Description:
Ever since the 2014 Matt Adler Act was signed into law, mental health professionals have been required to receive training in assessment, management, and treatment of suicide risk as part of their continuing education requirements. This six-hour presentation meets the Washington state CE requirements, and provides a practical, hands-on introduction for both new and experienced practitioners. The presentation will cover the assessment, management, and treatment of suicide risk in depth. The Assessment section will address informed consent and confidentiality, interviewing, risk factors and warning signs, accessory behaviors and co-morbid issues, suicide contagion, and using risk protocols. The Management section will explore immediate threats, active ideation, and emergencies, alongside distal threats, passive ideation, and para-suicidal behavior such as self-injury. Methods of reducing risk of contagion in a community following a suicide are reviewed, alongside the documentation of persisting suicidal risk. In the Treatment section, participants will be trained in the use of safety planning and coping skills training. Throughout the training, participants will have the opportunity to watch videos, engage in role-playing, and complete case studies in teams.
Meets Department of Health requirement of being on the model list.
Objectives: Participants will:
Understand legal reporting and documentation requirements for working with suicidal clients, compared to homicidal clients
Know risk factors and protective factors for suicide attempts among different social and cultural populations, including population-specific data to clients in the military/veterans
Learn to evaluate risk of imminent harm through self-injurious behaviors or lethal means, including objects, substances and actions commonly used in suicide attempts and their lethality, the importance of screening for and restricting access to lethal means in effective suicide prevention, communication strategies for talking with clients and their support people about lethal means, and how to recognize non-suicidal self-injury and other self-injurious behaviors and assess the intent of self-injury through suicide risk assessment
Learn how to structure an interview to gather information from a client on suicide risk, protective factors, and warning signs, including substance use
Practice strategies for safety planning and monitoring use of the safety plan, including how to conduct means restriction counseling with suicidal clients, particularly in regard to firearms, and continuity of care through transitions such as discharge and referral
Learn empirically-informed approaches to the treatment and management of suicide risk, including strategies from dialectical behavior therapy alongside medical interventions
Determine when to involve third party support systems in the treatment and management of suicidal clients
Consider when to refer suicidal clients to more intensive and restrictive settings on the continuum of care, and identify appropriate actions and referrals for various levels of suicide risk
Differentiate between suicidal vs. non-suicidal self-injury
Examine special considerations for suicidal risk among veteran populations through a guided case study and practice skills through small group work
About the Presenter:
Emily is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Substance Use Disorder Professional and a clinical supervisor with the state of Washington. Emily has a private practice that is telehealth based with an office in South King County. She sees adults, teens and couples. Emily has also been involved in training and teaching and has done so with NW ATTC, the Washington Mental Health Counselor’s Association, City University of Seattle and she has been a guest speaking at a variety of schools in the greater Seattle area. Throughout her career she has worked in crisis management and stabilization primarily with youth and young adults. This work was done in a community based mental health agency, as the lead for a crisis outreach team and as a mental health evaluator at Seattle Children’s Hospital emergency room. In her work with clients, her areas of expertise include working with teens, young adults, adults and couples in life transition and mood-related disorders, and around self-harm/suicide assessment, prevention, intervention, and management, the intersection of co-occurring disorders and in clinical supervision. Registration closes: August 11, 2025
This course is approved for 6 CE hours for LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and all associate-level licensees in Washington State
Washington Mental Health Association (WMHCA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 2079. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. WMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
WMHCA Cancellation Policy
To receive a refund, less a $15 cancellation fee, cancellations must be made by contacting WMHCA at least 48 hours prior to workshop date. There will be no refunds within 48 hours of the workshop date. Please make sure you have the link 24 hours prior to the event starting.
The Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion committee is an established committee of folks who have gone through extensive training and consultation to develop a strategic plan for WMHCA. The meetings serve as a time to review tasks completed between meetings and to identify next steps. We welcome visitors and feedback, however, due to the high amount of information we have to address in every meeting, we request the focus be on the items at hand. Comments, concerns or feedback can also be sent directly to the Chair of the committee Bree Sutton M.A., LMHC Bree@wmhca.org.
