Friday, November 28, 2014

Just Keep Swimming

Right now I'm on autopilot...waiting for February to come. 

My LMHC Supervisor has agreed to meet with me the minimum of biweekly, which will help the finances some. Now I have to submit my application for licensure and complete the trainings the state wants me to complete. My LMHC supervisor resigning and my employer not honoring the LMHC internship contract I signed has me disillusioned however I'm going to keep it moving...that's all I can do...

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.  I ate and slept a lot, which was nice. I continue to write, brush up on my Spanish so I can move to South Florida, and learn Korean. As usual, I'm a busy lady.

Just Keep Swimming...

Take Care,
Kimmy

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Crisis Mode (WTF?!?)

These past two weeks have been one thing after another...

To make a long story short, my LMHC supervisor resigned. Next week is her last week. Now I'm spending $800 I was not anticipating on spending. I don't know how that's going to work out because I'm supposed to be paying my student loans and I'm slowly but surely being pushed out of my PRN job (I call it how I see it). I've been submitting my resume but only God knows when something will pop up.

I'm very frustrated and questioning my decision to get into mental health. My credit report cannot allow any more hiccups in my LMHC...I have long terms goals I'd like to achieve in the next couple of years (e.g., buy a house, start trading stocks again) but it's not going to happen on my current income/debt ratio...but I digress...

I have no choice but to keep on truckin...

I'm working on my book...it's going to be a relationship book...a compilation of posts. My goal is to have it published between the end of the year and my birthday, which is in March.

It's time to focus on making money on my writing. I suppose I can spend my weekends working on the app and book.

Initiate plan C!

It's good to vent...

Take care,
Kimmy

Monday, October 6, 2014

I've Been Working on Some Things...

Hello out there! :)

I've been a busy bee over the past month or so...

I've written two LinkedIn articles.  I'll post when I figure out how to do so.

I developed an app.  eTherapist...look for it in Apple or Android.  It's a work in progress...I just wanted to snag the name.

I'm also working on an ebook.  It'll be a compilation of some posts.  Be on the lookout for that.

I've been going to the gym during my spare time...I've gained a lot of weight.  Sucks but I'm working on that too.  Gotta do the self-care.

That's all I got for now...

Take care,
Kimmy

Friday, September 19, 2014

These Clinical Supervisors I Tell Ya...Plus an Update...

Greetings! :)

Good news:  I got a hold of my first clinical supervisor and she mailed my attestation form to the state!  Yay!

Bad news:  She only signed off on 3 weeks out of 8 months :( so I won't be licensed until Late January/Early February 2014.

I knew she was going to do that but it doesn't make it less disappointing.  At least I know when this journey will end.

My fabulous co-worker at my PRN job gave me the bright idea of compiling some of my posts to a couple of ebooks.  Shouldn't be hard right?

I will start my next article for LinkedIn over the weekend...I will post it when it's published.  The topic is a surprise but it's been on the news lately.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!

Take care,
Kimmy

Sunday, August 3, 2014

LinkedIn Update

Greetings!

After a few technical hiccups, I posted my first LinkedIn article!

I'm also working on the online counseling...

Little by little I'm getting there...

Take Care,
Kimmy

Friday, August 1, 2014

Surviving the NCMHCE Exam

A wise woman told me (repeatedly) "It's not how much you know it's knowing the test".

As you may or may not have heard, I passed the NCMHCE exam a few weeks ago.  I just wanted to share how I prepared and my experience with taking the exam.

  • I used www.counselingexam.com to prepare for the test.  A few of us interns chipped in and shared a login information for about 6 months.  The practice scenarios were helpful although they may want to change the wording of the questions (the actual exam doesn't give as much background info, you find out more information about the client as you answer the questions).  
  • I completed a practice scenario about every couple of days then every other day up to my test date.  I did not take a practice test the night before.  I made notes of what I missed and discussed with my clinical supervisor answers I did not agree with (there will be answers you will not agree with...SUCK IT UP if you want to pass!).
  • I also went over DSM-5 changes, decision making, and read all the tips counselingexam.com provided.
  • I went to a DSM-5 training that my agency provided.  I found that to be most helpful oddly enough.  I strongly encourage you to take a DSM-5 training, course, webinar, whatever you can get to.
  • My jobs require me to do A LOT of assessments, which was a useful thing for me on the information gathering part of the exam.  If you can, do as many assessments as you can and pay attention to the questions you're asking clients in order to make your diagnosis.  
  • I took my test day off as soon as I scheduled it.  You will not want to be anywhere near work pass or fail.
  • Simulation History was the most useful tool I used during the exam.  It doesn't work on the counselingexam.com scenarios but being able to look at all my answers, right or wrong, helped me in my approach to answering the questions.
  • Know your diagnoses and how they're similar and different.  V-codes and all.
  • Know your treatment interventions but pay attention to what is correct and incorrect on the practice scenarios...even if you do not agree with the answer!
  • Know your ethics and cultural competency.
  • Have lots of support and solicit prayers (good vibes, thoughts, well wishes, etc.) :)!

That's all I can think of for now.  I'm so glad I don't have to take that sucker again!! It was more difficult than the Series 7!

Well I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Take Care and Stay Cool!

-Kimmy

Thursday, July 24, 2014

LinkedIn

I've been invited by LinkedIn to write articles about mental health issues! I'm excited about the opportunity!

Now that my nerves are calm, I'm working on my board exam post. I'll share what I did to prepare and my overall testing experience.

That's all for now...I'm off to work!

Take care,
Kimmy

Friday, July 11, 2014

I survived the NBCC exam!

Greetings!

After many months of studying, I passed the NBCC exam today!  It was more difficult than I anticipated.  I studied using counselingexam.com and although it helped me get used to the exam, they need an overhaul in content.  Hopefully they get on that soon because they are NOT cheap!

Now it's just a matter of my getting my hours...last I checked (about a month ago), I was halfway there.  Then your neighborhood counselor will be a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and I won't have to work so hard and get back to my blogging and writing.  I'm looking forward to it because I'm tired!

I'm going to work on a post on NBCC exam tips...now that I'll have more free time, I'll be posting a little bit more.  Time to get back to this blogging thing (and more Netflix marathons!)!

Until next time folks!

Take care,
Kimmy