A podcast where we help mental health group practice owners ethically and effectively leverage tech to improve their practices.
Group Practice Tech will drop episodes about weekly — 4 times per month, to be exact.
Episodes will be everywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on what we’re talking about. We let the topic set the length.
Liath Dalton is PCT’s director and a co-owner. Liath is especially passionate about helping therapists be resourced and supported in navigating the security compliance process and identifying the solutions and processes that meet the particular needs of their practices. Liath’s consultation area of expertise is focused on selecting the right combination of services and tech that not only meet the legal-ethical needs of mental health practices, but also the functionality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness needs as well.
Evan Dumas works in the space between mental health therapy and tech support, and is a senior consultant at PCT. His aim is to help workers everywhere cope with the occupational hazards of burnout and compassion fatigue by normalizing that terrible feeling of overwhelm when things go wrong.
With a background in IT, Evan has spent time as the Oregon Counseling Association’s tech chair after PCT’s late founder Roy, while getting his MA in Professional Mental Health Counseling from Lewis and Clark. When he wasn’t helping counselors adapt to technology, he has given talks and workshops on burnout and compassion fatigue all around Oregon.
We discuss:
HIPAA regulations vs. state laws
What communications are included in a client’s record and why
The distinction between progress notes and psychotherapy notes
Resources for training your staff on rethinking notes
The Open Notes Rule
Managing documentation compliance in your practice
We discuss:
Common use cases for Gemini in a group practice context
What’s covered under the Google Workspace BAA (and what isn’t)
Ethical and legal considerations for using PHI with AI tools
Informed consent for clients when AI tools are used for clinical documentation
Establishing a Gemini usage policy for your practice
We discuss:
The recent hurricanes impacting the southeast US
Prioritizing access to care
Limited HIPAA waivers for disasters and emergencies
And situations where the waivers would apply
Resources for group practices in and out of the affected areas
We discuss:
Understanding your own neurotype as a leader
Considerations for developing a neuro-affirming workplace
Creating an environment where staff can ask for the accommodations they need
Resources for practice owners to improve accessibility
Therapist directories that prioritize accessibility and identity
Soliciting feedback from staff
We discuss:
What “doubt yourself, do it anyway” means
The fear and power of vulnerability
Patrick’s retreats and summits for mental health professionals
Expanding beyond private practice
Using fear as a gas pedal, not a brake
Next year’s retreat for leaders in Greece, hosted by Patrick, where Liath is speaking
We discuss:
Why sessions may need to be recorded
The risks around different ways to record sessions
The easiest way to record sessions securely (for most practices, without adding a new service to your tech stack)
Exactly how to record sessions in Google Meet
For sessions using Google Meet, another teletherapy platform, and meeting in person
Usage notes with tips to make the process run smoothly for clinicians and clients