Description
PRE-RECORDED WEBINAR!
If you are a psychotherapist who never received training in how to write progress notes, you are in good company. But you may not realize how your current note-keeping habits can hurt you — or your clients. Especially with insurance plans more frequently reviewing client charts — even those of out-of-network therapists —this training couldn’t be timelier.
This three-hour course (applicable nationwide, and recorded in 2023) will give you a great overview of how to write progress notes, with an eye toward meeting legal, ethical, and licensing boards requirements. After viewing this, you will be able to create brief, helpful notes that can allow you to feel confident if you ever receive a records request, or if you have to defend yourself in a complaint. In addition, you will learn about health plan documentation requirements, in case you are audited. For all therapists, more detailed notes can mean protecting ourselves, as well as helping clients get the treatment they deserve.
Topics include:
- Why we don’t keep good notes — and why we need to
- 8 Examples of good progress notes — and one “rotten” note
- A downloadable list of interventions
- SOAP and DAP and GRISWOLD note templates, downloadable and customizable
- What’s wrong with checkbox template notes
- What insurance plans expect in our notes and intakes (and extra Medicare requirements)
- How telehealth documentation is different
- Documenting “medical necessity” — the secret to treatment approvals
- Why even therapists who don’t work with insurance should write great notes
- Tips on how to save time writing notes, and how to deal with it when you fall behind
- Audits, what triggers them, and why a plan might ask for notes — and how to respond
(Note: This webinar will not address treatment plans — see my “How to Write a 10-Minute Treatment Plan webinar for this!)
The webinar takes no technological know-how or special program — you will be sent a link in an e-mail, and with one easy click you can watch it on your computer at your convenience. The link has no expiration date, so you can refer back to it as needed. A link to the handout and templates discussed will also be provided.
CE CREDITS: 3 LEGAL AND ETHICAL CE CREDITS are available for California LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs or LEPs; other licensees will have to check with their licensing boards for possible credit. To receive your CE certificate, just choose the CE option when checking out and complete a brief evaluation and post-test after viewing. If you get 70% correct, YOUR CERTIFICATE WILL BE SENT VIA E-MAIL within 15 minutes of submitting the evaluation. Please check your spam folder if you do not see it. If you do not pass, an email with failure notification will be sent to you with instructions. If you do not receive an email, please contact us at orders@theinsurancemaze.com.
IMPORTANT: AFTER PURCHASE, DON’T LEAVE THE PAGE! YOU WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REDIRECTED TO A PAGE WITH A LINK TO THE WEBINAR & HANDOUTS (and CE Evaluation link, if purchased). We will follow up with a separate email with these links within 1 business day, in case you didn’t get them. If you do not receive this email, please CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER.
Reviews: “Thank you, Barbara, for the exceptionally well-organized, detailed, and insightful webinar. I have been in this field for 33 years, and have never had such a comprehensive training as yours. Absolutely outstanding and first-rate webinar. The handouts provided served as a great reference as well. This training should be required for all graduate programs and mental health agencies. While I was Director of a large mental health program, I made sure my entire mental health staff and our financial team viewed the webinar –this way we were all on the same page. Highly recommended. FIVE STARS and THUMBS UP!” — Tom Fronczak LCSW-R
“I recently watched your presentation on how to write good progress notes, and I want to thank you for this. I have been concerned about the quality of my notes for quite awhile, re: the dreaded “what if” of insurance companies requesting notes, etc. Since watching your presentation I have been practicing writing notes using your template, and I use it regularly now, and take notes during the session. So, I now have a complete, very solid note by the end of each session. It is not an overstatement to say that this has made my work much easier, and I now feel so much more confident about my notes. Just wanted to say thank you for all that you do – you are my go to ‘voice of reason’ when it comes to all matters involving insurance, and I so appreciate you!” — DK, LCSW
I just completed your webinar on progress notes and treatment plans. It helped me figure out what and how I can improve. I was feeling very anxious before and now feel more confident! Thank you!” — Theresa Fitzpatrick-Barkley, LCSW
About the Presenter: Barbara Griswold, LMFT, is a private practice coach and the author of “Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist’s Complete Guide to Working with Insurance — And Whether You Should” (9th edition). With 32 years’ experience in private practice, she now teaches workshops and provides phone consultations to therapists and groups nationwide about insurance, documentation, and practice-building. She invites you to contact her — just click here.
DISTANCE-LEARNING CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM POLICIES: Barbara Griswold, LMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs licensed through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Barbara Griswold, LMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Contact her at www.theinsurancemaze.com, 4010 Moorpark Avenue #118, San Jose, CA 95117, or barbgris@aol.com. Grievance Policy: If a participant files a grievance regarding the course level or content, program administration, or non-receipt of certificates, the individual will be asked to put his/her comments in writing. All complaints will be responded to in an ethical and timely manner within 7 days. Questions and concerns should be addressed to Barbara Griswold at the address, email, and phone number above. Refund Policy: Full refunds for CE test payment will be granted when request is submitted in writing and a post-test has not been submitted and graded. Refunds will be issued within 7 days of request. Accommodations for the Disabled: Arrangements can be made for those with disabilities or special needs; please contact Barbara Griswold, LMFT at barbgris@aol.com or the address above.
