u/Eastern-Tip-4862

Do any other telehealth therapists want to start a WhatsApp group? I really need other professionals to talk to, I am struggling and have no one to connect with when issues arise.

Update 2: i uninstalled and reinstalled and seems like real debrid is having issues

Update: I just installed umbrella and it’s the same thing- no streams available- is it real - debrid?

Just says no streams available no matter what I try to- can anyone help? I just paid for another 6 mos of real debrid

Operating System: firestick?
• ⁠Device: tcl FireTV
• ⁠Add-on affected : the crew
• ⁠Version of Kodi: 21.2
• ⁠Version of add-on: crew 3.2.1
• ⁠Country: USA
• ⁠Any support services: Real-Debrid
• ⁠Link to a debug/error log (no error or bug)

I didn’t know where else to ask this - first I have a cat and I love them.

But - at 53 there have been a handful of times where I encounter single cats in “groups” at a time.

For instance one time I had 3 cats run in front of my car on the way home from work, it was maybe a 3 mile drive. 3 weeks later I had a miscarriage.

Once I had a 3-4 cats cross in front of me on my way home and I ended up with a medical issue not much later.

This past week I had a back cat walk in front of my car, the next day I had a major work incident, and my own cat created an unknown biohazard in my home (she was missing her box and urine was getting trapped underneath and maggots were growing- she’s 16 and have never had that before)

I just wonder if anyone else has ever had anything similar?

I need someone who knows what they are talking about.

Google workspace with a baa removed the contacts portion of their workspace to be covered under the baa

I don’t have the money to pay monthly for another app -

I want to download strongbox to keep client contacts - it’s a strictly offline app, with biometrics to open the app - I have mdm on my phone, adp turned on and biometrics to open my phone and 1 min timeout/ clients are legally allowed to have sms reminders and notifications so I have to coordinate care that way when they send me text I don’t have to sift through everyone’s chart to see who I am talking to

So my question is my setup hipaa compliant and or defensible?

I’m kinda solo - strictly remote - my org jsut says “stay hipaa compliant” and we have a byod policy

Here’s the issue I posted on r/therapists

What do you guys do for storing clients names and appointments on your device?

I have not been storing becuase I cannot find an app that will give a baa on phone numbers and names and is free- I have like 8-10 clients- I have been in practice for a few years now and have never been able to find anything- I know social workers who store with first four of the last name and the first 3 of the first name on their personal devices - and I know they are following state regulations they are with big orgs.

I am contracted under an org but we are small and all devices are mine they have a byod device policy

Anyway my issue is always being so careful to not send texts to someone else-

HIPAA laws explicitly state if a client wants text reminding we have to honor it- of course all disclosures and consents are signed off on -

But the problem this is causing me - I see a phone number

“I can’t make it on Wednesday what do you have for next week” <example not a real text

Then I have to go into the EHR and open multiple charts until I find the phone number to figure out who I’m talking to

There has to be an easier way -

We have Google workspace with a baa but they do not have a space for contact information even if they did- I would still have to do this- just wouldn’t have to open charts-

In Google voice with a baa it’s explicitly carved out to not cover contact information stored on it - no names or numbers

Also I use Google Calendar connected to my work baa and chat gpt says even in there I can’t put normal 2 initials for my own schedule it says and so does Gemini that it’s a hipaa violation - I work two jobs and I’m sending out text reminders I need to be able to have a solo calendar in my life knowing what’s going on -

So although a name and number alone isn’t phi they still need to be stored as such and no place can I find a free place to store - and I can’t afford most of the ones that cost -

Any help in this area would be appreciated

TLDR: there are zero apps free to store client contact information- if it has to stay in the EHR I am opening file after file to see who is texting me (they have the right to opt in to sms) - unprompted syncing issues are causing therpists headaches and freak outs and unless you have a background in computer engineering your likely having violations- it’s a literal no win situation for strictly remote byod telehealth therapists-

So I was going through charts to make sure all consents were up too date and I found a letter I wrote for a client many months ago - they wanted me to document what happened to them.

So I wrote what I observed, and what I knew from the coordination of care with their actual doctors.

I put my legal disclaimer, I am not a doctor I cannot diagnose……

But there is a line in there that I wish I would have worded differently.

“symptoms appeared to coincide with medication…….” “doctor removed the offending medication……”

I am freaking out that I may have been crossing the line on those - and could it be considered or construed as practicing medicine?

Like I was stating what I observed, and sort of backing up the doctor’s decisions.

