Picks of the Pole – Nov. 11-14

FOOTBALL Here are your Picks of the Pole for the college and pro games of the weekend of Nov. 11-14. Overall football record thus far: NFL Pre-season (completed):  6-3 College football: Last week : 11-13……Season record: 88-82 NFL football:       Last week: 4-5………..Season record: 31-44 TOTAL RECORD THUS FAR: 125-129 COLLEGE FOOTBALL DOUBLE PLAYS: Oklahoma -17 […]
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Guys Night Out – 11.9.16

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Sports Information Traders

Listen to Jon Price of Sports Information Traders advertising here on The Ticket. Dallas area listeners are eligible to sign up for Jons free trial exclusively offered to listeners of KTCK. Prior to airing on Fridays from 3-7 PM Jon has been featured in Forbes Magazine, The Huffington Post, Inc. Magazine, Card Player Magazine, Ante […]
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Baseball inks 10 for 2018 season

The University of Texas baseball program and head coach David Pierce announced today the signing of 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2018 season.
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What Does Your Desk Say About You?

Our workspaces say a lot about us. This post will focus on what your desk says about you.

Due to the intense interpersonal nature of our job, clients are often curious about us. It’s usually about establishing trust: are we mentally healthy ourselves? Do we have the life skills we try to teach our clients? Do we have the life experience to be able to relate to their problems?

If you have a desk in your office, you may not have given much thought as to what goes on it. You probably figured that as long as the rest of your office looks nice, who cares what’s on your desk? But…since we are limited with what we share with clients, clients have to look elsewhere for information about us. One place they may look is our desk.

What You Should Have on Your Desk

• Updated technology. If all of your technology (laptop, cellphone) is either outdated or non-existent, and you rely solely on paper to get things done, clients may wonder what else is outdated? Your counseling knowledge, perhaps?
• Photos. It can be beneficial to clients to see that you are a real person. Photos can also serve as natural icebreakers. However, if you do choose to have photos on your desk or in your office, be judicious. Photos of you drinking beer in a bikini? Out. Photos of your pets? In.
• Business cards. I could probably write a whole post on this topic, but for now I will just say that your cards need to be professional-looking. Avoid the freebies with the Vistaprint logo on the back. They say, “I cannot afford business cards,” which could translate to, “I don’t have many clients.”
• Papers. Keeping a notepad at the ready says, “I care enough about your problems to write them down.” Too many papers could say, “These could be client records and I am not protecting them.”
• Lighting. Florescent lighting is harsh and cold. Clients will respond to you much better if they are entering a warm, inviting atmosphere. Consider using desk and floor lamps instead of the overhead florescent.
• Books. Clients expect you to keep up with the field. They expect that you will read the self-help books you recommend. Therefore, keeping this material where clients can see it (e.g. bookcase) is a good idea. Again, be judicious. Only keep books that are useful and relevant, and reflect your specialty or your theoretical orientation.
• Whimsy. Having one or two silly items can help some clients feel comfortable because it shows them that you are human and have a sense of humor. But be authentic. If you don’t have a silly side, don’t display silly items.
• No food. Clients shouldn’t see it or smell it. If you do eat in your office, avoid foods you have to heat and don’t leave empty wrappers or other packaging lying around.

• Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,

  Dr. Barb LoFrisco

  *Adapted from “Advertise with your desk,” Tampa Bay Times, October 20, 2016.

  The post What Does Your Desk Say About You? appeared first on MastersInCounseling.org.

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Everything you need to know about Election Day

It’s been a contentious and scandal-plagued election season.  And thankfully it’s almost over. If you’re a registered voter the Times Union has information about polling locations, voting hours and the candidates running for office. And remember, it’s illegal in New York to take a ballot selfie. Finally, if you’re fascinated by the election and want breaking
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Meet Joe Buck signing his new book Lucky Bastard!

Meet Joe Buck signing his new book Lucky Bastard! syndicated from https://cliffctaylor67.wordpress.com/

Can pets help with depression?

  There’s just something about coming home from a long day at work or school and being greeted by your loving pet that makes you so much happier. Having pets has such a positive impact in people’s lives, that it almost seems necessary to have a companion in your home. Whether it’s a furry cat
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Tuning up a W, the beats behind Maple Hill Boys soccer

Castleton, NY — During tomorrow’s 20-minute bus ride from Schodack to Colonie, there will be one song playing as the undefeated Maple Hill Boys Varsity Soccer team gets hyped for their regional final against Potsdam. Next stop Plattsburgh #NYSPHSAA #518Soccer pic.twitter.com/oMPnBak33G — Dylan Rossiter (@ByDylanRossiter) November 1, 2016 “Tunak, Tunak Tun” a Bhangara song from Daler
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Grab her by the what now?

