Blog

Mental Health Documentation Best Practices: Guidelines & Cheat Sheet

By Dr. October Boyles | March 3, 2023

Mental Health Documentation Best Practices (Guidelines and Cheat Sheet) Mental health documentation is more than record-keeping – it’s the foundation of consistent, compliant, and defensible…

Completing a PRP Intake

By Dr. October Boyles | February 24, 2023

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness – and many experience severe symptoms. While…

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

By Dr. October Boyles | February 3, 2023

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline In 2020, a death by suicide occurred every 11 minutes in the United States. In 2021, this average increased by 4%, amounting to 47,646…

How to Transition From Insurance to Private Pay

By Dr. October Boyles | January 27, 2023

Therapists and counselors dealing with insurance companies often spend too much time writing notes and completing documentation to file claims and get reimbursed. In a…

Top Anxiety Assessment Tools for Clinicians: GAD-7, BAI, & More

By Dr. October Boyles | January 20, 2023

Top Anxiety Assessment Tools Used by Mental Health Professionals Anxiety affects millions of individuals, making accurate assessment essential for diagnosis and treatment planning. Mental health…

How to Prevent Documentation Errors in Healthcare

By Dr. October Boyles | January 17, 2023

For better or worse, documentation is a significant part of every clinical workflow. When done right, providers stay on the same page and get a…

Grief Treatment Plan: Goals, Objectives & Sample Templates for Clinicians

By Kaylee Kron, LMSW | December 29, 2022

Grief Treatment Plan: Goals, Objectives, and Examples for Clinicians A grief treatment plan outlines structured goals, measurable objectives, and interventions to help clients process loss…

The Age of Consent for Mental Health Treatment by State (2026)

By October Boyles, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN | December 23, 2022

The Age of Consent for Mental Health Treatment by State (2026) Many young people avoid mental health treatment when parental consent is required, but most…

Top Depression Assessment Tools: Compare PHQ‑9, BDI, DASS‑21 & More

By Dr. October Boyles | December 8, 2022

Best Depression Assessment Tools: A Clinician’s Guide to Screening and Monitoring Accurate identification and tracking of depressive symptoms are essential in behavioral health care. Depression…

Interventions for Anxiety: How to Choose the Right Technique for Each Client

By October Boyles, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN | November 29, 2022

Interventions for Anxiety: Evidence-Based Techniques for Anxiety Disorders This clinician-focused guide breaks down the most effective interventions for anxiety disorders, including CBT, exposure therapy, mindfulness,…

ICD-11 Updates for 2022

By Dr. October Boyles | November 23, 2022

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) has been the foundation for medical coding, clinical workflows and research across the world, but the current version is about 30…

How to Decide What Rates to Charge for Your Therapy Services

By Dr. October Boyles | November 18, 2022

Deciding how much therapy costs can be challenging for even the most seasoned therapists. Counseling is a unique field. The value of your services is…

Therapy Intake Questions: A Clinician’s Guide & Examples

By October Boyles, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN | November 8, 2022

Therapy Intake: A Clinician’s Guide for Mental Health, Counseling & Psychiatry Therapy intake questions, process steps, and documentation examples for clinicians conducting mental health, counseling,…

Therapist Shame and Documentation: How the Shame Spiral Keeps You Behind on Notes and Hating Documentation

By Miranda Palmer, LMFT | November 7, 2022

Therapist Shame and Documentation Let me start by saying this. There’s nothing to be ashamed of in regard to your documentation. Truly. Even if you…

Substance Abuse Notes: Real Progress Note Examples for Addiction Counselors

By Dr. October Boyles | October 26, 2022

Substance Abuse Notes: Example Progress Notes and Tips for Clinicians Effective substance abuse notes help clinicians document treatment progress, demonstrate medical necessity, and ensure continuity…