Dear Community,

Although it has been some time, we are thrilled to be bringing back The Link! The Link is a newsletter packed with tools to help you with your practice. We are excited to share our latest installment of The Link!

In this issue:

• The anxiety many clinicians are experiencing about filling their caseload in the current climate, with perspective and ideas to help you navigate it

• What every clinician should understand about liability insurance: a Q & A with American Professional Agency

• An introduction to TMS treatment and what clinicians should know

• A practical guide to staying compliant with HIPAA in email

• A thoughtful look at how to approach referrals to higher levels of care

As always, our goal is to share resources that are useful, relevant, and grounded in the real work you are doing every day.

We are glad you’re here!

This Month’s Newsletter is Brought To You By:

Feel confident knowing your emails are secure and fully HIPAA compliant with Paubox.

Paubox is offering The Link subscribers a special discount of $250 off the first year with the code PAUBOXPROMO.

Professional Liability Insurance for Mental Health Clinicians:

Common Questions and Why They Matter 

If you have been thinking about your malpractice or liability coverage, you are not alone. We have been hearing this question from many of you lately, and it is one that comes up often in our community.

That is why we sat down with American Professional Agency, a trusted name in liability coverage for therapists. They specialize in working with psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, mental health counselors, and other behavioral health professionals across different practice settings. It is also a company we know from personal experience. Ari has worked with them since his solo practice days and continues to rely on them for his group practice today.

We wanted to bring you clear, practical answers to the questions you have been asking.

Read the full interview here:

What To Do About Declining Referrals in a Rapidly Changing Landscape

By Kari Groff MD - Co-founder, The Link Newsletter

You are not alone. Something is shifting in private practice that is leading to this.

I wanted to know what all of you thought about this trend so I asked the group about your own individual practices and what you were experiencing. After hearing from over 100 of you, a few patterns are clear.

NeuroStar TMS:

A Safe Alternative to Antidepressant Medications

For patients who haven’t seen adequate relief from antidepressants, trying another
medication isn’t always the answer. According to the STAR*D study, with every new
medication, the chances of feeling better go down and the likelihood of stopping the
medication due to side effects go up.¹

Matching Clients to the Right Level of Care

Determining when and where to refer a client for a higher level of care (HLOC) can be one of the most difficult clinical decisions we face. Confidence in these moments often comes down to understanding the key differences between levels of care.

If you email clients about appointments, send intake paperwork, or coordinate care with another provider, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) applies to your email. The rules are more nuanced than most therapists realize, and the assumptions people make about Gmail or Outlook are usually wrong.

This is a quick primer on what HIPAA requires and how to address any compliance gaps.

Psychopharmacology for Therapists

Monday, June 1, 2026

11 am - 12:30 pm EST

This popular class is a broad overview of how to be a collaborative and knowledgeable front-line clinician. 

90 minutes of engaging and interactive learning about the major classes of psychiatric medication, side effects to be aware of, and how to use this knowledge to enhance conversations with clients and collaboration with prescribing doctors and NPs. 

Host an Event!

Contact us if you want to host an event for The Link BBMHG-UWSPA! We would love to co-host your in-person networking event! Reach out and let’s make a date. It is a great way to get to know more people and showcase your practice as well.

Thank you for reading and for being a part of the Link community!

Best regards,

Brooklyn and Beyond Mental Health Group and the Upper West Side Psychotherapy Alliance

The Link is a monthly newsletter for the Brooklyn and Beyond Mental Health Group (BBMHG) and the Upper West Side Psychotherapy Alliance (UWSPA). Founded by Kari Groff MD and Ari Fox, LCSW, we are a thriving community of 5000+ mental health and allied professionals. Each month, we share tips and resources to help you build connections, take your practice to new heights and have more fun in the process.