Frequently Asked Questions
How to Apply
Are you currently recruiting therapists?
Thank you for your interest in working with journalists. Unfortunately we are no longer accepting applications for the January - June 2023 training class. Please check this site in August 2023 for information about the next cohort.
PLEASE CHECK THIS SITE IN AUGUST 2023 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEXT COHORT.
Do I qualify to participate?
Mental health clinicians licensed to practice in the U.S. with a specialization in treating traumatic stress disorders qualify to participate in the JTSN core group. Get additional information about JTSN qualifications and commitments here.
Can therapists participate from anywhere in the world?
For the first several training cohorts we are only recruiting therapists that live and are licensed to practice in the U.S., Australia, and the Philippines. We hope to expand our reach over the coming years.
Timeline and Trainee Commitments (2022-2023 cohort)*
If I qualify, when would I start?
For qualifying U.S. therapists, participation starts in November 2022, when we will email you some information on the program and how to access the three-part initial training on December 1 & 2, 2022. Referrals and monthly Peer Learning and Support Groups begin in January 2023. See our Program page for details.
What time does the training webinar start and end?
Part 1, December 1: 9-2 PST / 10-3 MST / 11-4 CST / 12-5 EST
Part 2, December 2: 9-1 PST / 10-2 MST / 11-3 CST / 12-4 EST
How many CEs will I earn for attending the training?
9 CEs, accepted by APA, NY State, and most other credentialing bodies.
How long is the commitment, and how many hours would I need to commit?
The core JTSN pilot commitment is 7 months (December 2022 through June 2023).
Therapists commit to seeing a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 journalists at a time for 6 months. (We offer each client time-limited therapy, i.e., up to 20 sessions, which they must use within 6 months; so you may end up seeing one client, or several, depending on how long your clients stay in therapy.)
We may be able to continue compensating therapists for therapy with 1-2 journalists for an additional 6 months (i.e., up to a total of 12 months), up to November 30, 2023*, if you wish.
Here’s a more detailed look:
Participation begins with a required three-part live training webinar from Dec 1 & 2, 2022 (8 CE hours). In the two weeks following the training you will complete a training evaluation (15 minutes), and follow instructions to update your telehealth technology settings to make them secure (up to 1-2 hours if you need our assistance).
Starting in January 2022 pilot therapists will begin to receive journalist referrals through JTSN. We ask that you schedule at least one, but no more than two, journalist clients at any given time (for more information see Referrals).
You will also be required to participate in a monthly 90-minute Peer Learning and Support Group for six months (January – June 2023). Finally, you will report basic quality assurance data to the JTSN Program Director.
After the initial 6-month referral period, you will receive JTSN membership and (optional) listing in our National JTSN Directory. Budget allowing, if you wish to take additional training cases, we may continue to compensate you for JTSN therapy hours for an additional 6 months of therapy with 1-2 journalists at a time (up to November 30, 2023).
In total, you can expect to spend approximately 8-14 hours per month to your JTSN work during the initial 6-month period, based on the following sample schedules:
1 Journalist Case
Weekly therapy + documentation = 6 hours
Monthly Consultation Group = 1.5 hours
Data reporting = 0.5 hours
Total: 8 hours/month
2 Journalist Cases
Weekly therapy + documentation = 10 hours
Monthly Consultation Group = 1.5 hours
Data reporting = 0.5 hours
Total: 14 hours/month
Referrals and Payment
Where do referrals come from?
We have close working relationships with organizations that support journalists through hazardous-environments trainings, project grants, necessities like satellite phones and protective gear, and press freedom advocacy. Case workers at these orgs will be the trusted source for most of our initial referrals.
Our pilot therapist group will also receive training in marketing journalist-focused services and identifying good referrals. Group members will be invited to bring in additional referrals through relationships you build in your local journalism community.
Are JTSN referrals pre-screened?
Referring organizations will have previously communicated with prospective clients; they will be familiar with the client’s journalistic work, know the client’s preferences for mode of communication, and will provide basic client background information to the JTSN Program Director, who will match prospective clients with therapists based on geography and therapist specialization. You will conduct the initial clinical intake.
How many referrals can I expect?
You will receive one referral at a time. We ask that you schedule that referral within 2 weeks of receiving notification of the referral, or communicate with our Program Director if you are unable to do so. Once you have an active client, you are welcome to schedule one additional client. We will not ask you to carry more than two journalist clients at a time.
How will I be notified of a referral?
You will receive a secure email from the Program Director, followed by a phone call and voicemail to ensure you received the email.
What if my referral does not follow through with the intake?
We ask that you leave 2 messages for the client and inform them that they have one week from the second message to contact you before you will accept the next referrals. After that time, they are welcome to contact the Program Director to discuss restarting with you or another therapist.
Will I be paid for my therapy services? How?
Therapists are compensated by JTSN for therapy hours MONTHLY, by submitting a monthly invoice (no claims process, no payment from clients).
Here’s a more detailed look:
The JTSN program will pay you a fair rate for therapy services provided to the clients we refer for up to 12 months. The clients will not be charged any money for participation. (In addition to providing you referrals, we welcome you to accept journalist clients through your own community and will compensate you for working with them within the pilot parameters; we just need confirmation that they meet our inclusion criteria before you begin billing the program.)
To receive payment, U.S. therapists will email a monthly invoice with your JTSN therapy hours to our partner organization, the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF). IWMFwill remit payment checks or direct deposit within 7 business days. You will not need to include protected health information (PHI) on your invoices.
We hope to be able to continue to pay for or subsidize therapy after the pilot phase, but this depends on fundraising.
We recognize that client motivation in therapy can be increased by having to pay something for sessions. We will give participating journalists the option to donate a modest amount to the JTSN program, according to their budget. In our experience, journalists feel good when they can support their colleagues, and this may feel meaningful to them. However, we will not rely on journalist donations as a significant area of fundraising for future programming.
Time-Limited Treatment
How many sessions does JTSN offer journalists in this pilot?
Journalists participating in the pilot are offered 20 therapy sessions within 6 months — whichever comes first. Likewise, participating therapists will be compensated for up to 20 sessions per patient (as long as it is within the 6-month window).
Therapists should use clinical judgment during the intake: if symptom severity or complexity indicates that time-limited treatment is not appropriate, you should refer the client to a higher level of care. On a case-by-case basis, JTSN staff may be able to assist you with referrals.
Am I required, under all circumstances, to offer the allotted number of sessions?
No. We understand that you are bringing these patients into your private practice and that you must exercise your own best clinical judgment. Examples of situations that might result in not providing the allotted number of sessions include: if you feel a patient needs to be referred out to a higher level of care, if a patient only wants a few of the offered sessions, or if you feel strongly that you cannot assist your client to meet therapeutic goals on the schedule they are available for. Our goal is to set a clear frame and mutual expectations at the outset. As clinicians you will exercise your own judgment from that point forward.
What if the client needs more therapy after 20 sessions? What if the client and I would like to continue treatment together?
The JTSN pilot program will compensate therapists for up to 20 sessions per client (within a 6-month window) during the first 12 months of the therapist’s participation. In most cases we encourage you to hold a time-limited treatment frame, so you can accept additional journalist clients and help JTSN learn from this pilot. Time-limited care is part of the client consent process, and if the client needs or wants additional treatment, they will be informed at the outset that you may need to refer them out after 6 months.
That said, clinical judgment is paramount, and there is no hard and fast rule that you can’t continue to see a client past their allotted sessions (although you will no longer be compensated through JTSN). Many journalists may be eligible for additional time-limited therapy grants through our partner organizations. We will give you this information to share with them, so if needed they can receive support to continue with you or another provider.
Have other questions?
Contact our Program Director by completing the form at the bottom of this page.