The Advocate Magazine 2022 Issue 3 | Page 4

The Advocate
Website : www . amhca . org Phone : 703 / 548 – 6002 or Magazine
Building on the Counseling Momentum
The
The

The Advocate

Website : www . amhca . org Phone : 703 / 548 – 6002 or Magazine

800 / 326 – 2642 Fax : 7032022
/ 548 – 4775 VOLUME 45 , No . 3
Website : www . amhca . org Phone : 703 / 548 – 6002
The Advocate Magazine is published quarterly , by the American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ). Issues are posted at www . amhca . org / advocatemag , where they can be downloaded as PDFs .
46 th AMHCA President , 2022 – 2023 , Fredrick Dombrowski , PhD , LMHC , CASAC , LPC , LADC , NCC , CCMHC , MAC , ACS , BC-TMH , HS-BCP , ICADC , DCMHS
Publisher Beverly Smith , PhD , LPC , NCC , CCMHC , ACS , NCSC , CFT , HS-BCP , BCC , MAC , CPCS , BC-TMH , CCTP , BCPCC , Immediate Past President and Interim CEO / ED
Consulting Editors
Angele Moss – Baker , LPC , LMFT , MAC , DCMHS- COD 44 th AMHCA President , 2020 – 2021
Aaron Norton , PhD , LMHC , LMFT , MCAP , CCMHC , CRC , CFMHE AMHCA Southern Region Director
Editor in Chief Whitney Meyerhoeffer
Editor Kathleen McCarthy
Membership in AMHCA is $ 183 / year and gives you access to the archives and any supplemental materials linked in the magazine . Join AMHCA and to get the most out of our many publications !
Disclaimer : Information printed in The Advocate Magazine does not represent an official AMHCA policy or position , and the acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement or approval by AMHCA of any advertised service or product . AMHCA reserves the right to edit or reject all copy .
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Article submission guidelines : Send copy for The Advocate Magazine to AMHCA no later than six weeks prior to issue date . Email copy to Kathleen McCarthy at mccarthy . kathleen @ gmail . com and CC wmeyerhoeffer @ amhca . org .
© 2022 , American Mental Health Counselors Association . All rights reserved . No portion of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the written consent of The Advocate Magazine editor or AMHCA ’ s executive director & CEO .

The President ’ s Perspective

Fredrick Dombrowski , PhD , LMHC , CASAC , LPC , LADC , NCC , CCMHC , MAC , ACS , BC-TMH , HS-BCP , ICADC , DCMHS 46 th AMHCA President , 2022 – 2023

Building on the Counseling Momentum

These first months as the AMHCA president have been extremely busy . While working to reinvigorate our committees , I was encouraged to see that the committees that requested the most new members were the Graduate Student and Emerging Professionals Committee and the Multicultural and Social Justice Committee . This small snapshot captures AMHCA ’ s commitment to serving marginalized populations while enhancing practical experience for the following generations of Clinical Mental Health Counselors ( CMHCs ). We remain committed to cultural humility infusing social justice perspectives in all of our committees , while advocating nationally for the counseling profession . AMHCA continues to work as part of a larger task force to win Medicare coverage of CMHC services . AMHCA has continued advocating for the Counseling Compact , counselingcompact . org , as more states have taken steps to enact legislation supporting CMHC licensure portability .
We appreciate the work of President-Elect Deirdra Sanders-Burnett , PhD , LMHC , and the Annual Conference Committee as they plan our 2023 conference . AMHCA continues to connect with other national organizations — for example , our relationship with NAADAC ( The Association for Addictions Professionals ) enables members of both organizations to better support those with co-occurring diagnoses . Partnering with national organizations also provides support and perspective when navigating difficulties that CMHCs face .
Instant Counseling Sessions Over the Phone ?
One of the main concerns members have posed to AMHCA — faced by other mental health organizations , too — is businesses that advertise immediate clinical services via telephone for individuals seeking treatment . Some of these agencies may advertise clinicians who are not directly linked with the agency . Additionally , those working for such agencies may be at risk of violating the state laws of clients if the CMHC is not licensed in the client ’ s state of residence . AMHCA has reached out to such agencies , some of which have supported AMHCA for several years , with hopes for discussions that can lead to clarity on these issues . AMHCA is reconsidering our partnerships and considering all options . AMHCA welcomes feedback from members and monitors all registered concerns while joining efforts with other organizations to address this national concern . We are stronger together .
A Focus on Serving Our Members
Here are just some of ways AMHCA is working to advance your profession :
• Our Fall Summit , bit . ly / 3UoCqgr , highlighted cultural humility in counseling while also providing presentations on new and innovative strategies to assist our clients .
• AMHCA has connected with the Mental Health America and the National Council on Behavioral Health to amplify our ability to advocate for our members and those receiving services .
• AMHCA has reconnected with many state chapters and is looking to expand internationally , supporting CMHCs across the globe .
• We are continuing to promote our expertise among the helping professions .
• AMHCA remains committed to supporting our members through increasing portability among CMHCs , advocating for access to care , serving marginalized populations , and providing ongoing training and education .
We appreciate every member , every chapter , every committee , and every opportunity to enhance our profession . We are AMHCA .
4 The Advocate Magazine 2022 , Issue # 3 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org