Therapeutic Consulting Association (TCA), the only Interventionist and Treatment Consultant Association, shifted practices since March 2020 by providing virtual tours, twice-weekly virtual member check-in calls, and a Business of the Business continuing education series.  These changes drastically increased membership involvement and saw new member growth by 15%.  With the membership increase, came a need to review and edit the application process.

For current and new members, TCA has exploded the number of virtual resources it has provided its members.  Between March 2020 and June 2021, TCA has hosted more than 150 virtual tours of programs to its members.  Without an annual conference, TCA shifted to virtually hosting an ongoing “Business of the Business” member series.  Some of the 22 different topics in this series included topics like Constructive Feedback with (Treatment) Programs, Business Development 101, Aftercare & Transition Planning, Streamlining Your Business, an Interventionists Panel, and many others.   Jennifer Taylor, JD, Chair of TCA, said “I am encouraged and impressed by the amount of collegiality within TCA. The Board of Directors were innovative and very creative in providing engagement, collaboration, and ongoing support during COVID-19 for all members.”

With the changes to how the professional association evolved, the application process to the association shifted also. A couple of these changes were: changing the professional references requirement and requiring an introduction to TCA call before sharing the calendar of events.  The TCA Membership Committee is carefully ensuring the motivations of those interested in joining the organization align with TCA’s values, hence a more comprehensive and selective member application process.  Applicants must be prepared to share references from professionals they do not work with, provide their undergraduate and graduate transcripts, complete an application that includes listing programs visited within the last year (including location, date, and contact information), participate in a video interview, and agree to uphold all TCA values; most important to the community is the collegiality and collaboration.  

TCA is thorough in the membership application review, and it is not a guarantee that an applicant will be accepted. For those who joined since March 2020, the gratitude and appreciation has been palpable.  “There’s something special about being part of a community of professionals that specialize in best practices. I was drawn to TCA because of their ethical principles and their focus on inclusion,” Michael Collins, LEVEL Therapeutic Educational Consulting.  Jill Rickel, of AO Therapeutic Consulting, said “Having some extra time during Covid allowed me to approach that to-do list that never seems to get done. First up was joining TCA and I can’t believe it took me so long to do it. I had heard that it was a collaborative group but that doesn’t do it justice. The virtual tours were a lifesaver when in-person tours were not possible, and the time set aside on a regular basis to brainstorm cases with colleagues is invaluable. There is a level of professionalism, trust, care, and honesty among the members that makes it feel like they are business partners who are invested in your success.”

TCA will continue to seek feedback from its current members to ensure we are providing valuable engagement opportunities, professional development, and safe, collaborative spaces.

Therapeutic Consulting Association is a small community of Therapeutic Placement Consultants and Referring Professionals from across the US who value collaboration, research, ethics, transparency, and evidence-based treatment.  Each TCA Consultant agrees to not receive compensation from programs in exchange for placement of clients.  We are independent, and seek only the most appropriate treatment for each client. For more information, please email abouttca@gmail.com.