*Please note that meetings are typically the first Wednesday of the month at 12:00 pm, however for August the meeting will be on August 20th due to scheduling conflicts.
This is a closed meeting for the Executive Committee. Please RSVP to get the zoom link and for attendance purposes.
For many clinicians, patient lethality and mandatory reporting are some of the most difficult topics to navigate. In this 3 hour workshop we will examine the applicable Washington State laws and regulations regarding mandatory reporting obligations with a specific focus on how these rules apply to the delicate balance of protecting client best interest and confidentiality while still meeting the reporting obligations in behavioral health settings.
Participants will gain increased ability to implement strategies to minimize risk and to limit liability to best support their clients and patients. This course is intended to meet ethics CE requirements.
Objectives:
Eric Ström is an attorney and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Seattle,Washington. As an attorney, Eric provides legal counsel, consultation, and guidance to mental health professionals. Eric’s clinical practice is focused on providing counseling services to combat veterans and those in other high-stress professions. Eric currently serves on the American Mental Health Counselors Association Ethics Committee, and is the ethics advisor for the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association. Eric has taught a range of courses in counseling and professional ethics at a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs.
Eric earned a PhD in Counseling at Oregon State University, graduated cum laude from Wayne State University School of Law in Detroit Michigan, earned a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from the Northwest School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Seattle, attended the Hague Academy of International Law in the Hague Netherlands, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from the University of Michigan. Registration closes: August 22, 2025
This course is approved for 3 CE hours for LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and all associate-level licensees in Washington State
Emily is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Substance Use Disorder Professional and a clinical supervisor with the state of Washington. Emily has a private practice that is telehealth based with an office in South King County. She sees adults, teens and couples. Emily has also been involved in training and teaching and has done so with NW ATTC, the Washington Mental Health Counselor’s Association, City University of Seattle and she has been a guest speaking at a variety of schools in the greater Seattle area. Throughout her career she has worked in crisis management and stabilization primarily with youth and young adults. This work was done in a community based mental health agency, as the lead for a crisis outreach team and as a mental health evaluator at Seattle Children’s Hospital emergency room. In her work with clients, her areas of expertise include working with teens, young adults, adults and couples in life transition and mood-related disorders, and around self-harm/suicide assessment, prevention, intervention, and management, the intersection of co-occurring disorders and in clinical supervision. Registration closes: August 25, 2025
The Washington Mental Health Counselor Association is presenting a free event for members on how to become a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State. Topics include, timeline to a counseling career, WA state Legislation and Licensing, Supervision and Tracking Hours, and much more. It will be 60 to 90 minutes depending on participant engagement and Q&A.
Please join us for the next WMHCA Membership Engagement & Outreach Committee Meeting
Looking for a way to get more involved with WMHCA and connect with other passionate mental health professionals? We’d love for you to join our next Membership Engagement & Outreach Committee meeting!
This group focuses on building community, creating meaningful member experiences, and helping WMHCA grow in exciting and inclusive ways. Whether you're brand new or have been around a while, there's a place for you here.
Here’s what to expect:
No pressure, no prep required—show up as you are and feel free to eat your lunch.
If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved, this is a great place to start.
We hope to see you there!
Get ready to make an impact! WMHCA’s Policy and Professional Advocacy Committee is gearing up to plan our priorities for the 2025/26 legislative session, and we need your voice. We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help identify the advocacy issues that matter to mental health counselors across Washington. This is a great opportunity to speak up about what you believe should be front and center in our advocacy work, connect with colleagues, and help shape the future of our profession. If you're ready to make a difference, we’d love to have you on board!
Get ready for "Weaving Connections: Building Inclusion and Connection in Therapy," our upcoming conference designed to foster vital connections within our therapeutic community! To make this event a resounding success, we need your help. We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to assist with various aspects of getting the conference up and running. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a meaningful event, connect with fellow members, and gain valuable experience. If you're eager to lend a hand and help us weave an unforgettable experience, please sign up to join us! We can't wait to see you there.
