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Access your Continuing Education Certificates for WMHCA Workshops
Description:
Clients are increasingly turning to AI chat platforms and companions for emotional support, identity exploration, and relational processing. This training provides counselors with foundational understanding of how large language models (LLMs) function in relational contexts, how synthetic attachment forms, and how to recognize when AI use is stabilizing versus when it introduces subtle or acute psychodynamic risk. Participants will learn how to assess client AI use during intake, provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive AI literacy, and support clients in reconnecting to human relational networks. The workshop also highlights ethical innovation pathways through real-world examples including the presenter’s work innovating ShadowBox and TendMessages.io.
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
About the Presenter:
Jocelyn Skillman, LMHC, MHP, CMHS is a psychology instructor, therapist, clinical supervisor, and relational design ethicist based in Washington State. She specializes in the psychological and developmental impacts of AI-mediated communication, particularly among youth, trauma-impacted populations, and clients navigating attachment needs being met through AI conversation. Jocelyn develops trauma-informed AI relational tools including ShadowBox and TendMessages.io, and teaches clinicians how to assess, understand, and safely educate emerging AI issues into therapeutic treatment with cultural, ethical, and relational care at the center.
Registration closes September 7th, 2026
This course is approved for 2 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.
Help WMHCA plan our second annual conference in May 2027 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 create an unforgettable experience, please sign up to join us! We can't wait to see you there.
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:
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.
The Washington Mental Health Counselors Foundation provides scholarships for students in their journey through graduate school. 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. At this time we are forming a panel 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.
The FTSC helps ensure WMHCA's finances stay transparent, well-managed, and sustainable for the long run. That includes things like reviewing budgets and financial statements, exploring and improving investments, establishing a process for our annual report and helping shape policies around reserves and long-term fiscal health. It's a great way to put financial experience to direct use in service of the association.
Join us at Marination Ma Kai in West Seattle! This event is co-hosted by your WMHCA Executive Director Shannon Thompson and WMHCA member Kelly Ross.
Networking Meetups are free events for you to connect with peers, share insights, discuss current challenges in the field, and build a strong local support system. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, come share your experiences and expand your professional network.
Networking Meetups are organized by WMHCA members and not hosted or sponsored by WMHCA. You don't have to be a WMHCA member to attend.
If you're interested in hosting a Networking Meetup in your area please email info@wmhca.org.
WMHCA is launching a new AI Task Force to develop guidelines and explore legislation for AI use in mental health. The task force will examine AI’s impact on counselors, clients,and advocate for our profession as this technology evolves.
This is a closed meeting for the Executive Committee Only. Please RSVP to get the zoom link and for attendance purposes.
Get ready to make an impact! WMHCA’s Policy and Professional Advocacy Committee is gearing up to plan our priorities for the 2026/27 legislative session, and we need your voice. We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help identify the advocacy issues that matter to mental health counselors across Washington. This is a great opportunity to speak up about what you believe should be front and center in our advocacy work, connect with colleagues, and help shape the future of our profession. If you're ready to make a difference, we’d love to have you on board!
This interactive training introduces participants to ways Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) can be applied through a social justice lens. Participants will explore how systemic influences, cultural identity, and advocacy intersect with children’s mental health. The course provides strategies for fostering equity in therapeutic playrooms, supporting resilience in marginalized children, and empowering clinicians to engage families and communities.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Dr. Lauren Chase, PhD, LCMHC, PMH-C, is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and educator specializing in child-centered play therapy, perinatal mental health, and supporting high-achieving women. She is the founder of Climbing Hills Counseling and a faculty member at Walden University. Dr. Chase integrates clinical practice, teaching, and advocacy, with a focus on equity and empowerment. She has presented at national conferences, trained graduate counseling students, and developed continuing education programs for professionals.
Registration closes September 28th, 2026
This course is approved for 1 CE hours for LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and all associate-level licensees in Washington State
Washington is one of the few states without a dedicated governing board for counselors — and that's something WMHCA is working to change. Right now, regulation of Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) falls under the Department of Health alongside many other fields, leaving counselors without a unified voice to shape the standards, ethics, and policies that define our work. A governing board — made up of practicing counselors and public members — would change that by overseeing licensure, guiding continuing education, supporting supervisors, and ensuring our profession is represented in legislative and regulatory decisions. Join us for a Virtual Town Hall to hear what's being developed, ask questions, and help shape the future of counseling in Washington. This is your opportunity to be part of the conversation.
