Washington Mental Health Counselors Association

Insights August

August 2025

Introducing WMHCA's 2025-2026 Committee Chairs

WMHCA is always accepting applications for committee members. We invite you to get involved and consider joining a committee. JOIN A COMMITTEE

More information about committees can be found on our website HERE. WMHCA Members can always attend committee meetings as a guest without filling out a committee application.  

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade

On August 23rd every year, we remember the successful revolt by the enslaved people of Haiti in 1791 against the French colonial rule.  The courageous revolt played a critical role in ending the transatlantic slave trade. This was the only rebellion by enslaved people in history that led to the creation of a state that was led by non-whites and was free from slavery. We remember these moments with awe and honor.  While the revolt was successful, it should never have been needed.  Our goal in honoring and remembering is to ensure that events like this are not needed and the transatlantic slave trade never returns.  

As clinicians, we recognize the generational impact of slavery, colonialism, and ongoing systems of exploitation—including modern-day trafficking.  We support individuals and families whose lives continue to be shaped by these legacies, and even those who are caught in the modern day horrors of trafficking. Our role is to support and advocate on behalf of people, which is most effective if we are grounded in understanding the dark history of the past. We must both know these historical facts while also making room for self-compassion and self-care because the weight of these atrocities can be overwhelming.

Learn more:

WMHCA Conference Update

We are getting closer and closer to our conference in May 2026.  WMHCA has not had a conference in nearly a decade.  We have some exciting updates!

Registration is now open for WMHCA's 2026 Conference, Weaving Connections: Building Belonging and Inclusion in Therapy.  Our goal is to 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.  

  • Registration is live.-register early to get the best rates.

  • The Hotel Room Block is live - space is limited, so you will want to book early.  

  • We have a discount airfare code from Alaska Airlines to help reduce the financial burden.

  • The Call for Proposals is open.  Please spread the word and consider submitting a proposal.

  • WMHCA is still looking for sponsorships.  If you have ideas or connections, please email us. We have lots of sponsorship opportunities for business owners.

  • All of this information can be easily accessed at WMCHA's dedicated Conference Page.  

Scholarship Task Force Needs Volunteers

The Washington Mental Health Counselors Association has provided scholarships for students in their journey through graduate school for the past 4 number of years, and we are committed to continuing this tradition.  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.  We are looking for members of WMHCA to join our 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.  If you are interested in supporting this cause, please RSVP with the meeting link below to be part of the task force.

The task force will meet the 2nd Tuesday of the Month @ 9 AM starting in September.  Meetings will only be September to December.

Scholarship Task Force

2025 Membership Celebration

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!

RSVP for the Celebration!

We hope to see you there. 

Registration closes September 30, 2025

Alert: Scam Targeting Mental Health Professionals in Washington

The Washington Mental Health Counseling Association would like to inform providers about a scam that has been reportedly happening to multiple clinicians across the state.

Example of What Is Happening: (There are multiple scenarios going around)

The scam typically begins with an email from someone posing as a concerned "parent" seeking therapy services for their "child." The "parent" inquires about the cost of multiple sessions (often 12-24 in a short time span) and was given a quote (usually in the thousands of dollars).  Parent then stated they would send a check to pay in full, claiming they were going away on business or something similar.  The “client” then no-showed for the initial appointment and did not complete the intake paperwork.

Later, the “client” submitted paperwork and explained that, due to their parents’ declining health, they could only commit to 10 sessions. Both the "parent" and "child" repeatedly requested the provider deposit the full check despite the change in plans. After the provider declined to proceed with treatment and notified both parties, the “parent” responded with a hostile message accusing the clinician of worsening their child's illness. The check turns out to be fraudulent, as it bounces.

What you can do:

  • Be extremely cautious when receiving large up-front payments by check, especially from unknown sources or when intake paperwork is incomplete.
  • If something feels suspicious or doesn’t align with typical client behavior, trust your instincts.
  • Consider consulting with colleagues, your professional association, or legal counsel before proceeding.
  • Report suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.

Please share this alert with colleagues, especially those in private practice. Staying informed is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your clients.

WMHCA Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Survey

Complete the Survey

WMHCA is currently in the middle of a strategic planning process to bring our anti-racist mission and values into action. As part of that effort, we're inviting all our members to share feedback on the 13 goals we've outlined in the strategic plan.

Why your input matters. 

Building a truly inclusive, anti-racist, and diverse professional community helps us provide ethical, culturally responsive care. It pushes us to examine systemic barriers, challenge biases, and ensure our work reflects and supports the community we serve.

About the Survey

This brief assessment (approximately 10–15 minutes) is your opportunity

  • Share what resonates with you
  • Highlight areas that need more more attention
  • Help us shape this work in a meaningful, impactful, way, 
Your feedback will directly influence how WMHCA continues to grow and serve both clinicians and clients.

About the Demographics

Questions 2-7 focus on demographic identity and are completely optional. We understand that some questions may feel sensitive, especially in today’s climate. We include them to better understand the range of voices within our community and to make sure we’re creating policies and programs that are truly inclusive. If you choose to respond, those answers will be anonymous.

In Appreciation

As a thank-you, everyone who completes the survey will have the option to enter a drawing for a free CE training through the WMHCA website. Please complete this survey by September 30th.

We sincerely appreciate your voice and your time.

Enter the Drawing

Learn about HEALWA: A Valuable Resource for Mental Health Providers

During the most recent legislative session, WMHCA successfully advocated for LMHCAs to gain access to HEALWA—a significant win for our profession.

Now, WMHCA is partnering with HEALWA to help providers understand how to use this important resource and what it offers.

Join us for a demonstration and Q&A Session

HEALWA is a state-funded online library available to licensed healthcare providers in Washington State. Funded through a portion of your license fee, it provides access to a robust collection of evidence-based resources to support clinical care.

This demonstration will walk you through how to access and navigate the platform and answer any questions you may have.

With HEALWA, You Can:

  • Find peer-reviewed journal articles
  • Check the latest clinical treatment guidelines
  • Access professional tools and databases
  • Download patient education materials

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your clinical practice or stay current with research, HEALWA is a resource worth exploring.

Register HERE!

To use HEALWA, sign up for an account at https://heal-wa.org/ using your license number. Check out the toolkits by profession here https://heal-wa.org/toolkits/ to see some of what we offer. Questions? Contact Patricia Devine.

WMHCA Store is Back

WMHCA has found a temporary solution to the WMHCA store. You can buy WMHCA merch with this LINK. If any of our members have leads on setting up a store please email WMHCA.  

We’re excited to announce a temporary solution for WMHCA merchandise sales—you can now grab your favorite WMHCA gear through our new online shop!

Click HERE to shop WMHCA merch and show your support for the counseling community in style.

If you have experience with online retail or know of a great platform we could use for a more permanent store setup, we’d love your input. Please email us at [insert WMHCA contact email].

Thank you for representing WMHCA and helping us spread the word about mental health professionals doing incredible work!

If you would like to submit an article for the WMCHA Insights Newsletter, email info@wmhca.org.