychotherapists.
Our goals for 2008 include the encouragement and promotion of competence and ethical conduct among members in the practice of psychotherapy. We would like know of any special needs that you as members have. You can always contact me directly by email.
I know that 2007 was turbulent for me professionally and much of that turbulence happened in a very public venue. It is my sincere hope, that when all has been said and done, that my work for CAP and Colorado psychotherapy will be considered note worthy rather than notorious.
All my best,
President of the Colorado Association of Psychotherapists
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CAP Sponsors Successful 'Dual Relationship' Workshop
Are "Dual Relationships" between therapists and their clients always illegal, immoral, and counter-therapeutic?
Not necessarily, says Dr. Ofer Zur, co-author of "Dual Relationships and Psychotherapy" with Arnold Lazarus. On Nov. 10, over 50 CAP members and other practitioners gathered to participate in Dr. Zur's workshop. Mixing humor, irony, compassion, and realism regarding the present political environment, Dr. Zur got us all participating and looking beneath the surface of this sensitive and complex issue.
While "boundary violations", such as physical intimacy with a client, are always both illegal and counter therapeutic, "boundary crossings", such as going on a walk with a client or accepting a gift from a client, can actually be highly therapeutic, though they may be against some professional guidelines.
Zur used vignettes from popular cinema to illustrate his points and promote animated discussion.
Ultimately, Zur stated, the professionally responsible thing is to consciously choose our interventions and to document them in our client's notes.
CAP plans to continue to sponsor such stimulating, professionally educating, and relevant workshops for its membership.
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Support our sponsors below
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Colorado Coaching and
Hypnotherapy Training Institute
Hypnotic-CoachingTM
9/20/08-11/15/08 Time: 9-5
The field of Hypnotic-CoachingTM is about working with people who want "success" in their lives. Hypnotic-Coaches TM help clients design the lives they want and help them achieve their goals. Hypnotic-CoachingTM is a process that teaches the use of self hypnosis to create a solution-focused life. Each class is self contained.
Teachers: Zoilita Grant MS. CCHt., Dr. Edward Chavez Ph.D., CCHt. & Debra Berndt CCHt.
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