This letter is for client. Not being sent or used for any purpose, client just wanted documentation. I can’t remember exactly why.

I’m sitting here wondering “is this going to come back and bite me later?

The more I work on my own, I’ve been independent for about a year now, the more ceus I take the more I am being coming aware of things that I could accidentally get into trouble for.

Back then i had little experience writing letters, and helping my client to advocate health issues for themselves, i wanted to be helpful, and not come off as I am making definitive statements.

I plainly wrote I am not a doctor I cannot diagnose, that is beyond the scope of my profession-

I did not advocate for changes for or against meds, I don’t know what would rise to the level of practicing medicine, and I00000% always verbalize, talk to your doctor, ask them about….i never ever would tell them to go on off or switch a med, but I have seen clients come in after starting a med with clearly stated side effects , so I always tell them, hey you should call the dr office, this seems like you might want to ask them about effects.

for some reason I am focused on these sentences and just want another human to look at them and tell me what they think.

I am really freaking out.

Update: Just want to thank everyone for the replies. It’s nice to know this community exists. And it’s nice to see so many empathetic, intelligent and intuitive people in our field. tomorrow I am going to take this post down so I don’t keep coming back to it for reassurance seeking. Otherwise I will. But I am going to make sure to bring it up to my own therapist. If your a therapist w ocd and ever want to chat - feel free- it can feel isolating-

Clients want reminders and session links via text. I saw some people saying unless the text app is hippa compliant we shouldn’t be sending that via text.

Just wondering how everyone else sends their reminders and links?

Is babysitting going to be eligible to be courted as income? For
Instance I get 350 from door dash per month and around 300 for babysitting the neighbors kids? She pays via cashapp and I submit it via 1099 taxes.

Also what is considered community engagement?

Are how they decide these things going to change from state to state? Like one state allows for baby sitting and the other doesn’t?

For community engagement will they have specific sites i can volunteer at? Is caring for a family member or friend who is not a dependent counted as volunteer work?

I work almost exactly 20 hours per week. I am an independent contractor. I don’t make an hourly wage. I don’t get paid the same for every client. I get a percentage of insurance reimbursement rates once they are paid to the org I work under and they are perpetually delayed by 3-8 weeks. I make about 12k per year gross.
What is going to happen if I get sick? Which I do, often, with bladder infections. (Menopause) when they flare I’m out for 2
weeks sometimes.
Will I get kicked off my insurance? Becuase they are making us go back 3 months of work to prove we worked. What about vacation? What about when our orgs are closed for the holidays? Does anyone have any idea what is going to happen? I’m so scared. I have a specialist for my urology issues and I take medication daily to prevent bladder infections but they still flare 3-4 times a year. If I flare and can’t make my hours I don’t know what I’m going to do. I won’t be able to afford a doctor visit and my medication.

Just putting this up early. We need to vote to overturn the house and senate.

Yes it’s a Gemini answer but I checked and it’s correct- I just wanted everyone to know what was going on and give your input to the counsel members before July 14th. So they can’t renew these things. They are dangerous and ruin innocent peoples lives.

In Fort Wayne, the initial deployment of the Flock Safety license plate reader (LPR) cameras was contracted directly by the **Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD)** under the leadership of the police administration.
The cameras were first quietly implemented back in **2024** using a mix of the FWPD's existing taxpayer-funded budget and a federal Justice Assistance Grant. Because the initial setup cost fell below the $100,000 threshold that legally requires legislative oversight, the department was able to sign the contract administratively without first seeking approval from the Fort Wayne City Council or holding public hearings.
### The Current Battle Over Funding
The cameras have recently become a massive topic of debate at Citizens Square because the annual maintenance and platform renewal contract (Ordinance S-26-05-10) has crossed that $100,000 threshold, forcing it before the **Fort Wayne City Council** for a vote.
* **The Police Department's Stance:** Police Chief P.J. Smith and the FWPD have strongly defended the 36 cameras, citing that the technology has been critical in tracking vehicles tied to violent crimes (such as a high-profile homicide and a fatal stabbing at a local Kroger) and recovering over $800,000 in stolen property.
* **The City Council & Public Pushback:** Many residents and community groups have organized heavily against the renewal, raising serious alarms about data security, potential AI-driven mass surveillance, and a lack of transparency regarding who can access the database.
The friction reached a head when a preliminary City Council vote saw a tight 5-4 split against the renewal. To prevent the contract from being killed outright, Councilman Geoff Paddock/Mitch Jehl (via a motion initiated by Councilman Jehl) successfully voted to **hold the ordinance until July 14, 2026**. This delay was explicitly created to force the FWPD to answer strict civil liberty and data privacy questions before the city council makes a final decision on whether to legally fund the network going forward.

