Mentalyc Blog
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The CPT Code 90849 is for multiple-family group psychotherapy, a form of treatment that brings families together to heal. Participants share the therapy space, share their own experiences, support one another, and use this group dynamic to encourage them to grow in one another’s company. This guide breaks CPT Code 90849 down into uncomplicated, practical […]
Courtney Gardner, MSW -
At the heart of every effective therapeutic relationship lies a subtle yet powerful force: therapeutic rapport. This connection between therapist and client goes beyond friendliness or professional courtesy—it is the foundation upon which trust, openness, and transformation are built. Whether therapy is short-term or ongoing, whether addressing trauma, anxiety, identity, or relationships, therapeutic rapport influences […]
Silvi Saxena, MBA, LSW -
Trust and respect form the core architecture of any therapeutic relationship. Without these foundational elements, even the most sophisticated therapeutic approaches will fall short. Trust allows clients to feel emotionally safe, while respect honors their autonomy, identity, and lived experience. These are not simply nice-to-haves—they are non-negotiables for meaningful therapeutic work. Whether therapy is brief […]Silvi Saxena, MBA, LSW -
The right progress note format simplifies documentation, sharpens your clinical observations, improves continuity of care, and makes reimbursement easier. As a therapist, you likely did not choose this profession to spend all your evenings buried under paperwork, but there is no doubt that progress notes are part of the deal. So, how do you find […]Courtney Gardner, MSW -
Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) is very important in today’s modern healthcare, it ensures that notes and records about a client’s health are clear, complete, and correct. Therapists and other healthcare workers need these records to give the best care. If the notes are missing key details or contain errors, it can lead to the wrong […]
Adesuwa Olajire, LCP -
Congruence in counselling is the ability of the therapist to be present, real, and genuinely themselves in the therapeutic relationship. If a client enters the therapy room, they know immediately whether the therapist is genuine or merely pretending to be professional. This innate sense of genuineness speaks to one of the most fundamental things about […]
Nuria Higuero Flores, Psychologist -
Exposure hierarchy, a structured, step-by-step plan that helps clients gradually face their fears, is far more than just a standard CBT tool, it can be a lifeline for those overwhelmed by anxiety. Imagine working with someone who struggles to leave their home, paralyzed by the weight of their fears. In these moments, a well-designed exposure […]Courtney Gardner, MSW -
Using HIPAA compliant online forms is a critical but often overlooked part of maintaining a secure and ethical therapy practice. With the constant demands of client care and administrative work, it is tempting to rely on convenient tools like Google Forms. While these platforms are free and easy to use, they often fall short of […]Courtney Gardner, MSW -
Therapeutic boundaries refer to the clear and consistent limits that define the professional relationship between a therapist and a client. These boundaries ensure that therapy remains a safe, ethical, and goal-directed space. They cover aspects like time, place, and content of sessions, how and when communication happens, and the roles both therapist and client play. […]
Gargi Singh, Psychologist -
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) help to give clearer, more organized, and high-quality mental health support. This digital software system aims to replace manual documentation. It is created with the sole purpose of managing client information easily. Most therapists make use of Electronic Health Records to improve client care. EHRs facilitate therapists and client communication through […]Adesuwa Olajire, LCP -
The Electronic health record history reflects a major shift in how client information is documented, stored, and accessed in healthcare and mental health settings. Long before digital systems, records were kept entirely on paper, vulnerable to damage, loss, or theft, and often difficult to organize or retrieve. Early versions of EHRs focused primarily on billing […]Adesuwa Olajire, LCP -
Therapeutic contracts may seem dull, even unnecessary for some, but without them the integrity of the psychological process falters. With no clear boundaries and a stable structure, the expectations of both parties are bound to differ. Clarifying the relationship, conditions, and points of possible disagreement beforehand is the recipe for success. In this guide, we […]Nuria Higuero Flores, Psychologist -
The rise of telehealth has reshaped how clinicians build and sustain the therapeutic alliance in virtual settings, a core element of effective treatment. As virtual care continues to expand, many practitioners are learning how to create meaningful client connections through video-based platforms. While this approach offers greater flexibility and accessibility, it also brings important questions […]Nuria Higuero Flores, Psychologist -
Mentalyc and Blueprint are AI-powered tools developed to assist mental health practitioners. They aim to help therapists improve their work process, documentation, and client management. This software offers AI-generated solutions, including creating progress notes, to help reduce administrative paperwork. This article will provide a detailed comparison of the features they offer and their costs. We […]Adesuwa Olajire, LCP -
Therapeutic relationship in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) refers to the professional, cooperative bond between therapist and client that facilitates therapeutic change. Unlike some psychodynamic approaches that emphasize transference or deep emotional exploration, CBT focuses on a collaborative and goal-oriented alliance. The therapist acts as a coach or guide, working with the client to understand and […]Silvi Saxena, MBA, LSW -
A rupture in therapeutic alliance refers to a breakdown or strain in the collaborative and affective bond between a therapist and client. These moments can interrupt progress and may stem from misunderstandings, unresolved transference, therapist error, or broader interpersonal dynamics. Ruptures can be seen not as failures, but as opportunities for growth, when approached with […]Gargi Singh, Psychologist -
Empathy in counselling is often confused with related but distinct concepts such as sympathy, compassion, or emotional validation. The American Psychological Association defines empathy as the ability to understand another person’s thoughts, feelings, and perceptions from their perspective, but this definition can fall short in a therapeutic context. From personal experience, I have come to […]Gargi Singh, Psychologist -
The foundation of effective therapy rests on the connection formed between the person seeking help and their counselor. Well before modern therapy evolved into structured methods and specialized approaches, Carl Rogers’ core conditions introduced a revolutionary concept that true healing starts with authentic human connection rather than clinical assessment or direction. His perspective, grounded in […]Gargi Singh, Psychologist -
The Working Alliance Inventory was originally created by Horvath and Greenberg in 1989 to assess the quality of the alliance between therapist and client. When it comes to successful therapy, we have known for years that the relationship between therapist and client matters greatly. The therapeutic approach that you use does not matter as much […]Nuria Higuero Flores, Psychologist -
Therapists and mental health professionals work hard to support their clients, but one of the biggest challenges they face is keeping up with documentation. Writing therapy notes after each session can take hours every week. It’s time-consuming, mentally tiring, and often pulls focus away from direct client care. This is especially difficult for those in […]
Ehab Youssef, Psychologist -
Talkative clients are clients who talk endlessly, fill every silence, and bounce between topics without taking a breath. These talkative clients create special challenges in the therapy room. Good strategies can help sessions be productive while still respecting their way of communicating. This article will examine why some clients talk so much, practical ways to […]Nuria Higuero Flores, Psychologist -
SMART therapy goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives that create a clear roadmap for change. These structured goals serve as anchoring points in therapy, where both client and therapist can celebrate small victories together. Therapy often involves navigating complex emotions, uncovering patterns, and addressing deeply rooted behaviors, which can feel overwhelming without […]Gargi Singh, Psychologist -
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is highly essential in counseling because it informs the level of empathy the counselor displays towards patients and also shapes the therapy experience for the client. The realization and understanding of one’s own emotions and the aptitude to appropriately respond to other people’s emotions is EI. While a therapist operates in a […]Silvi Saxena, MBA, LSW -
Keep Your Patients’ Notes Private and Secure In the past, therapists had no choice but to keep their patients’ notes in an insecure way, either on paper or in a file on an office computer. But these days, that’s no longer necessary thanks to the increased use of HIPAA-compliant note-taking apps and software online and […]
Dr. Salwa Zeineddine