Grab Her by the Brain.  It was meant to be a provocative and satirical  response to Donald Trump’s grab her by the genitals remark, but it’s actually a good example of people not understanding the root of a problem, and therefore making it worse. The Grab Her by the Brain campaign was founded by Elizabeth
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Photo gallery: Harvest Fest at Guilderland Elementary School

Parents and children recently enjoyed an evening out as they gathered at the Guilderland Elementary School to celebrate the fall season. The activities, collectively known as Harvest Festival, featured face painting, group games, a photo booth, and an expert at making autumn-themed balloon shapes, including pumpkins and ghosts.    
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Untapped Festival

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The perils of binge-watching Netflix

Whether you’re into cheesy romance movies or crime fighting shows, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on Netflix. Netflix first started as a DVD-by-mail operation and then added a global streaming service that has grown in popularity with an estimated total of over 70 million subscribers. The website features popular shows and movies, along with a large variety
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Maple Hill Boys Soccer advances to Regional finals

PLATTSBURGH NY — The Maple Hill boys varsity soccer team advanced to the Regional finals Tuesday, in a 1-nil routing of Lake Placid. The Wildcats (20-0-1) came out on top off the hot feet of senior Garrett Axtmann. Nicknamed the “red tornado” by his third-grade bus driver for the mischief he caused, he was able
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The week’s playlist

Everyone knows that most radio stations play a continuous cycle of the top 20 popular songs. They get stuck in your head and quickly get old. So it’s important to have access to new songs and new artists, especially if you use music to boost your mood and to reduce anxiety and stress. As someone who loves
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How To Handle Billing Issues – Part II

Collecting money is a sticky topic for therapists. In this post, I will discuss how to create and implement your fee policy.

Your Fee Policy

You must develop a policy for late-cancels and no-shows (not showing up to the appointment and not calling to cancel it) and implement it consistently. You need to decide:

1. What constitutes an emergency and what doesn’t. It is generally good practice not to charge clients for missing appointments due to true emergencies — things that happen that are out of their control.
2. What you will charge clients for a no-show.
3. How far in advance clients need to cancel appointments before it’s considered a late-cancel.
4. What you will charge for a late cancel.
5. How you will collect your no-show and late-cancel fees. For example, will you require clients to keep a credit card on file? Do they have to pay the fee before scheduling another appointment?

Once you have determined your policy, it needs to go into your intake paperwork and on your website if you have one. The best time to inform clients of your policy is during the first point of contact. This way, if they think your policies are unfair they can choose another counselor. If you use an online booking system, you may be able to set up an automatic email that describes the policy. If you are setting the appointment over the phone, then simply describe the policy to them during that first phone call.

Then, if clients fail to show up for their appointments, or they cancel too late, after asking about their well-being (particularly for no-shows) remind them about the policy and what will happen next.

What Happens When They Don’t Pay?

Now that you have your policy, you have to decide what to do in the event that they don’t pay your fee. Will you take them to collections? Others have written on this topic, worried that taking clients to collections will increase the chance that they can be sued. I don’t know if that is true or not. From a business perspective, enforcing the collection of a fee makes sense. After all, do you think your medical doctor would be afraid to enforce the collection of their fee? I don’t think so. If you decide to do this, be sure to come up with a policy and add that to your intake paperwork. (For example, after non-payment of the third overdue notice.) It is also best practice to include a copy of the Policies and Fees that they have signed and proof that you sent the bills. (For example, by using registered mail).

Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,

Dr. Barbara LoFrisco

The post How To Handle Billing Issues – Part II appeared first on MastersInCounseling.org.

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Senior year, the beginning of the end

Senior year isn’t all that it’s supposed to be. Teenagers are thinking throughout their high school years that once they get into the final stretch, it’s easy sailing from there on out. Students are thinking about how they are excited for college and how they can’t wait to start the next chapter of their life.
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Middleburgh senior takes second at Eastern States Exposition

Most teenagers look forward to the weekend when they can catch up on sleep. But Marilyn Hanley sets her alarm for 3 a.m. on Saturday mornings because she gets up early to milk cows at a local farm. The Middleburgh High School senior and vice president of the Schoharie Chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) isn’t just
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Dale Hansen Interviews: The Musers. Hour Special on WFAA CH 8

Dale Hansen Interviews: The Musers. Hour Special on WFAA CH 8 syndicated from https://cliffctaylor67.wordpress.com/