Misery or Mastery®
Essential Documentation for Psychotherapists
… empowering mental health professionals to translate their clinical intuition into effective documentation
A Special Day Long LIVE Training with the Documentation Wizard® Beth Rontal, LICSW
Friday, April 11, 2025 - 10AM - 6:00PM EDT
Enroll in your Misery or Mastery LIVE Webinar TODAY!
LIVE WEBINAR
$387.00Add to cart
ADD 6.0 CE CREDITS
$30.00Add to cart
You may never learn to love writing your notes but if you choose mastery over misery, your good clinical documentation will not only be meaningful, it will contribute to and reflect high quality care -- and protect your income at the same time.
- Beth Rontal, LICSW
WHY DO THERAPISTS HATE MENTAL HEALTH DOCUMENTATION?
Should there be a DSM Code for "Documentation Anxiety"?
If you’d rather clean the toilet than write your progress notes, you’re not alone. Mental health documentation is the subject almost every therapist loves to hate. For a good reason. It wasn’t taught in grad schools, and it’s rarely taught on the job. Even if you …
- Lose sleep about audits or legal involvement
- Wonder if you’re writing too little or too much
- Spend too much time writing notes, procrastinate or avoid them
- Wish you knew the regulatory standards
- Worry about how to preserve client confidentiality
- Think writing notes is a clinically irrelevant waste of time …
… every therapist knows that avoiding progress notes puts their practice in jeopardy.
The Misery or Mastery: Essential Documentation for Psychotherapists training, teaches a step-by-step approach to guide you through the process of writing treatment plans, session notes, and the other essential clinical documents needed in every clinical practice.
In this interactive webinar, all learning styles are incorporated because this is how people learn best. Every requirement is explained by providing content and context because learning is amplified by knowing the why of requirements. Concepts are explained in exquisite details, with lots of repetition, case examples, stories to illustrate the concepts, and two practice sessions.
Translate your intuition into logical and effective documentation skills.
- Learn documentation requirements.
- Reduce the time you spend on paperwork.
- Write clinically useful notes.
- Understand what and how much to write.
- Preserve client confidentiality.
- Protect yourself from board complaints.
- Pass stringent audits.
- Reduce your documentation anxiety.
TREATMENT PLAN FOR DOCUMENTATION ANXIETY
THE PROBLEM
- Mental health documentation is essential to the professional standard of care, but it’s not taught in grad school.
- Mental health documentation is challenging because you deal with confidential and sensitive information that can marginalize your clients.
- You lose sleep not knowing what or how much to write.
- Spend too much unpaid time writing your notes or avoiding them.
- Paperwork seems unrelated to therapy and like a clinically irrelevant waste of time.
- Justifying medical necessity can feel like you are complying with arbitrary rules that have nothing to do with helping your client heal and grow.
- You feel frustrated, anxious, burnt out, and like a bad therapist.
THE GOAL
- Learn the requirements.
- Know what and how much to write and how to maintain client confidentiality protects our clients.
- Document your work quickly and efficiently.
- Protect yourself against board complaints and pass audits.
- Translate your intuition and skill into effective and efficient documentation.
- Documentation is time for “self-supervision” and helps provide good therapy.
THE STANDARDS
- “Medical Necessity” is the gold standard for documentation and is based on Federal or Medicare requirements.
- The Golden Thread ties all the elements of documentation together so that your work creates a complete picture of clinical care.
- Justifying medical necessity is essential whether you see private pay clients, or you accept insurance.
THE RESULT
- Boost confidence by mastering Medicare standards.
- Recognize documentation as a shield that explains and defends your work.
- Pass audits.
- Defend yourself against board complaints.
- Prevent clawbacks, and burnout.
- Sleep well at night knowing that you can protect your income and your clients.
- Feel proud and confident that you can maintain your professional standards of care.
Essential Documentation for Psychotherapists
Course Outline
MODULE 1: YOU'RE NOT A BAD THERAPIST. YOU'RE JUST NOT TRAINED
- The 3 causes of “documentation anxiety”
- How to stop documentation anxiety from becoming “documentation trauma”
- What our codes of ethics say about documentation
- Insurance and private pay therapists – same documentation standards?
- Documentation as protection of income and agent of professional integrity
- Anxiety-reducing answers to common questions.
