Access Counseling

Access Counseling Cognitive Behavior Therapy
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Providing mental health services to children and their families of our community since 2005

A parent in a custody case hands you a letter from their lawyer. Asks you to document their side of things. You panic.Yo...
12/10/2025

A parent in a custody case hands you a letter from their lawyer. Asks you to document their side of things. You panic.

Your brain thinks helping will keep the parent happy. But documenting “their side” crosses an ethical line. So you freeze. Spend hours trying to figure out neutral wording. Miss your next session prep time. And still submit it feeling unsure.

New therapists don’t know how to set boundaries in custody documentation. So they get pulled into parent battles they never meant to enter.

Here’s an option to consider from my Court Documentation Template:

“This report summarizes the counseling services provided to [Client Name] from [Start Date] to [End Date]. This documentation is provided in response to [court order/subpoena] and focuses on information relevant to the client’s individual treatment goals.”

See what it does? Focuses on the child’s treatment goals. Not parent drama. Sets the boundary in your structure.

This is from my Court & Legal Document Templates. $19 total. Less than $7 per template.

You get 3 professional fillable forms:

Court Documentation Report
HIPAA-Compliant Release of Information
Legal Document Submission Cover Sheet
You’ll respond to custody requests in 20 minutes instead of agonizing for 6 hours about whose “side” to document. You’ll maintain clear therapeutic boundaries without having to explain them to angry parents. Your stomach won’t drop when you see “attorney” in your client’s file. And you’ll protect the child’s treatment from being weaponized.

These templates aren’t legal advice. They’re just professional formatting that keeps you neutral when parents push you to take sides.

Reading this on your phone right now? Do you counsel kids in custody situations? Tap my bio before the next parent hands you a lawyer’s letter.

P.S. Free SOAP audit also in bio.

What custody documentation stresses you out most? (Comment below - let’s talk about it)

12/09/2025

Your clients can talk to an AI chatbot for $30/month. You charge $150/session.

Here’s the fear that keeps you up at night: Am I about to be replaced by technology?

Your brain panics when you see these headlines. Makes you question your value.

But here’s the truth:

AI can give information. You offer transformation.

AI can respond to words. You notice what they don’t say.

AI can suggest coping skills. You hold space for pain that has no words.

AI follows algorithms. You adapt in real-time to what’s happening in the room.

Here’s what that actually looks like: Your client texts their partner after session saying “She just gets me.” Not “The AI gave me good advice.”

They come back week after week. Not because you’re cheap. Because you see them.

That’s worth $150. Every single session.

What makes YOU irreplaceable as a therapist? (Comment below - I want to hear it)

Been waiting 6 months for insurance credentialing.Still not approved.Still not getting paid.This is normal.And it’s infu...
12/05/2025

Been waiting 6 months for insurance credentialing.

Still not approved.
Still not getting paid.

This is normal.
And it’s infuriating.

Your brain panics when the approval doesn’t come.
Makes you question if you submitted everything correctly.
Keeps you refreshing your email at 11pm.

Here’s what I notice:
Most panels take 3-6 months.
Some take even longer.

It’s not you.
The system just moves this slowly.

One thing that helps:
Call weekly.
Document every conversation.

Write down:
- Name of person you spoke with
- Date and time
- Reference number
- What they said

Here’s why this matters:

When you finally get approved (and you will), you’ll know exactly who helped you and when.

If there’s a dispute about your effective date, you have proof of when you first applied.

And when another therapist asks “How long did yours take?”, you can give them real data instead of saying “Forever, I think?”

Most importantly: You’ll stop feeling helpless.

Because you’re not just waiting.
You’re building a paper trail.
You’re protecting your practice.
You’re taking control of the one thing you can control.

This won’t speed it up.
But it will help you sleep better.

Are you stuck in credentialing hell right now?
(Drop a 🙋 below - you’re not alone)

Your brain panics at business finances.Here’s why.You’re scared you’ll mess up.Look incompetent.Lose money.So your brain...
12/03/2025

Your brain panics at business finances.
Here’s why.

You’re scared you’ll mess up.
Look incompetent.
Lose money.

So your brain freezes.
Makes you avoid the numbers.
Keeps you stuck.

Here’s what I notice:
Most grad programs teach zero business skills.

They taught you to be a clinician.
Not a business owner.
Not a marketer.
Not an accountant.

But here’s the thing:
You’re not behind.

Your professors probably don’t know this stuff either.
They never had to learn it.