The short answer is that **the police department effectively gave themselves the authority** to roll out the system by exploiting a specific loophole in local purchasing laws. Because of how Indiana municipal law divides power, no single political figure had to sign off on it at the time.
The authority stems from a combination of administrative policies and spending thresholds:
### 1. The Under-$100,000 Loophole
Under Fort Wayne city code, the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) administration has the legal authority to enter into contracts and buy equipment using their pre-approved operational budget **without** City Council approval—as long as the contract amount is **under $100,000**.
When the FWPD originally contracted with Flock Safety in 2024, they structured or utilized funding (including federal Justice Assistance Grants) to keep the initial price tag below that $100k line. Because it didn't hit the financial trigger for legislative oversight, the police chief and the department’s administrative staff legally signed the contract internally.
### 2. Discretionary Operational Control
The executive branch of city government (the Mayor’s office and the police chief appointed by the mayor) has broad authority over *how* the police department fights crime day-to-day. The FWPD classified the Flock cameras as an investigative tool, similar to buying new dashboard cameras, fingerprint kits, or software licenses. Since there wasn't a specific local ordinance *banning* automatic license plate readers, the department acted within its general administrative powers to adopt the technology.
### 3. The Power of Public "Shared Networks"
Flock Safety’s business model also provided a secondary wave of authority that bypassed the city entirely. Private entities—like local homeowners associations (HOAs), apartment complexes, and strip malls—can buy and install their own Flock cameras on private property.
Flock's software allows these private owners to easily opt-in and "share" their live data feeds directly with the FWPD. The police department didn't need anyone's permission or a city council vote to accept access to those privately owned cameras.
### Why the Authority is Being Challenged Now
The police department had the authority to *start* the program, but they do not have the standalone authority to *sustain* it now that the costs have grown.
Because the system expanded and the annual maintenance and software renewal contract (Ordinance S-26-05-10) has risen to **$120,000**, it officially triggered the legal requirement for City Council intervention. The police can no longer fund it quietly out of pocket, which is exactly why the City Council currently holds the power to effectively "defund" the cameras if the department doesn't answer the public's privacy concerns by the upcoming July deadline.

Does anyone else struggled with this? I am and have been lately - my anxiety is high and all of this sudden I’m worried about a thought I had- it always starts with “I can’t imagine….happening to me” And then that exact thing I could not imagine does in fact happen- I’m sure there’s times I’ve said it when nothing has happed - but my confirmation bias keeps me only remembering when it does happen. Anyway I’m kinda wondering if anyone else struggles with this.

My daughter is 20 - she was tested for autism but doesn’t have it - she has binocular vision disorder and got prism glasses but I am 100% sure she also has nvld- she’s extremely intelligent but acts like Amelia Bedilia - she takes things very literally - gets lost easily- she’s very naive - she has no friends at all - she had a group on high school but they all went off to college and she stayed home- she struggles to get dressed becuase of her bvd - spatially she’s a mess- on her laptop she’s a genius- I when looking at nlvd symptoms she checks off each box - I have no idea what to do or where to go to get her a diagnoses and resources

3rd wave feminism - how one woman’s trauma was exploited.

This is very long but I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and Carol Leigh’s experiences never sat right with me.

Additionally the other major players developing the 3rd wave framework eventually admitted to being traumatized and or later in life pivoted away from 3rd wave altogether- aside from Ellen Willis -
I’m focusing on Leigh as she was the die hard advocate and remained so until she passed.

Carol Leigh is known for her fight against anti-porn and anti-sex-work, she is one of, if not the first figure of third-wave feminism.

But if you look past her main advocacy, there is a contradiction at the heart of her activism; one that illustrates how individual trauma can be co-opted to serve patriarchal systems.

Early in her career, Leigh was raped while working in the sex industry. Because prostitution was criminalized she couldn't report her rape without risking her and her coworkers being arrested. Due to the fact she couldn’t get actual justice, Leigh channeled her trauma into individual autonomy.

She adopted the public persona of the "Unrepentant Whore" and "Scarlot Harlot," she was essentially building a psychological shield.

Her shields are several well known defense mechanisms:

The Myth of "Opting Out" of Oppression: You cannot opt out of a systemic structure through individual willpower.

