Washington Mental Health Counselors Association

Insights Newsletter

April 2026

Table of Contents

• WMHCA Annual Meeting
• April is American Heritage Month
• Board Member Spotlight: WMHCA President Elect
• Recent Supreme Court Ruling on Conversion Therapy
• Department of Health Update: HELMS, HEAL-WA, The Counseling Compact
• The Counseling Compact: What It Means for Washington Counselors
• Tell Us More...About Your Event Idea (We Might Fund It)
• WMHCA Member Discount: WAMFT Spring Ethics Series (May Fridays)
• Job Board

WMHCA Annual Meeting

Join WMHCA at our annual board meeting.  We will announce our election results and introduce our board for the 2026-2027 cycle.  All WMHCA members are invited to attend and participate in the meeting.  The meeting is on May 22, 2026, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am via Zoom.  You can register HERE.  

April is Arab American Heritage Month 

This month, we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, a month dedicated to celebrating the diversity and culture Arab American people bring to the world we live in.  According to aaiusa.org (Arab American Institute), there are 78,292 Arab Americans living in Washington State, which means that we have colleagues and clients who benefit when we become more culturally competent and better understand the needs and culture of the Arab American People.

According to the SeattleCenter.com, in the 1990’s a group of Arab Americans gathered and established to address negative portrayals of Arab Americans in the media, especially during the time of the Gulf War. The Arab Center of Washington was established in 1992. This center has closed, but out of the center, the Seattle Arab Festival continues to this day. This year, it will be held on July 18-19.  

According to the Arab American Institute, “As an ethnic community, Arab Americans can identify with any racial group. Their Arab heritage reflects a culture that is thousands of years old and includes 22 Arab countries as diverse as Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, and Morocco.”  In the counseling profession, we can improve our understanding of Arab American individuals by educating ourselves about their culture and confronting negative stereotypes.

You can learn more information about the Arab American People by attending the festival or visiting this website https://arabamericanmuseum.org/, which gives more information about them.

Note: We recognize that these monthly cultural statements are inherently incomplete and cannot fully capture the complexity of each issue. Our intent is to raise awareness, share resources and highlight actionable steps for ongoing learning and advocacy. As clinicians, part of our professional responsibility is to engage in regular self-reflection, deepen our understanding of these issues, and seek connection with communities and populations beyond our own lived experience. All statements can be found on our website. 

Board Member Spotlight: WMHCA President Elect

Cristina Louk, PhD, LMHC

WMHCA Conference Chair

Peace Humanistic Therapy, PLLC

Specializes in ADHD and Trauma

What inspired you to become a therapist?

When I was a young child, I wanted to be two things: a dance teacher and a mental health therapist. I taught my dolls choreography and, just as earnestly, lessons from my father’s old college psychology books. Those early instincts never left. I spent 30 years teaching dance (helping others connect to their bodies, emotions, and inner worlds) before feeling the unmistakable call to transition into psychotherapy.

Looking back, both careers feel deeply innate. As a neurodivergent person, I was fortunate to build meaningful, successful work around my special interests: movement, the mind, and human growth. Becoming a therapist wasn’t a departure from my path; it was a continuation of it.

What is your favorite part of your work?

My favorite part of my work is the a-ha moment, when insight clicks and opens the door to healing or deeper growth.

What do you enjoy most about being a WMHCA member?

What I enjoy most about being a WMHCA member is the sense of connection and community with fellow clinicians who are committed to high-quality, ethical mental health care. I appreciate the opportunities for professional growth, advocacy for the field, and the shared energy around supporting both clients and each other. Being part of this organization reminds me that, even in challenging work, we’re not alone, and that collaboration and community strengthen our ability to make a meaningful impact.

What advice would you give to a new WMHCA member?

My advice to new WMHCA members is to get involved, connect with colleagues, and take full advantage of the community, mentorship, and resources the organization offers.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy practicing yoga, staying active, and moving in ways that keep both my body and mind energized.

What is your favorite snack?

My favorite snack is anything with coconut; sweet, crunchy, or creamy, I love it all!

Is there anything else you want us to know?

I’m deeply passionate about helping people explore and heal their inner worlds, whether through psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, or holistic approaches. My journey as a neurodivergent professional has shown me the value of aligning work with one’s innate interests, and I love supporting others as they uncover their own paths to growth. Beyond my practice, I enjoy staying active, practicing yoga, and exploring the mind-body connection, always seeking balance, insight, and transformation in both my personal and professional life.

Recent Supreme Court Ruling on Conversion Therapy

The WMHCA Policy and Professional Advocacy Committee (PPAC) strongly condemns the recent Supreme Court ruling in Chiles vs. Salazar, and we affirm that Conversion Therapy remains an unethical, dangerous, and ineffective modality that has deeply harmed the LGBTQ+ Community and, in particular, LGBTQ+ youth.  This ruling is contrary to both WMHCA’s mission and to the ethical practice of mental health counseling, and we will continue to oppose the use of Conversion Therapy in Washington State.

What is Conversion Therapy?

Conversion Therapy is a discredited therapeutic approach based on the false belief that sexual orientation and gender identity and expression are not innate and can be shifted.  Many members of the LGBTQ+ Community were victims of this approach as adolescents and are still dealing with the impact years later.  Research has shown that LGBTQ+ youth subjected to conversion therapy are twice as likely to attempt suicide we their peers.  Major healthcare provider professional organizations have come out against it as both ineffective and harmful, including AMCHA and all of the major mental health professional organizations.  Opposition to Conversion Therapy helped to drive lobbying efforts at the state and local levels to help ban its use for people under 18.  The first state ban was passed in 2013 in New Jersey, and to date, the practice has been banned in 27 states, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and 115 smaller governmental units.

Department of Health Update: HELMS, HEAL-WA, The Counseling Compact

The Counseling Compact: What It Means for Washington Counselors

Tell Us More...About Your Event Idea (We Might Fund It)

At WMHCA, we’re always looking for ways to support connection and collaboration across our counseling community. One way we do that is by offering sponsorship funding for local (Washington State) networking events.

If you or your organization are planning something and could use a little financial support, we’d love for you to apply.

We review sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis. To be considered, submit a completed Sponsorship Application at least 60 days before your event. Our Membership Engagement and Outreach Committee reviews applications monthly, usually at noon on the first Tuesday.

We really value opportunities that bring counselors together and strengthen relationships across the state, and we’re excited to support that work. If you’ve got something in the works, please reach out—we’d love to hear about it.

WMHCA Member Discount: WAMFT Spring Ethics Series (May Fridays)

If you need of ethics, health equity, or professional roles and boundary training, WMHCA members can use the code WMHCA26 to get a discount on WAMFT's Spring Ethics Series on Fridays in May!  This code is offered to WAMFT's professional allies in mental health! Each training is 2 hours, and you can attend the whole series or pick the trainings you need.  Sign up here.

Job Board