Join the WMHCA Professional Development and Education Committee!
Are you passionate about shaping the future of ethical, liberative, and culturally responsive clinical practice? The Professional Development and Education Committee (PDEC) invites all WMHCA members to join us in advancing high-quality and accessible continuing education presentations rooted in decolonized principles and cultural humility.
Our mission is to increase competency, challenge oppressive systems, and support counselors in reducing suffering through thoughtful and timely educational opportunities. We actively seek to uplift diverse voices and perspectives—both in our committee and through the presenters we recruit.
As a member of the committee, you’ll help:
Whether you’re curious about our work or ready to get involved, we’d love to have you join a meeting and explore how you can contribute.
Please note that the PDEC typically meets on the 1st Monday of the month. The September meeting is the 2nd Monday due to Labor Day.
The Washington Mental Health Counselors Association is continuing to provide scholarships for students in their journey through graduate school. We recognize entering the mental health field has significant barriers for some students and choosing to enter the counseling profession takes a substantial amount of strength and courage. At this time we are forming a task force to review scholarship applications and select recipients. We are particularly interested in having a diverse committee and encourage clinicians of historically marginalized identities including BIPOC, disability, LGBTGEQIAP+, and others to apply. Please RSVP with the meeting link below to be part of the task force.
This webinar presents a comprehensive exploration of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) treatment, highlighting five trauma-informed approaches: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for symptom management and cognitive restructuring; Solution-Focused Therapy for identifying strengths and building resilience; Relational Cultural Therapy (RCT) for fostering relational connections and community support; Ancestral and Collectivistic Healing Practices for integrating cultural heritage and community wisdom; and Narrative Therapy for reauthoring experiences and reclaiming personal narratives. By integrating these evidence-based and culturally sensitive modalities, mental health counselors can enhance their clinical practice, promoting holistic healing and empowerment for individuals affected by CB-PTSD.
Dr. Valli is an award-winning, nationally recognized trauma-informed mental health counselor and counselor educator. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in counseling and counselor education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Her previous degrees include a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Currently, she serves as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon. She is the owner and founder of Soulfulness Counseling, LLC, a private practice dedicated to serving women who have been exposed to early childhood trauma, in addition to being a Clinical Faculty at Southern New Hampshire university. An expert on minority women’s mental health needs, she has served as a consultant and speaker for several nonprofits and agencies. In addition to her numerous service roles, she also serves as the Associate Editor for The Professional Counselor, an open-access peer-reviewed counseling journal dedicated to advancing knowledge in the counseling field. As a counselor educator, Dr. Valli maintains a special commitment to experiential education when training graduate students in counseling. Her expertise in counseling skills, assessment in counseling, and trauma and crisis counseling are deeply appreciated by her colleagues and students. Her areas of research interest include international student mental health, AAPI mental health.
Currently, she serves as a full-time Clinical Faculty at Southern New Hampshire University in the Counseling program. She also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Counseling at Palo Alto University. Registration closes September 8, 2025
This course is approved for 2 CE hours for LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and all associate-level licensees in Washington State
Balancing the protection of client confidentiality against compliance with subpoenas and court orders can be both challenging and stress-inducing for may clinicians. An effective understanding of the legal and ethical requirements regarding confidently, subpoenas, client advocacy and in-court testimony is vital to effective clinical work and is a key part of sound professional practice. In this workshop we will examine legal and ethical standards regarding releasing client information within the legal system. We will also discuss best-practices to support effective clinical work with clients while minimizing exposure to liability. This course is intended to meet Law & Ethics CEU requirements.
Participants will be able to:
Locate and describe legal and ethical standards relating to confidentiality and privilege;
Locate and describe Federal and Washington State legal standards relating to subpoenas;
Create and evaluate strategies to for in court testimony and advocacy to best support effective work with clients;
Apply best practice standards to responding to subpoenas and other court orders.