Choice feminism argues that if a woman “ feels” empowered by an action, then the action is liberating. But a prisoner can decorate her cell and feel comfortable in it, and she is still in a prison. Leigh’s belief that she could claim "ownership" over her “sex work” ignored the reality that the buyers, the market, and the overarching power dynamics were still dictated by men.

Trauma, Mastery, and the Denial of Vulnerability: When a person experiences a trauma where their power is stolen the mind will go to extremes to ensure it never feels helpless again.

One common defense mechanism is “retroactive mastery” trying to rewrite the event so you convince yourself you are the one in control. By leaning into her persona, Leigh was attempting to build an emotional shield . If she claimed she “wanted” to be there, that she “chose” the environment, and that she “owned” her sexuality, then her mind didn't have to face the reality of her victimization. She was trying to force a shitty system to give her the respect she was denied after her assault.

Conflating the Macro with the Micro:

This is a major issuewith her stance: she took a systemic critique as a personal insult. When Andrea Dworkin or other second-wave radical feminists analyzed prostitution as a macro-level institution of patriarchal violence that exploits women as a class, Leigh heard it on a personal level. She heard: "Carol, you are a brainwashed, degraded victim with no agency."

Because she desperately needed to feel respected and in control to survive her trauma, she perceived the radical feminist critique as a threat. She couldn't separate her personal survival strategy from reality.

How Men Hijacked the Trauma Narrative

Here is where the ideology is hijacked from a woman's survival strategy into a patriarchal takeover. Leigh wanted personal respect, but male academics and theorists saw an opening. They took this hyper-individualistic, trauma-driven "choice" framework and gave it the institutional backing it needed to replace radical feminism.

While women were the public face of the third wave, a group of men authored the books, taught the classes, and built the ideology to validate the exploitation of women as "liberation."

In university humanities and gender studies departments, the shift away from fighting structural male oppression was built on French postmodern theory. Two men in particular became major voices used to justify choice feminism:

1. Michel Foucault: Foucault argued that power isn't a top-down system held by the patriarchy; instead, it’s decentralized, fluid, and negotiated by individuals. Under a Foucaultian lens, a woman in the sex trade isn't being oppressed by men; she’s "navigating power on an individual level." This shifted academia away from fighting systems and redirected focus toward analyzing individual "agency."

2. Jacques Derrida: Derrida argued that societal binaries are arbitrary and should be broken down. Third-wave academics used his work to argue that labeling sex work "exploitative" vs. "empowering" was just an outdated. By deconstructing the concept of sexual exploitation, they rebranded commercial sex as a neutral lifestyle choice.

3. Lars Ericsson:In his highly cited 1980 essay, "Charges Against Prostitution: An Attempt at a Philosophical Demolition," Ericsson argued that sex work is completely normal. He compared it to any other service industry, like getting a haircut or a massage, claiming the only thing harming women was the social stigma. This became a staple text used in university courses to defend the sex industry.

4. David A.J. Richards: A prominent NYU legal scholar, Richards authored Sex, Drugs, Death, and the Law” arguing for a constitutional right to commercial sex based on autonomy and privacy. He framed the sale of a woman's body as an expression of personal liberty and "self-ownership," arming third-wave legal theorists with the vocabulary to argue that buying and selling women was a fundamental aspect of feminist freedom.

5. Ronald Weitzer: Weitzer pushed back heavily against radical feminists, labeling them "moral crusaders." He argued that sex work is a site of job satisfaction, financial empowerment, and personal choice. His work became standard reading for students learning about gender and labor.

Why Their Influence Mattered

They took the coping mechanisms of women like Carol Leigh, women who were just trying to survive trauma and demand basic human respect, and turned those mechanisms into an institutional ideology.

By treating the sex industry as a neutral free-market transaction and treating power as an individual concept rather than a systemic male-dominated one, these men successfully shifted the debate from systemic oppression to completely
free will and true choice.

They transformed feminism from a movement focused on “dismantling the patriarchy” into a movement focused on “validating consumer choices” ensuring that the narrative surrounding women's bodies would continue to serve male demand.

I recently started ifs with my therapist and I feel really lost - like I don’t even know who I am. I see her next week and I will talk about it but I’m jsut wondering if anyone else has felt like this? And I am scared of change. Has anyone else been scared of changing? I want to process my trauma, but I’m scared.

I am freaking out and need reassurance.
I keep having the sensation that my eyes are gone?! I know they are not, but to “feels” like they are not there :( is this depersonalization? Because I am worried “what if this is a hallucination?” I know they are they I can see I’m not in pain, but I am very afraid I’m slowly losing my mind. Becuase why would my eyeballs “feel” gone?