Referrals

Benefits for Trainees

Thoughtful referrals for time-limited care

JTSN trainees will receive initial pre-screened referrals within two months of the initial webinar training. You will be expected to see clients for up to 20 sessions over a 6-month period (whichever occurs first). Within these parameters, clinician and client can decide together the best schedule for their goals and needs. (Any client requiring or requesting additional treatment after the 6-month treatment period should be referred out in their local community.)

To prevent over-burden, therapists will be asked to work with no more than two training cases. If you begin a case several months into the program, and thus it extends past graduation from the program in June 2026, you will continue to be compensated for the remainder of that client’s 20 sessions.

REFERRAL SOURCE

The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)* is JTSN’s referral partner. IWMF case workers will verify the identity of prospective JTSN training cases and screen them via live phone calls, using the following eligibility criteria:

• Journalist experiencing psychological distress or impairment related to stress or
  trauma associated with journalistic work

• Located in a US state that JTSN currently serves, and will be available for therapy in
  that state at least 2x per month

• Has access to technology compatible with telehealth

• Absence of certain crisis/severity indicators (e.g., evidence of active suicidality, imminent safety risk, acute psychosis, aggression/hostility, intoxication or severe substance abuse

• Journalist agreeable to trying a time-limited treatment model

*IWMF serves and refers journalists of all genders.

The JTSN Program Director will collect basic client background information and match prospective clients with therapists in training based on geography, therapist specialization, and attributes requested by the client as appropriate (e.g., female gender, clinician of color, etc.).

Note: IWMF screening staff are not licensed clinicians. Full psychological assessment will be completed by JTSN therapists at intake and beyond. (IWMF staff are provided with baseline training in trauma-informed interviewing and self-care while in trauma-facing work, as well as weekly support meetings by JTSN clinical staff.)

Fair Compensation

Trauma therapy is highly skilled and rigorous work. We understand that fair compensation for therapy hours is critical for sustaining services for journalists and ensuring diversity in our network membership.

JTSN Staff has raised the funds to pay trainees a reasonable rate for all therapy hours, on a monthly schedule.

Listing in the JTSN Therapist Directory

This is your network! Trainees who complete all aspects of the 6-month training phase will be invited to add their profile to the online JTSN National Therapist Directory. This is a tool to help journalists identify trustworthy, compatible, available therapists.

You will also have access to the JTSN Internal Directory—a secure list exclusively for JTSN providers with contact information that your colleagues may not wish to list publicly. As you develop your expertise in journalist mental health, your professional community will include providers from around the world who share your interests and can offer cross-cultural collaboration.