 Washington Mental Health Counselors Association
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Welcome from WMHCA President
Carolyn Russo, PhD, LMHC WMHCA Board President As we step into a new membership year, I am honored and excited to serve as President of the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association. Together, we’ve built incredible momentum - and the year ahead promises even more growth, connection, and impact.
This past year was a milestone for WMHCA. We offered more continuing education opportunities than ever before, reaching a record number of clinicians across the state. At the national level, our efforts were recognized with two regional awards at the AMHCA conference--an outstanding testament to the dedication of our board, volunteers, and members. |
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Understanding the Impact of Recent Legislation on Mental Health Access in Washington
Bree Sutton, LMHC WMHCA Board Member
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee Chair I’m writing to address the recent passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and the concerns it raises for our profession and the clients we serve. Like many of you, I have deep questions about how this legislation will affect access to care and the overall health of our communities.
Below are some of the anticipated impacts on the counseling profession and the broader mental health landscape:
Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP
The bill includes significant reductions to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), potentially causing 13–17 million Americans to lose access to health insurance and food assistance. These changes are likely to directly affect many of our clients and their families.
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WMHCA Wins Two National AMHCA Awards!
We’re excited to announce that the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA) has been recognized with two national awards from the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA):
Outstanding Chapter Website Award
Awarded to a state chapter with an exceptional website that supports and advances AMHCA’s mission. WMHCA was recognized for our design, accessibility, innovation, and ease of use.
Chapter Membership Award
This award celebrates the state chapter that shows the greatest membership growth during the current year.
A Thank You to Our Members
These achievements would not be possible without our members. WMHCA wants to say thank you for your continued dedication and support. Your engagement, feedback, and participation inform everything we do. Whether you joined last month or have been with us for years, thank you for helping WMHCA grow and thrive. We could not do this without you! |
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New On-Demand Continuing Education Courses
WMHCA has a long standing partnership with Constant Edu.
Constant Edu is an online learning platform based in Washington. It
offers flexibility in continuing education and promotes highly qualified
presenters. WMHCA members get a discount on Constant Edu Courses. The
courses below are newly posted.
The full course catalog can be found HERE. |
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WMHCA Advocates for LMCHA Access to HEALWA
Beginning July 27, 2025 LMHCAs in Washington State will have access to HEALWA (Health Evidence Resource for Washington State) a state-funded online health sciences library managed by the University of Washington Health Sciences Library. It provides 24/7 access to high-quality, evidence-based clinical tools, research databases, and full-text medical and mental health journals. HEALWA is funded through a small surcharge on professional licensing fees (that providers are already paying), allowing authorized providers to access resources that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive for individuals. During the 2025 legislative session, it was brought to the attention of WMHCA that LMHCAs did not have access to HEALWA, despite LMFTAs and LSWAICs having access. So WMHCA worked with a sponsor to introduce a bill that added LMHCAs as an eligible provider type. |
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Welcome to the 2026 WMHCA Conference Proposal Submission Site
WMHCA's 2026 Conference, Weaving Connections: Building Belonging and Inclusion in Therapy, May 1-3, 2026, will bring together professionals committed to fostering deeper connections and inclusive healing spaces in therapy. The Conference Task Force is dedicated to recruiting and selecting high-quality instructors who provide impactful education aligned with WMHCA's mission of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). We take pride in curating learning opportunities that empower mental health professionals to grow, reflect, and integrate inclusive practices into their work.
This is the first conference WMHCA has presented in several years. There will be a mixture of tenured clinicians, newly graduated emerging professionals, and students who attend. WMHCA encourages you to get involved and share your wisdom and knowledge. WMHCA is an approved Continuing Education (CE) provider through NBCC. As an NBCC provider, WMHCA is responsible for ensuring all aspects of our CE offerings comply with NBCC's provider policy and Washington State's Department of Health.
This proposal form can be used to submit a course for the general tracks and for the opportunity to be the keynote speaker. |
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WMHCA Conference Update: Hotel Room Block
WMHCA is excited to present our inaugural conference in May 1-3, 2026. We plan to open registrations next month. Currently, the LINK for the hotel block is live. Book your room early for the best rates and to secure your spot. Rooms are limited. Next month, we will have a link for discounted airfare. All conference information can be found HERE! |
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Department of Health Updates: HELMS, Confidentiality Changes, CE Requirements
The following updates from the Department of Health provide a summary of changes affecting master’s level counselors in Washington State. They include highlights on where DOH is with HELMS implementation & launch, upcoming changes to confidentiality standards, and continuing education requirements. Each section includes direct links to official Department of Health pages and relevant RCWs and WACs, to support clarity and ease of access.
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If you would like to submit an article for the WMCHA Insights Newsletter, email info@wmhca.org.
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