- Documentation as a contribution to good clinical work
MODULE 2: DEFINITIONS AND CONTEXT
- Documentation through the lens of medical necessity
- “The Golden Thread” and its role in justifying medical necessity
- Establishing the connection between the diagnosis and treatment
- Functions of documentation
- The complexities and clinical challenges of writing for different audiences
- The significance of clinical intuition in the documentation process
MODULE 3: THE TREATMENT PLAN
- Administrative and clinical requirements
- Writing a treatment plan that justifies medical necessity
- The Treatment Plan Formula
- Implementing the Golden Thread with case examples
- Creating a clear connection between all elements of the plan
- How to operationalize the treatment plan
- Why using behavioral language makes sense clinically
- Including clients in the treatment planning process.
- Questions to ask
- The challenges of and solutions for creating realistic and measurable goals
- The “rule of 3”
- The value of documenting barriers to treatment
- Protecting client and therapist with a risk assessment
- The debate over documenting medications and best practice
- Evaluating and documenting progress
- Deadline for writing treatment plans
- Shedding light on treatment plan frequency
- How to avoid making yourself crazy writing your treatment plans
Implementing the golden thread with a Treatment Plan Practice Session
MODULE 4: THE PROGRESS NOTE
- Administrative and clinical requirements of the progress note, including telehealth documentation
- The role of the progress note in advancing the golden thread
- The controversy between using checkboxes and narratives
- Guidelines for determining when to be vague and when to be specific
- Balancing client confidentiality with clarity about what happened during the session
- The 6 different assessments in the progress note
- The role of the risk assessment; not just for suicide, homicide, and violence
- The importance of documenting sleep issues
- Writing interventions without using psychobabble
- The continuing debate over documenting medications and best practice
- How to document even the slightest progress
- Justifying “extended-time” and multiple sessions of the week
- Debunking the myth of the 24-hour completion rule
Implementing the golden thread with a Progress Note practice session
MODULE 5: THE CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION NO ONE TALKS ABOUT
- The Collateral Contact Note
- Administrative and clinical requirements
- Clinical and legal imperatives of writing the collateral contact note
- Maintaining the golden thread and justifying medical necessity with case examples
- The Discharge Summary
- Administrative and clinical requirements
- How the discharge summary completes the Golden Thread
- Legal and ethical considerations of a discharge summary
- When to write the discharge summary
- The role of the termination letter
- The Intake Summary
- Administrative, legal, and clinical requirements
- How the intake summary initiates the golden thread and lays the groundwork for justifying medical necessity.
- Establishing the connection between the diagnosis and treatment
- What to include in a trauma informed intake
- Deadline for writing the intake summary
MODULE 6: 37 TRIGGERS TO AUDITS, CLAW BACKS, AND ETHICAL ISSUES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
- What triggers an audit
- How to fail an audit
- Honest mistakes that can be seen as insurance fraud
- Ethical challenges in documentation and how to handle them
- The role of Informed Consents in clinical documentation
- Basic Do’s and Don’ts
- Paper notes or EHR?
- What’s next
- Avoiding documentation fatigue and making yourself crazy
- To catch up or move on?
- Assessing your needs
- Making your plan
- Additional resources
Your Teacher for this LIVE Workshop
Beth Rontal, MSW, LICSW, a private practice therapist and the Documentation Wizard is a nationally recognized consultant on mental health documentation. Her Misery and Mastery trainings and accompanying forms are developed to meet strict Medicare requirements. The Documentation Wizard training program helps clinicians turn their clinical skill and intuition into a systematic review of treatment that helps to pass audits, protect income, maintain professional standards of care, reduce documentation anxiety, and increase self-confidence. Beth’s forms have been approved by 2 attorneys, a bioethicist, and a billing expert and have been used all over the world. She mastered her teaching skills with thousands of hours supervising and training both seasoned professionals and interns when supervising at an agency for 11 years. Her newest initiative, Membership Circle, is designed to empower psychotherapists to master documentation with expert guidance, efficient strategies, and a supportive community. With a passion for the arts, Beth also delves into writing, singing, and performing. She is currently developing her one-woman show titled "My Mother’s Daughter."
Here’s What You’ll Receive in this Online Training…
#1 SIX LIVE TRAINING MODULES WITH BETH RONTAL, LICSW
You will be registered to join Beth during her live training sessions on ZOOM on Friday, April 11 from 10am - 6pm EDT. Beth's training sessions are interactive and provide multiple opportunities for asking your specific questions.
#2 WORKSHOP MANUAL
Review and print out the entire Powerpoint Slide Deck. Take notes on these information packed slides. Includes even more information than discussed!
#3 SAMPLE TREATMENT PLAN & SAMPLE PROGRESS NOTE
Practice writing a treatment plan and progress note based on a recorded interview. We provide you with blanks of each to practice with. (These are not the actual treatment plan and progress note. These contain the information needed to create the Golden Thread. They do not include all the administrative requirements.)
