Upcoming Committee Meetings

Switch to Calendar View

• Professional Development and Education Committee Meeting

  • When
    04/03/2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  The monthly meeting for the Professional Development and Education Committee. This committee normally meeting on the first Thursday of the month. 
  

  Show details
• Conference Task Force Meeting

  • When
    04/04/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  The conference task force is working on planning WMHCA's very first conference in nearly 10 years. We are looking for volunteers to join the conference task force.  WMHCA hopes the conference will be in the Spring of 2026.  The task force will meet the 1st Fridays of the month. 
  

  Show details
• Becoming a Counselor in Washington State

  • When
    04/07/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  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. 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Are We OK? Potential Impacts of Telehealth Structural Changes on Clinician Wellness – a Research Update-with Eric Strom JD, Ph.D, LMHC & Doug Shirley Ed.D, LMHC

  • When
    04/09/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    Live Synchronous Zoom Event
  • Spaces left
    110

  Register

  Description:

  Though the era of COVID was not the origin of telehealth, licensed mental health providers across the country were forced to shift to this treatment modality in COVID, regardless of preference or personal beliefs around the efficacy of this modality.  As we continue to progress past the pandemic, we can look back on where we have been, and cast a vision for where we are going as a mental health counseling field.

   

  As a multi-clinician research team, we have been investigating what have been the impacts of these structural changes (e.g. transitions to home offices, not sharing physical space with clients, changes in commutes and other lifestyle changes, etc.) on clinician’s reported sense of health and wellbeing.  We have also been investigating how telehealth practice contributes to, or detract from, clinicians’ effective implementation of self-care. We are working to better understand the benefits, and susceptibilities (potential areas for impairment) that clinicians have experienced.

   

  Join us as we share where we are in the research process, having coded themes we’ll explore together with you for relevance and applicability to clinical practice.  We will provide background information and research, all the while looking to expose gaps in the literature, especially related to how the structural changes associated with telehealth practice impact and inform clinical practice.

   

  Objectives:

  Participants will be able to:

  • Apply working knowledge of the relevant literature on clinician health and wellness, self-care, and telehealth to clinical practice,
  • Foster ongoing self-awareness and telehealth-specific practices of self-care and wellness related activity,
  • Dialogue around study findings and the themes that are emerging from the data,
  • Advocate for and participate in increased consultation and collaboration to develop shared nomenclature and understanding of issues.

  About the Presenter:
  

  Doug Shirley is associate professor of Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.  Doug has been teaching and practicing counseling and psychology since 1999.  In and through his private practice, Doug has had the opportunity to walk with any number of helping and healing professionals tending to the fallout that COVID brought to multiple professional realms.  Doug has a passion for supporting the helpers themselves: those whose (early) life training has taught them to put others before themselves.  In his teaching he is also active in guiding the next wave of counseling professionals: those who will usher our field into its future, whatever that might be.

  Dr. Eric Ström is an attorney and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Seattle, Washington. As an attorney, Eric provides legal counsel, consultation, and guidance to behavioral 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.

  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.  

  
  

  This course is approved for 1.5 CE's 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.

  Show details
• White Trauma, Vulnerability and Dismantling Systemic Racism with Sherronda Jamerson MA, SUDP

  • When
    04/21/2025
  •  
    11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Live Synchronous Zoom Event
  • Spaces left
    155

  Register

  Description:

  Racism, at its most basic level, is a lens though which people interpret, naturalize, and reproduce inequality. We all struggle to truly see one another due to the conditioning and trauma that has been imposed upon us, which becomes the breeding ground for implicit bias and racial disconnection. Racism is not a “white” issue it is a systematic/structural issue designed to keep in place white cultural dominance. This system has caused harm to us all.  What is in us will come out, unintentionally or intentionally, because The Body Keeps the Score.
  

  Objectives:

  Participants will:
  

  • Learn how trauma can invade the body and skew perception.
  • Have an increased awareness of how unconscious or unspoken racism compromise discussions and outcomes

  This course meets the Washington State Health Equity Requirement.

  About the Presenter:

  Sherronda Jamerson is a seasoned professional with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (2012) from City University College in Seattle, WA, and certification as a Chemical Dependency Professional (2007). Sherronda’s career has been focused on advancing equity in healthcare and education through her work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDI). With extensive experience in designing, implementing, and presenting EDI training to healthcare professionals, schools, and community organizations, she has become a recognized expert on DEI and healthcare equity. Sherronda has presented at state, national, and international conferences, including those focused on behavioral health and global research, where she shares her knowledge with confidence, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
  

  

  

  This course is approved for 2 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. 
  

  Show details
• Professional Development and Education Committee Meeting

  • When
    05/01/2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  The monthly meeting for the Professional Development and Education Committee. This committee normally meeting on the first Thursday of the month. 
  