Free resources to start:
- SimplePractice blog (practice management basics)
- SCORE mentoring (free business coaching)
- Practice of the Practice podcast (business strategy)

Pick one.
Spend 20 minutes this week.
You’ll already know more than most.

What business topic confuses you most right now?
(Be specific - I want to help)

Do your notes take too long?New therapist? I still feel the pressure of documentation myself, even with my caseload! Ser...
11/30/2025

Do your notes take too long?

New therapist? I still feel the pressure of documentation myself, even with my caseload! Seriously, I remember those first few weeks where I felt like I had to type out the entire session just to prove I did my job. I was right where you are, writing three paragraphs for the 'O' section alone. But over the years, I learned the secret: good documentation is clearer and shorter, you just need the right structure.

When writing notes, it's important to know the basics to make sure your note format is clear and shows what you did in the session. That means getting your important work down in a simple, organized way. Consider using this simple, bulleted structure for the body of your SOAP note. It helps you touch on the core points without getting lost in long paragraphs.

Here's the bulleted format you can try for maximum speed:

S: Client says [primary concern].

O: Client looked and acted [observed mood/affect].

A: Shows [clinical observation/insight].

P: Plan is to continue [intervention focus].

This format is helpful for compliance because you address all four mandatory areas, and it's incredibly quick because you're using short, structured phrases instead of full paragraphs. If you ever worry you've missed a key component, my free SOAP Note Audit Template: A Self-Check Guide helps you review your notes before finalizing.

If you're reading this before Monday's sessions, screenshot this now and save it to your notes folder. Get ready to finish your notes faster than you make your morning coffee.

Save this for your next SOAP note block.

Ever stare at a blank DAP note for 10 minutes after a session?After years of clinical work, I’ve learned the fastest DAP...
11/29/2025

Ever stare at a blank DAP note for 10 minutes after a session?
After years of clinical work, I’ve learned the fastest DAP notes start with one reusable sentence. Here’s one I like:

Data: “[Client name] presented as [observed mood/affect]. They reported [primary concern in their words].”

That’s it. One sentence that covers your observable data and gets your brain unstuck.

From there, your Assessment flows naturally. Your Plan writes itself because you’ve captured the session focus.

Your 3-minute DAP workflow:

Data: Use the sentence above (30 seconds)
Assessment: Name the clinical theme you addressed (1 minute)
Plan: Note next session focus + any homework (1 minute)
Review and submit (30 seconds)
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clear, compliant documentation that doesn’t steal your whole evening. You’re called to care for people, not drown in paperwork.

Save this post for your next session. What’s your biggest documentation struggle? I read every comment.

Here's a quick compliance check for your clinical notes. These 3 areas help protect your practice in audits or reviews a...
11/28/2025

Here's a quick compliance check for your clinical notes. These 3 areas help protect your practice in audits or reviews and they're easy to tighten up right now. Want more support? I've got legal document templates, a therapist forms pack, and free tools in my bio (including a SOAP note audit + 10 documentation dos and don'ts).

 

Want your notes to flow faster? Start every session note with this one thing—it sets up the rest of your documentation t...
11/27/2025

Want your notes to flow faster? Start every session note with this one thing—it sets up the rest of your documentation to practically write itself. Copy/paste: “Client arrived appearing tearful, stated she had another argument with her partner over the holiday weekend.”This one sentence gives you instant direction for the rest of the note. Adapt as needed for your session. Resources in bio.

Consider skipping these in your notes, they add length but not much else. Your documentation can be shorter and still so...
11/27/2025

Consider skipping these in your notes, they add length but not much else. Your documentation can be shorter and still solid. Templates in bio to streamline.

Here's one risk sentence you might try today for cleaner notes. "Client expressed thoughts of self-harm with no current ...
11/24/2025

Here's one risk sentence you might try today for cleaner notes. "Client expressed thoughts of self-harm with no current plan or intent. Safety plan reviewed and updated." Consider this wording when you need clarity in your documentation. Templates in bio.

  

“Client reports improved sleep pattern with 6-7 hours per night this week.”Want more documentation tips? 👉 Swipe the car...
11/20/2025

“Client reports improved sleep pattern with 6-7 hours per night this week.”

Want more documentation tips? 👉 Swipe the carousel & check the link in bio for templates.

How do you word sleep progress in your notes?

Address

804 S Garnett Street
Henderson, NC
27536

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 1pm

Telephone

+12529158966

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