#4 ACCESS TO VIDEO
Within 7 to 10 days after the LIVE ZOOM Training session, you'll have access to the recorded sessions in your account. This allows us time to edit them for you, so you can watch and listen at your convenience—whether you missed something or just want to review.
Your access will continue for one year.
PLUS You’ll Receive these Special Bonuses
Bonus #1
Two 1-hour follow up Q&As!
Scheduled a few weeks after the training gives you time to integrate what you learned. Come prepared with questions and continue learning from the Documentation Wizard. If you can’t attend live – get access to the recording for an entire year. A $450 value (but priceless if you have a pressing question!).
Bonus #2
15% discount on all paperwork packages:
- Clinical Forms
- Practice Management Forms
- Financial Management Forms
- Essential Informed Consents and Policies
- Diagnostic & Assessment Forms
That’s up to a $90 savings. Discount ends 5/11/2025.
Bonus #3
List of Progress Prompts
No progress, moderate progress, and significant progress” is not enough to demonstrate the “golden thread” and document progress. In the Misery or Mastery course, you’ll learn that it needs to be specific to track a client’s journey. This means going beyond vague terms and using clear descriptions of the client's improvements. These prompts will help you articulate client progress effectively without revealing confidential information. Valued at $67.
Bonus #4
List of 101 Open Ended Intervention Prompts
Tired of the treatment planning books with cookie-cutter interventions from that don’t resonate with your client or your therapeutic techniques? These 101 open-ended intervention prompts will jump start your clinical thinking, and help you write interventions that resonate with the real person sitting across from you. No psychobabble, just clear, effective documentation that clearly communicates what you did in session. Add your own to the list and make it totally customized to your practice. Valued at $67.
Bonus #5
List of Client & Family Strengths
Quality care and requirements includes documenting client strengths and how they will use them in therapy. Clients often have a difficult time identifying their strengths. Use this list of 35 positive qualities in session to help prompt your client if they’re struggling. Or send them the list to complete with the Intake packet. Valued at $27.
Bonus #6
Join Membership Circle at the GOLDEN RING Level
Get your annual membership for ONLY $42/month
(save $180 for the year over the monthly rate).
✔️ Monthly Documentation Dash and Done Co-Working Session valued at $444/year
🎯 Monthly Group Consultation & Coaching with Beth, the Documentation Wizard (Recorded & Annotated) valued at $900/year
🎙️ Expert Interviews with Q&A (Recorded & Annotated) valued at $400/year
🔹 Exclusive Facebook Group for deeper discussions priceless for the community
📚 Curated Resource Library filled with time saving resources valued at (your hourly fee x 5)
💡 Supportive, No-Shame Community to help you stay on track with reliable structure & accountability priceless
The discounted rate for the Documentation Wizard Membership Circle GOLDEN Ring membership applies to the first year of an annual plan. After the initial year, the standard annual rate will apply. You may cancel your membership at any time.
Here's Everything You'll Receive in
Misery or Mastery: Essential Documentation for Psychotherapists
#1: Six LIVE Zoom Training Modules with Beth Rontal, LICSW
On Friday, April 11, 2025
#2: Workshop Manual
#3: Sample Treatment Plan and Sample Progress Note
#4: Access to Video Recordings for One Year
PLUS
Bonus #1: TWO 1-Hour Follow-up Q & As
A $450 value (but priceless if you have a pressing question!).
Bonus #2: 15% discount on all paperwork packages
That’s up to a $75 savings.
Bonus #3: List of Progress Prompts
Valued at $67.
Bonus #4: A List of 101 Open Ended "Intervention Prompts"
Valued at $67.
Bonus #5: List of Client & Family Strengths
Valued at $27.
Bonus #6: Annual Membership Circle GOLDEN RING for $42/month
That's a $180 savings!
Enroll in your Misery or Mastery LIVE Webinar TODAY!
LIVE WEBINAR
$387.00Add to cart
ADD 6.0 CE CREDITS
$30.00Add to cart
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
"I am delighted that I no longer feel that being an intuitive, attuned therapist trained in the Internal Family Systems Model is a barrier for accomplishing this goal! This was in large part because of Beth’s ability to teach documentation skills with confidence, curiosity, compassion and a LOT of clarity! Thank you, Beth!"
- Debbie Armstrong, LICSW
"I just wanted to send a special thank you for sharing your knowledge with the field. Your training is deeply informed and fundamentally revised how I see and conduct my practice. I can tell that the integration and application of the knowledge has only just begun. The content was the most transformative I had experienced since grad school. I cannot thank you enough for the salient, thorough, and impactful content you offer and for your style of delivery. I am grateful to be in the field alongside you. May this brighten your day."