  Show details
• Conference Task Force Meeting

  • When
    05/02/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  The conference task force is working on planning WMHCA's very first conference in nearly 10 years. We are looking for volunteers to join the conference task force.  WMHCA hopes the conference will be in the Spring of 2026.  The task force will meet the 1st Fridays of the month. 
  

  Show details
• Intro to Understanding Law Enforcement: Culture, Challenges, and Family Dynamics with Susie Kroll, LMHC

  • Start
    05/17/2025
  •  
  • End
    05/18/2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Mountlake Terrance Police Department at the MLT Civic Center
  • Spaces left
    33

  Register

  Description:

  This course is designed for anyone interested in becoming a law enforcement therapeutic provider.  Ideally, attendees should have a masters degree or higher in Counseling Psychology, Social Work, or a related field of study.  The WA licensure credentials include but are not limited to, LMHC(A), LMFT(A), MSW, and LICSW.

  Attendees will become familiar with facets of law enforcement as an industry, profession, culture, and environment with its own challenges and unique setting in which officers function.  Further, this two-day course will familiarize the attendee with the family dynamics that interplay with law enforcement as a profession.  

  Objectives:

  After the two-day course, licensed therapists and social workers will have systems familiarity and knowledge in the following areas:

  • Law Enforcement 101

  • Structure of the workplace

  • Paramilitary culture and “sense of family”

  • How individuals become law enforcement officers

  • Components of training and expectations of law enforcement

  • Physical demands of the job

  • Types of calls law enforcement go to-Trauma exposure

  • Types of roles law enforcement can hold within a department

  • Court process, reporting, prosecution, defense, public disclosure requests

  • Job Security-Complaints, Compliments, “Under the Radar”, resisting counseling

  • Firearms familiarity / Firearms as an extension of the person

  • Cultural Introduction

  • Warrior / Guardian Mentality

  • Dark humor and desensitization

  • Types of behavioral health issues first responders face

  • Suicidality

  • Peer Support in police vs Peer Support in Therapy

  • Substance abuse indicators

  • Barriers to seeking care

  • Political Terrain Navigation-criticism, kudos, and everything in between

  • Line of Duty Deaths and symbols

  • Personal Life and Family Dynamics

  • Family dynamics, divorce, children, relationships

  • Resources available for law enforcement and their families

  • Common coping skills

  • Your first session and building a therapeutic alliance (trust means something completely different)

  • Therapeutic Approaches

  • Understanding the process of a de-brief and a critical incident stress debrief

  • Balancing the duty or services to others and duty to self – sacrifice mentality

  • Mock Scenarios / Table-Top Discussions for Therapeutic Processing

  • Demonstrating true unconditional positive regard and non-judgement

  About the Presenter:

  
  

  Susie M. Kroll, MA, MHP, LMHC earned her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from City University of Seattle.  She is an alum of the University of Washington having earned Bachelors degrees in Speech Communication and Zoology with a Marine Emphasis in 2001.  Susie started as a Clinician with a local community behavioral health agency upon earning her Masters. While employed with that agency, she promoted to Clinic Manager, Regional Operations Director, and Division Director overseeing the day-to-day operations of six outpatient behavioral health clinics in King County.
  

  Susie was the founding Mental Health Professional for the Law Enforcement and Mental Health Professional Co-Response Programs in Shoreline, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Redmond, and Duvall PDs.  She is a national educator and speaker on Crisis & De-Escalation, Mental Health, and Crisis Negotiation.  She instructs at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and is the Mental Health Advisor for Crisis Systems Management.  She volunteers yearly at the Seattle King County Clinic as the Crisis Response Director.  More importantly, she is the fur-mom to two rescued kittens and a very clownish Umbrella Cockatoo.

  

  

  This course is approved for 15 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.

  
  

  Workshop Cancellation Policy:

  To receive a refund, less a $15 cancellation fee, cancellations must be made by contacting sara@wmhca.org at least 7 days prior to workshop date. There will be no refunds within 7 days of the workshop date.
  

  Show details
• Becoming a Counselor in Washington State

  • When
    06/02/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  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. 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Professional Development and Education Committee Meeting

  • When
    06/05/2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  The monthly meeting for the Professional Development and Education Committee. This committee normally meeting on the first Thursday of the month. 
  

  Show details
• Conference Task Force Meeting

  • When
    06/06/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  The conference task force is working on planning WMHCA's very first conference in nearly 10 years. We are looking for volunteers to join the conference task force.  WMHCA hopes the conference will be in the Spring of 2026.  The task force will meet the 1st Fridays of the month. 
  

  Show details
• Becoming a Counselor in Washington State

  • When
    08/28/2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  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. 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Becoming a Counselor in Washington State

  • When
    10/30/2025
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  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. 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Becoming a Counselor in Washington State

  • When
    12/01/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  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. 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Show details