Northstar Counseling

Clinicians are so busy caring for others that sometimes tending to the business aspects of their practice is a challenge. Despite emergency planning being required by our codes of ethics, it is often overlooked or not addressed thoroughly. This course will focus on the who, what, where, why, and how of creating a professional will & transition plan. This professional will considers any reason that might cause a clinician to be unable to continue seeing their clients. This could be due to death of a family member, extended illness, disability, moving out of state, retirement, or any number of other reasons. An effective professional will, and transition plan must include all the information necessary for another qualified professional to ensure continuity of care for clients. This presentation will teach mental health clinicians how to construct such a plan, ensuring that their clients are cared for, no matter what circumstances arise. Also discussed will be the process of identifying an emergency response team, those who will take over for the clinician should the need arise. AAMFT Training Award Winner, Dr. Eli Karam also interviews leading professional will expert, Dr. Ann Steiner. Participants who complete this course will: 

- Understand the reasons that codes of ethics require that contingency plans and professional wills be in place to ensure continuity of care for clients

 - Identify the many types of information that need to be included in a professional will. - Evaluate key considerations when choosing a Professional Executor

- Begin the creation of a plan -including identification of an Emergency Response Team, documentation of essential data, creation of contact letters/voicemail scripts, and more.