- A. Duffey, LCSW
I was really impressed with your training and your forms are fabulous. They are most helpful because you present best practice from both clinicians’ and auditors’ perspective."
-A.C., LCSW
"I want to thank you for a Sunday workshop that I was dreading. I thought it was going to be dry and boring with me feeling like I would want to leave asap. Instead, your presentation and warmth made the experience enjoyable. Hard to believe but true! I will highly recommend the workshop."
- Caryn Mushlin, LICSW
"Profoundly helpful and necessary for all clinicians I feel - No matter how experienced we are."
-Deb Marcucci, LCSW, LISW-S, EMDR clinician
I am so glad I took your course! You are such an excellent presenter as evidence by being clear, organized, genuine, friendly, balancing ongoing questions, and thoughtful. After taking your course, I finally feel that I will be writing notes, treatment plans, etc. properly, especially since I soon hope to be accepting Medicare. It is a relief to know that if I write notes as you recommend, I won’t have to panic (as much!) if I am ever audited. Thanks again for a great 6 hours of training. I am already telling my colleagues about your course and website.
- Bonnie Deroo, LMFT
Love, love, love what I learned about documentation! It has been very helpful and set me up for a successful beginning to my counseling career! Thank you!!
- Diane B.
COST FOR LIVE MISERY OR MASTERY WEBINAR TRAINING
Registration: $387
6.0 CEs are available at an additional cost of $30 paid upon registration for social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists. CE Certificates will be available after LIVE Webinar. You will receive an email when your CEs are available. Participants must attend 100% of the program to earn the 6.0 CEs approved for eligible professions. Check HERE for accreditation by profession and state. It will be up to each professional to determine if they are eligible for CEs. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR CE APPROVALS MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR STATE LICENSING BOARD.
If you plan to watch the replay video instead attending the day of the LIVE Webinar, you can still earn Continuing Education Credits, but you required to complete a post test before receiving your certificate.
Enroll in your Misery or Mastery LIVE Webinar TODAY!
LIVE WEBINAR
$387.00Add to cart
ADD 6.0 CE CREDITS
$30.00Add to cart
TARGET AUDIENCE
social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, creative arts therapists, addictions professionals, and other interested human service staff.
CONTENT LEVEL
Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced
TRAINING CEs
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Documentation Wizard (DD). Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
6.0 CEs are available at an additional cost of $30 paid upon registration for social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists. CE Certificates will be available after LIVE Webinar. You will receive an email when your CEs are available. Participants must attend 100% of the program to earn the 6.0 CEs approved for eligible professions. Check HERE for accreditation by profession and state. It will be up to each professional to determine if they are eligible for CEs. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR CE APPROVALS MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR STATE LICENSING BOARD.
If you plan to watch the replay video instead attending the day of the LIVE Webinar, you may still earn Continuing Education Credits, but you required to complete a post test before receiving your certificate.
Here's Everything You'll Receive in
Misery or Mastery: Essential Documentation for Psychotherapists
#1: Six LIVE Zoom Training Modules with Beth Rontal, LICSW
On Friday, April 11, 2025
#2: Workshop Manual
#3: Sample Treatment Plan and Sample Progress Note
#4: Access to Video Recordings for One Year
PLUS
Bonus #1: TWO 1-Hour Follow-up Q & As
A $450 value (but priceless if you have a pressing question!).
Bonus #2: 15% discount on all paperwork packages
That’s up to a $75 savings.
Bonus #3: List of Progress Prompts
Valued at $67.
Bonus #4: A List of 101 Open Ended "Intervention Prompts"
Valued at $67.
Bonus #5: List of Client & Family Strengths
Valued at $27.
Bonus #6: Annual Membership Circle GOLDEN RING for $42/month
That's a $180 savings!
Enroll in your Misery or Mastery LIVE Webinar TODAY!
LIVE WEBINAR
$387.00Add to cart
ADD 6.0 CE CREDITS
$30.00Add to cart
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
- Payment: by credit or debit card online only.
- If you have purchased from Documentation Wizard previously, you'll be asked to enter your account information.
- During checkout you will enter your name and email to register for the training with Zoom.
- Email acknowledgments will be sent to confirm receipt of registration. If you don't see an email from support@documentationwizard.com or webmaster@documentationwizard.com, please check your junk mail.
- During checkout please be sure to check the box for our newsletter so you can receive the followup and reminder emails for the training.
- You'll also receive emails with reminders, how to access the Zoom webinar, and other important information needed for the training.