Please join us for the next WMHCA Membership Engagement & Outreach Committee Meeting
Looking for a way to get more involved with WMHCA and connect with other passionate mental health professionals? We’d love for you to join our next Membership Engagement & Outreach Committee meeting!
This group focuses on building community, creating meaningful member experiences, and helping WMHCA grow in exciting and inclusive ways. Whether you're brand new or have been around a while, there's a place for you here.
Here’s what to expect:
No pressure, no prep required—show up as you are and feel free to eat your lunch.
If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved, this is a great place to start.
We hope to see you there!
The Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion committee is an established committee of folks who have gone through extensive training and consultation to develop a strategic plan for WMHCA. The meetings serve as a time to review tasks completed between meetings and to identify next steps. We welcome visitors and feedback, however, due to the high amount of information we have to address in every meeting, we request the focus be on the items at hand.
RSVP now to save your spot!
Registration closes September 25, 2026
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 no 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!
If you are planning on driving please make sure to include parking in your registration. It is an additional $7 if purchased at registration. If purchased upon arrival at the event it is $20.
No Refunds will be given.
WMHCA members are warmly invited to attend our upcoming board meeting. This is an opportunity to hear updates on key initiatives, learn more about the important work WMHCA is doing to support mental health professionals, and share thoughts directly with board leadership.
Members' voices matter, and WMHCA values member input as the board continues to shape the association's future. Although this is not a traditional networking event, it provides a meaningful space for engagement, transparency, and collaboration.
We hope to see you there.
The Governing Board Task Force is a Policy and Professional Advocacy Committee initiative working to establish a dedicated governing board for licensed mental health counselors and associates in Washington State. Our goal is straightforward: the standards, regulations, and scope of practice that govern our profession should be shaped by the people who live and work within it every day.
A governing board is about more than professional autonomy. It creates a structure for transparent, accountable, and evidence-informed oversight that protects the public while strengthening the integrity of our field. Licensed mental health counselors in Washington deserve the same professional governance that other health disciplines have had for years — and we're working to make that happen.
Right now, the task force is focused on three things: helping WMHCA members understand what a governing board is and why it matters, building relationships with allied mental health associations for cross-discipline advocacy, and identifying legislative sponsors for a bill in the 2026–2027 session.
If you're a counselor, supervisor, educator, or advocate who believes our profession deserves a stronger voice in decisions that affect us and the clients we serve — we'd love to have you involved.
We meet on the second Tuesday of the month from 5-6pm.
The rapid expansion of telehealth has created new opportunities for behavioral health clinicians to provide services across geographic boundaries, but it has also created increasingly complex legal and ethical challenges. When the clinician and client are in different jurisdictions (states or countries), many significant considerations must be addressed. These include issues such as legal jurisdiction, licensure requirements, compliance with state laws, insurance coverage, third-party reimbursement, and professional liability standards.
In this workshop, we will examine the legal and ethical standards governing cross-jurisdictional behavioral health practice, with particular attention to the interstate licensure compacts. Through practical examples and case scenarios, we will explore how current and developing state laws and licensing requirements can affect clinical practice and we will identify strategies for determining when and how services may legally and ethically be provided across state lines.
Eric Ström JD, PhD, LMHC 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 23rd, 2026 (space is limited)
The Elections Committee shall be responsible for presenting a list of qualified candidates for the annual election when there are board vacancies. The committee will review the board application, make any changes, and solicit nominations from general membership. They will also make sure all candidates are members in good standing.
If you plan to join the committee you should come to all three meetings: January, February and March.
WMHCA’s 2027 Conference, Bridging Connections: Navigating Inclusive Care in an Evolving Landscape, will take place May 13–15, 2027, in Yakima, Washington. The conference will bring together mental health professionals committed to strengthening connections and fostering inclusive, affirming spaces for healing and growth.
Held during Mental Health Awareness Month, the conference offers a timely opportunity to recognize the importance of mental health, reduce stigma, and strengthen our collective commitment to accessible, equitable, and culturally responsive care. As conversations about mental health continue to evolve, clinicians play an essential role in ensuring that individuals and communities feel seen, supported, and connected.
Tickets go on sale Sept 8, 2026
Get your tickets in advance as it is likely to sell out - registration closes April 30th, 2027.
Single-Day Tickets: Single-day registration will be available beginning in April, space permitting.
Pre-Conference Session: An optional pre-conference session will be available for an additional fee.
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No refunds will be given.
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