Renew Your Membership Now

It is that time of year again – time to renew your NVLPC membership!   Please renew your membership by April 15, 2010 or your membership will become inactive and you will not receive any more newsletters.  Your membership directory listing and therapist finder listings on the website will also become inactive.

Click here for the NVLPC Membership Renewal Form.

DID you know that you can earn CEU’s by your participation as a Board member for NVLPC? Yes! Not only is your skill valued but you belong to a great Board of hard working and dedicated people AND you receive three (3) CEU’s for your participation. Please consider it. NVLPC is looking for someone to fill the Chair-elect position. The Chair-elect position requires an LPC and two years' activation with NVLPC. The incoming Chair will work closely with the current Chair to resume the responsibility the following year.

Looking for a way to get involved with NVLPC? We have an opening for Sterling Luncheon Co-Coordinator. This position is a great way to network and get to know our members. The position involves receiving and confirming RSVPs by email or phone, creating an attendance list, printing and signing certificates, placing lunch orders, and taking attendance at the Sterling luncheons. The remaining luncheons scheduled for the 2009–2010 year are January 22, February 26, March 26, and May 28. This position requires an LPC so you can sign the CEU certificates. If you are interested in discussing this position, please contact Jama Thurman at 703-330-6088 or email sterlingluncheon@nvlpc.org.

Once a month we hold Board Meetings prior to our luncheon meetings.  All members are welcome to join us to learn more about opportunities to serve.  Board meetings for 2010 will be held from 9:45-11:00 am on January 22, February 12, March 26, April 9, May 28, and June 11.  Our annual planning meeting will be held from 1-5pm on June 11. 

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“Establishing a Private Practice in Counseling”

Who:               Salma Abugideiri, LPC, and Loretta Schulz, LPC

When:             Friday, February 12, 2010. Registration begins at 11:00 am. Presentation begins at
11:30 am–1:00 pm (1 1/2 hour presentation)

Where:           Marco Polo Restaurant, 245 W. Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA 22180.

Directions from Route 66: Take Route 123 North which becomes Maple Avenue. Directions from Route 7: Take Route 123 South which becomes Maple Avenue.

Parking is available at no charge.

Cost:               $25 Members, $30 non-members, $20 pre-licensed and retired (cash or check only). Attendees will receive 1.5 CEUs for attending this meeting

RSVP:            Please RSVP by noon, Friday, February 5 for this important luncheon meeting by contacting Seminar Coordinator: Lois Mitchell, LPC (viennaluncheon@nvlpc.org).

Cancellations: Please call or email 24 hours in advance or you will be charged.

About the Presentation: Few counselors have received guidance during graduate school on how to begin a private practice, and as a result, may feel overwhelmed or intimidated about the idea of establishing one. This presentation will address the issues of setting up a private practice, including marketing and advertising, dealing with managed care, setting fees, and general practice management. Would-be entrepreneurs will benefit from Salma and Loretta's personal and professional expertise on starting and maintaining a private practice. Loretta and Salma also offer personal consultation and workshops on this topic.

About the Presenters: Salma Abugideiri, LPC, is in private practice in Reston, specializing in couples therapy and trauma treatment. She is also co-director of the Peaceful Families Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence in Muslim communities. She provides training on domestic violence prevention to interfaith clergy and faith communities, as well as cultural sensitivity training to clinicians serving Muslim and Middle Eastern families. She has written several publications regarding domestic violence and Muslims.

Loretta Schulz, LPC, NCC, received her Master’s in Counseling from the Johns Hopkins University and is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) Certified. She maintains a private practice in Fairfax. She previously worked for the Center for Multicultural Human Services, and her current practice includes providing mental health services to the multicultural community. Loretta works with individuals, couples, families and groups, covering such issues as trauma, depression, anxiety. She was the first parent representative for the first Family Assessment and Planning Team in Fairfax County, serving on that team for two years.

Mark your calendars for March 12^th:
“Narrative Practices in Community Work.” Presented by Jane Ashley, LPC

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“Ethical Practice in a Technologically Oriented Society”

Who:            Dr. Howard B. Smith, NCC, CCMHC, LPC

When:          Friday, February 26th, 11:00 am–1:00 pm

                     Registration 11:00 am. Meeting/Speaker 11:30 am

Cost:            Members: $25, Non-members: $30, Pre-licensed/Retired: $20

                     (cash or checks only) for lunch, 1.5 contact hours certificate

Where:        Logan’s Roadhouse, (703) 421-3860

                     46321 McClellan Way, Sterling, VA

Directions:   Rt. 7 to Cascades Parkway North: right at 1st signal on Palisades; right at 1st signal on
Whitfield Place; go to the end and stay to the right in the area of the red brick office buildings and at the end of them you will see Logan’s Roadhouse to your right (South of Cascades Plaza across from Hampton Inn)

RSVP:         By Noon on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 with Jama Thurman at jamathurman@lifechanginggrowth.com or 703-330-6088. Please click here for the lunch   menu.  Cancellations: Please call or email 24 hours in advance or you will be charged.

Note: As part of our networking opportunities, we invite all members to bring their marketing materials to display, and/or to introduce themselves during our 2-minute introductions. Please let Jama Thurman know that you are interested when you RSVP.

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION: As mental health professionals, we have much more to consider when we think of the use of technology than most other professions. The delivery of technology-assisted counseling continues to grow and evolve and professionals must respond with a greater understanding of the ethical implications which surround these practices. This presentation will cover the general principles and implications for technology-assisted and distance counseling including applicable ethical standards, advantages and disadvantages of technology-assisted counseling, common dilemmas, possible conflicts and practice standards. Other discussion points will include the counseling relationship, confidentiality and licensure considerations. Note: This presentation will not cover how to practice distance counseling; rather, it will focus on the general practice guidelines that every counselor should in order to practice ethically within this realm.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Dr. Howard B. Smith, NCC, CCMHC, LPC retired as Interim Dean of the College of Education and Counseling at South Dakota State University in July 2009 and moved to Fairfax, Va., where he is serving as Ethics Consultant for the American Counseling Association, and also continues his career of volunteerism with the Disaster Mental Health Service for the American Red Cross.  He has been a life time member of ACA and has served on the staff (1999 – 2003) as Associate Executive Director for Professional Affairs.

Mark your calendars for March 26^th: