Who am I asked to serve?
Providers may opt-in to provide therapeutic support:
- Active, guard and reserve service members, veterans, and their loved ones
- Those effected by natural disasters and man-made tragedies such as mass shootings or bombings
- Regional and State programs such as EDRT (victims of crime, those involved in the justice system)
Providers may opt-in to provide non-therapeutic support:
- Sharing expertise on topics such as grief, loss and trauma
- Participate or lead peer to peer support groups
- General presentations about Give an Hour services
How am I asked to serve?
- In-person Counseling: We recognize that in-person support is the standard within the mental health community. However, we also recognize this may not be feasible for everyone.
- Video Counseling: We encourage the use of HIPAA-compliant platforms when an individual is unable to meet in person with a provider.
- Telephone Support: We understand providers will rely on their professional judgment to determine if phone support is a sufficient way to meet the individual’s mental health needs.
- Outreach and Engagement: We provide opportunities for providers to serve their communities by engaging, recruiting, and educating others about Give an Hour through several of our initiatives.
Am I offering just one hour? Or, how many sessions am I required to offer as a Give an Hour provider?
The Give an Hour commitment for therapy is one hour of your services per week, per Give an Hour client you accept.
Give an Hour providers should treat paying, and pro-bono clients in the exact same manner, offering help until it is clinically appropriate to terminate care.
You may also choose to volunteer at conferences, resource fairs, or other events while you wait for a client to contact you.
I have been contacted by a client outside of the state(s) in which I am licensed. Can I help them?
The answer to this question varies from state to state and is changing rapidly. Please contact the appropriate licensing entities for the most up to date information.
How do I navigate the referral process?
Download the Referral Provider Guide here.
Is it ok to charge my clients insurance?
If a client requests or approves using insurance, insurance with no copay, or sliding scale – a Give an Hour provider may accept this as payment. If a client is unable to pay or does not offer to use insurance, please accept them as pro bono in alignment with our mission to provide free, barrier free access regardless of ability to pay.
Do I need to fill out any forms or information about a Give an Hour client?
When a client requests a referral, the provider receives an email notifying them of the request. To accept, change or deny the request, providers must login to their profile. We ask you to keep track of your donated hours and relay this information to us. In addition, we ask that you make your profile unavailable when your Give an Hour client load is full.
What should I do if I determine a client needs hospitalization?
- A patient’s safety is always of primary importance. We encourage all providers to use their clinical judgment to determine the need for hospitalization — and follow their usual procedures in these circumstances.
- We have a good relationship with the DoD and VA, and we are able to help you navigate the situation were it to arise to determine the best course of action.
Does Give an Hour screen clients?
Generally, clients are not pre-screened, however a client may offer additional information in the referral process. Most clients locate, contact, and select providers directly using our website search engine and wait to hear from the provider within 5 business days.
Certain programs within Give an Hour directly match clients such as for the EDRT program.
Can I charge a client for a missed appointment/cancelled session for the session?
If the client has indicated use of insurance in their intake, prior to missing the appointment and your policy has been clearly stated to the client, you may treat the client as you do any other client in your practice. If the client is a pro-bono client, we do not recommend missed appointment fees. If you are concerned about a client frequently missing appointments or canceling at the last minute, please email info@giveanhour.org, so we can suggest ways to handle the situation.
What are the licensing requirements to join Give an Hour as a mental health provider?
Provisional:
As of 2022, Give an Hour welcomes provisional licensed providers in the network. GAH encourages professional autonomy: All licensing board verifications are the responsibility of the license holder and supervisor.
- You must have graduated from your Master’s Program
- You must have secured your supervisor. Your supervisor does not have to be registered with Give an Hour
- You must be willing to inform GAH clients of your provisional status, and provide them with your supervisors information
- You must carry appropriate liability insurance
Independent:
- You must be in good standing with your licensing board for the last two consecutive years.
- Social workers must have the highest license the state requires to practice independently. It varies from state to state, but generally the abbreviation is LICSW, LCSW, or LCSW-C.
- Professional counselors must have the highest license the state requires to practice independently. It varies from state to state, but generally the abbreviation is LPC, LMHC or LCPC.
- Pastoral counselors must be licensed as such or a fellowship level member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
- Psychologists must have a doctorate and a license to practice.
- Marriage and family providers must have an LMFT.
- Psychiatrists must have an M.D. or a D.O. with proper accreditation in psychiatry.
- Psychiatric nurses, drug and alcohol counselors, and other mental health professionals not covered here must follow their state’s regulations for proper licensing.
How do I remove my profile from your website?
If your practice is full and you need to remove your public profile from listing, login to your profile and select “unavailable.”
If you have retired, no longer working: thank you for your time and service! Please email providerrelations@giveanhour.org and we will remove your listing.
How do I update my contact information?
- You can update your contact information by logging into your profile on our website.
What are the licensing requirements for various professionals seeking to join Give an Hour as a mental health provider?
Provisional:
As of 2022, Give an Hour welcomes provisional licensed providers in the network. GAH encourages professional autonomy: All licensing board verifications are the responsibility of the license holder and supervisor.
- You must have graduated from your Master’s Program
- You must have secured your supervisor. Your supervisor does not have to be registered with Give an Hour
- You must be willing to inform GAH clients of your provisional status, and provide them with your supervisors information
- You must carry appropriate liability insurance
Independent:
- You must be in good standing with your licensing board for the last two consecutive years.
- Social workers must have the highest license the state requires to practice independently. It varies from state to state, but generally the abbreviation is LICSW, LCSW, or LCSW-C.
- Professional counselors must have the highest license the state requires to practice independently. It varies from state to state, but generally the abbreviation is LPC, LMHC or LCPC.
- Pastoral counselors must be licensed as such or a fellowship level member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
- Psychologists must have a doctorate and a license to practice.
- Marriage and family providers must have an LMFT.
- Psychiatrists must have an M.D. or a D.O. with proper accreditation in psychiatry.
- Psychiatric nurses, drug and alcohol counselors, and other mental health professionals not covered here must follow their state’s regulations for proper licensing.
Do I need to fill out any forms or report to you that I have a Give an Hour client?
When a client requests a referral, the provider receives an email notifying them of the request. To accept, change or deny the request, providers must login to their profile. We ask you to keep track of your donated hours and relay this information to us. In addition, we ask that you make your profile unavailable when your Give an Hour client load is full.
My Give an Hour client has insurance. Is it ok to charge their insurance?
If a client requests or approves utilizing their insurance, their insurance with no copay or sliding scale – a Give an Hour provider may accept this as payment. If a client is unable to pay, do not pressure them to do so. Participating in our program means you are willing to provide pro bono sessions, with no regard for insurance or ability to pay. It would be inconsistent with our mission to charge someone for Give an Hour sessions who has indicated inability to pay.
How many sessions am I required to donate as a Give an Hour provider?
The Give an Hour commitment for therapy is one hour of your services per week, per Give an Hour client you accept.
Give an Hour providers should treat paying, and pro-bono clients in the exact same manner, offering help until it is clinically appropriate to terminate care.
You may also choose to volunteer at conferences, resource fairs, or other events while you wait for a client to contact you.
Does Give an Hour offer malpractice, professional liability, or any other type of insurance?
- No, Give an Hour does not offer its providers any insurance coverage.
- To become a registered Give an Hour provider, you must have the appropriate professional liability insurance for your state (if applicable), and for your specialty.
Can I join Give an Hour if I don't carry malpractice/professional liability insurance OR I am not covered by my group’s malpractice insurance policy?
- You need to have applicable professional liability insurance coverage while seeing a Give an Hour client. We do not have coverage for our volunteer providers.
If I am a provider without my own office, or work in an open setting, how can I offer privacy to a client?
We encourage you to check with churches, synagogues, community centers, and similar organizations in your area. If you still need help locating space, please contact us at providerrelations@giveanhour.org.
I registered a while ago, but have not heard from Give an Hour. Or, I registered as a provider, but my name does not appear on your website’s search engine.
If you submitted your registration and you haven’t heard from us within three (3) business days, please reach out to us at providerrelations@giveanhour.org
I have been a Give an Hour provider for a while now and have not seen a client. Am I doing something wrong?
No, you are not. Because Give an Hour is not a referral service, some providers do not get contacted by potential clients immediately. It depends upon where the client lives and who they choose to contact after searching for a provider on our website.
At times, providers may choose populations to serve that are less frequent than others. The most common populations are military personnel and individuals affected by disaster or man-made trauma.
My practice is very busy right now, can I hold off taking referrals or new clients?
- Yes! Providers can update availability by logging into your profile and changing your status to “not taking clients.” Once you do this, your name will no longer appear in searches in your area. Later, when you are available for Give an Hour clients, you can simply log in again and update your profile to “available.”
- If you are an alternative provider or need help or have questions about how to do this, please email providerrelations@giveanhour.org.
Can you tell me more about military client eligibility?
- Give an Hour offers its services to active duty service members, veterans of any era, and their family members and loved ones.
- Our definition of family member and loved one is broad. Those who are eligible include but are not limited to the following: spouses, children, parents, siblings, extended family, and unmarried partners.
- Deployment or honorable discharge are not requirements to be a Give an Hour client. National Guard and Reserves also qualify, even if they haven’t deployed.
- If you have any questions about eligibility, please email providerrelations@giveanhour.org.
Why would an active duty service member or veteran with insurance choose not to use it?
Service members and veterans who are suffering from depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress, or other mental health issues are not routinely seeking the treatment they need. The stigma associated with seeking help is a major barrier and many fear mental health treatment will jeopardize their career. A client may be embarrassed or fearful about their reason for seeking treatment and seek confidential care outside of the military while they gain comfort in care. In addition, not all veterans have access to, or are eligible for, traditional veterans benefits.
Does Give an Hour provide training on topics related to my volunteerism and practice?
Give an Hour has collected many resources that can be accessed on our Training Page. During the year, Give an Hour hosts multiple training partnerships, in collaboration with partners and providers in our network, like YOU! It is our intent to offer expert trainings, CE and build a community of engagement with other practitioners.
If you are not receiving the bi-weekly provider news email, please email providerrelations@giveanhour.org
