The Rationale for a Strong Professional Network

Primary care physicians are often viewed as reliable resources to help their patients identify medical specialists who can manage complex medical matters.  In a similar fashion, counselors are entrusted with the emotional well-being of our clients, and subsequently, counselors assist clients with locating valuable resources to cope with a variety of life’s challenges.   Hence, private practice counselors need to maintain a strong professional network to coordinate client referrals.

Some clients have conditions such as bipolar disorder or generalized anxiety disorder that require medication management services from a psychiatrist in addition to the therapy sessions.  Other clients may have Parkinson’s Disease that are best served with a consultation under a neurologist.  Several clients may work with one provider via individual therapy while working with another family therapist in joint sessions with her/his spouse or partner.  Thus, at FTLCFIT, I may provide the family or couples modality while clients are seen for individual therapy by another trusted provider.

I recently published an article citing the importance of outpatient counselors like myself having strong rapport with substance abuse treatment centers to provide clients with intensive outpatient or residential treatment services when necessary to remain clean and sober.  When impacted by relapse, substance abuse clients often require treatment at the more intense level of care than a weekly or bi-weekly individual counseling session.  Given the plethora of choices in South Florida, clients appreciate my ability to steer them towards programs with an established record of successful outcomes for clientele remaining clean and sober.

To ensure client health needs outside of the scope of emotional well-being, counselors can recommend competent and supportive medical professionals.   In Wilton Manors, many HIV Positive clients require physicians and specialists knowledgeable about the latest medication management strategies to maintain client physical well-being.  Transgender clients require experienced physicians who can monitor hormone treatment protocol.  Clients with anxiety disorders really appreciate dentists who are sensitive and thoughtful about explaining dental procedures to ease their angst in a dental chair.  Medical professionals who respect medication limitations for clients in recovery as well as understand the prospective dangers of short-term opiate use are essential referrals for clients actively working recovery processes.

My professional network includes attorneys, financial advisers, realtors, and a variety of home improvement professionals.  Why?  I advocate that professional networks extend beyond having a strong referral network of other clinicians, treatment facilities and medical professionals to assist with many of the key needs noted by Maslow’s hierarchy for good living.

Family law attorneys can ensure legal procedures are followed for the adoption of a child and/or to negotiate a divorce.  Estate planning attorneys ensure the financial well-being of a surviving spouse, partner or other family member through creation of wills; these professionals also ensure that health care advocates or financial power of attorneys are documented for clients with critical health issues.  Financial advisers ensure clients are investing properly for retirement goals as well as considering disability insurance and long-term health care options applicable to the client’s family situation.

Counselors may even recommend realtors to support a client’s decision to own a home and/or a business location.  Clinicians with extended networks may recommend electricians and home repair specialists, such as roofers or plumbers, to ensure a client’s home remains a safe and healthy environment to experience the joys of living.  And in our region, connecting someone to a disaster cleaning service or hurricane claims adjuster following a storm causing damage to a client’s home is a welcome relief.

Rather than be a counselor who is only concerned about a client’s progress during his or her therapy sessions, I remain committed to ensuring that clients may also benefit from recommendations to other knowledgeable and competent professionals to ensure emotional, physical, financial, mental and social balance and well-being.