Upcoming Committee Meetings

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• Conference Task Force Meeting

  • When
    08/01/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  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.
  

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• Professional Development and Education Committee

  • When
    08/04/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  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:

  • Vet and select workshop presenters and topics
  • Plan and host continuing education events
  • Ensure Washington State CE requirements are provided with clarity to WMHCA members
  • Contribute to the development of impactful educational curricula for Washington state counselors

  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.

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• Suicide Assessment, Management, and Treatment

  • When
    08/14/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Live Synchronous Zoom Event
  • Spaces left
    21

  Register

  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. 
  

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• Law & Ethics of Washington State Mandatory Reporting, Presented by Eric Ström JD, PhD, LMHC

  • When
    08/26/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Live Synchronous Zoom Event
  • Spaces left
    17

  Register

  Description:

  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:

  • Participants will be able to:
  • Identify and apply legal guidelines regarding mandatory reporting obligations;
  • Distinguish mandatory reporting obligations from the duty to avoid harm;
  • Create and evaluate strategies to meet legal reporting requirements while maximizing client/patient support;
  • Apply the legal and ethical standards to a range of case study scenarios. 

  About the Presenter:

  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

  
  

  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
• Suicide Assessment, Management, and Treatment

  • When
    08/28/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Live Synchronous Zoom Event
  • Spaces left
    34

  Register

  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 25, 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. 
  

  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
• Conference Task Force Meeting

  • When
    09/05/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  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.
  

  Show details
• Law and Ethics of Interacting With the Legal System: Confidentiality, Subpoenas, Depositions, and Testifying, Presented by Eric Ström JD, PhD, LMHC

  • When
    09/25/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Live Synchronous Zoom Event
  • Spaces left
    168

  Register

  Description:

  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.
  

  Objectives:

  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.

  About the Presenter:

  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: September 21, 2025

  

  

  This course is approved for 3 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
• Employment Laws for Health Care Providers: What Employers and Employees Need to Know Presented by Eric Ström JD, PhD, LMHC

  • Start
    10/09/2025
  •  
  • End
    10/16/2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Live Synchronous Zoom Event
  • Spaces left
    169

  Register

  Description:

  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.

  Objectives:

  Participants will be able to:
  

  • 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.

  About the Presenter:

  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: October 5, 2025

  

  This course is approved fo 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. 
  

  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
  •  
    11:30 AM - 12:30 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