What’s entailed?
A minimum of 2 hours total: two 50-min sessions of exposure-based teletherapy per every person treated (you choose how many people you would like to see).
What’s required?
You must be a US-based adult CBT psychotherapist already trained and specializing in (1) exposure therapy for specific phobias and (2) telehealth using a HIPAA-compliant video platform (e.g., Doxy, Zoom, etc.). You must either be licensed or legally operating under the license of a CBT psychotherapist. You will be operating under your own license, although we will provide a consent form for you to use that clearly defines the boundaries and limitations of what you are offering (i.e., that what you are offering is limited to a highly specific, 2-session protocol to reduce needle phobia, and that you are NOT providing crisis, emergency, long-term, comprehensive intake, or any other services outside the scope of the 2-session needle phobia protocol).
Why should I sign up?
As a CBT therapist, you have a critical role in fighting this pandemic. Among the factors contributing to vaccination hesitancy, needle phobia is among the most significant AND most treatable. However, individually we can’t make a dent. If you’re longing for a values-based way to build community and work together on something meaningful, please join us. What’s more, your participation in this project will contribute to a nationwide effort to raise awareness about effective, evidence-based mental health treatment.
What’s the launch date?
Currently we are recruiting participants and therapists with the aim to launch by October 1st, 2021.
I’m in. How do I sign up?
To register, submit your email address, license number, and state in which you are licensed through our secure portal. After you specify how many people you are willing to see (i.e., treating 5 people has a good chance of getting 4 first shots in arms), we will match you with your specified number of people from states in which you can legally serve.
We will also share with you our example 2-session injection phobia protocol specific to anxiety about the Covid-19 vaccine, a directory of exposure materials, and an example consent form. These are resources you can use, but ultimately, we support your autonomy as a licensed CBT psychotherapist to deliver the right care for your clients. We will NEVER spam you or sell or distribute your email address for any other purpose.
If I want, can I work with people for more than 2 sessions or charge for additional sessions?
This is up to you and your client to decide (and to comply with the appropriate laws and regulations governed by your state’s licensing board), but the expectation is that the commitment ends after the free 2-session protocol. The focus is to get people who want to get vaccinated, vaccinated.
Can I see people out-of-state?
It depends. For example, if you are a psychologist licensed in a PSYPACT state and have your E-Passport and APIT, you can see any person from another PSYPACT state. We will do our homework to match you with someone within your own state or a state that has instituted a license process to allow temporary out-of-state therapy without fee or registration. However, given that the liability falls on your license, it is always wise to double check with your own licensing board.
I’m interested but I’m a child therapist.
Fantastic! While we are initially launching the program for adults only, please email freeneedlephobiaCBT@gmail.com and we will contact you when and if we expand to child CBT.
What else do I need to know?
Equity, diversity, and inclusion are central values of this project. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Therapists of all underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to sign up. You can find out more info at our About Us.
I can’t afford to donate time right now. Any other way I can help?
Forward this on to any other person (therapist, client, friend or anyone else involved in vaccination rollout) whom you think might be interested. We need to get the word out far and wide.