Eric earned a PhD in Counseling at Oregon State University, graduated cum laude from Wayne State University School of Law in Detroit Michigan, earned a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from the Northwest School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Seattle, attended the Hague Academy of International Law in the Hague Netherlands, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from the University of Michigan. Registration closes: September 21, 2025
Many therapeutic approaches incorporate meditation-informed practices as interventions to help clients resource themselves, practice intrapsychic skills, or address deeply rooted materials. Facilitating meditation effectively is its own unique skillset that does not always come naturally. This course will focus on the possible uses of meditation to facilitate therapy and support clinicians in developing the skills and confidence in their own ability to effectively and safely facilitate clients into and out of a guided meditative state.
Anthony Rella is a Certified Internal Family Systems therapist with more than a decade of clinical experience, having worked in community mental health and private practice settings. Anthony has been facilitating guided meditation non-clinically for almost two decades in spiritual community, and has integrated these skills into his clinical work for effecting client outcomes through mindfulness-based approaches, guided imagery, and facilitating IFS sessions. Registration closes September 29, 2025
RSVP now to save your spot!
Registration closes September 30, 2025
Please join us for our annual membership celebration. WMHCA could not fulfill our mission without our members. We want to take a night to celebrate YOU!
Come celebrate and feel free to bring a friend or significant other to share in the celebration.
WMHCA will provide appetizers and light refreshments. There will be a non host bar for additional purchase.
WMHCA wants to express our gratitude for your support of the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association. Your dedication and commitment to advancing mental health care in our community makes a significant impact. Together, we are fostering a network of professionals dedicated to enhancing the well-being of those we serve, advocating to improve access to care, and working to support each other in the profession. We celebrate each of you for your invaluable contributions and look forward to continuing this vital work together. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission!
No Refunds will be given.
Expanding your clinical practice with employees can provide a range of opportunities and potential pit falls. In this workshop we will examine the legal, ethical, and practical standards regarding employment in health care. Among the topics we will discuss are, types of employment, the hiring process, employment contracts versus handbooks, wage and benefit requirements, employee termination, and Washington’s non-compete laws. This course is intended to meet ethics continuing education requirements.
Through this two-part 6 hour workshop, participants will have the opportunity to discover the guidance provided by state law, federal law, and a range of applicable ethical codes. In addition to the provided case studies and scenarios, participants are encouraged to share their own experiences, questions and thoughts.
After taking part in this training, participants will be able to:
Describe the key legal, ethical, and liability differences between employees and independent contractors;
Understand and describe difference between At-Will and For Cause employment;
Identify and describe Washington legal standards regarding termination of employment and non-compete agreements;
Create strategies for legal and ethical hiring processes.
Describe and apply Washington state sick leave and family care leave rules.
Eric earned a PhD in Counseling at Oregon State University, graduated cum laude from Wayne State University School of Law in Detroit Michigan, earned a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from the Northwest School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Seattle, attended the Hague Academy of International Law in the Hague Netherlands, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from the University of Michigan. Registration closes: October 5, 2025
This course is approved fo 6 CE hours for LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and all associate-level licensees in Washington State
WMHCA members are warmly invited to attend our upcoming board meeting. This is an opportunity to hear updates on key initiatives, learn more about the important work WMHCA is doing to support mental health professionals, and share thoughts directly with board leadership.
Members' voices matter, and WMHCA values member input as the board continues to shape the association's future. Although this is not a traditional networking event, it provides a meaningful space for engagement, transparency, and collaboration.
We hope to see you there.
*Please note - WMHCA Board Meetings are typically the 2nd Friday every other month; due to scheduling conflicts October's meeting will be on the 3rd Friday.
WMHCA's 2026 Conference, Weaving Connections: Building Belonging and Inclusion in Therapy will bring together professionals committed to fostering deeper connections and inclusive healing spaces in therapy.
The Conference will be May 1st-3rd, 2026 at the Seatac Hilton near Seatac Airport. May 1st will be an evening Welcome Reception and the 2nd & 3rd will be full days of continuing education. The presenter schedule will be released mid-November.
The Room Block is currently open, as well as the discounted airfare. Book your room early as space is limited.
Get your tickets in advance as it is likely to sell out.
No refunds will be given.
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