Washington Mental Health Counselors Association

Insights Newsletter

November 2025

Table of Contents

Congratulations to Recent Raffle Winners
Coming Soon: WMHCA's 2026 Conference Schedule
Join WMHCA for Advocacy Day
Honoring Native American Heritage Month
LGBTQ Veteran Allyship Workshop Series
Statement on Chiles Vs. Salazar
Membership Outreach & Engagement Committee Committee: Regional Networking Meetups
Policy & Professional Advocacy Committee Updates
Join Us for an Amen Clinic Info Session
Guidance on Practicing with a Pending Associate License
AMHCA Conference: Rooted in the Past: Growing Towards The Future
Department of Health Updates
Continuing Education In-Person vs Online Learning Rules
New On Demand Continuing Education Courses
Job Board

Congratulations to Recent Raffle Winners

Free Continuing Education Course

(For completing the JEDI Survey)

Krystal Akin

AMHCA Conference Registration Winners

Ananda Leininger

Autumn Via

Holly-Marie St. Pierre

Monica Robbins

Autumn Via

Coming Soon: WMHCA's 2026 Conference Schedule

WMHCA is thrilled to announce that the full schedule for the 2026 WMHCA Conference — Weaving Connections: Building Inclusion and Connection in Therapy — will be released next month! Mark your calendar for May 1–3, 2026, when we’ll gather at the Hilton in SeaTac, WA for three days of deepening community, growth, and meaningful conversation. Stay tuned — you won’t want to miss what’s ahead!

Join WMHCA for Advocacy Day

The Washington State Legislative Session will start this year on January 12, 2026. WMHCA is gearing up for the beginning of the session. We are planning several events for members to participate. These events prepare members to meet face-to-face with their senate and house state representatives to advocate for vital professional and mental health issues. WMHCA's Advocacy Day will be scheduled soon. We will base the date depending on where bills are in the legislative process.

The first event is the Advocacy Day Information session, scheduled for December 4, at 11:00 AM. This session is for members who have never attended WMHCA's Advocacy Day or those would like a refresher. During the information session there will be a review of the legislative process and discussion on effective advocacy strategies for the counseling profession. Participants will also learn how to set up meetings with their legislators, what to expect during these meetings, and why personal meetings are important for professional advocacy. WMHCA is working on inviting a legislator to attend and discuss the value they see in meeting with their constituents.

Check out this slideshow of past WMCHA Advocacy Days!

Create Meaningful Change Video

Learn More and Register

Honoring Native American Heritage Month

November is dedicated as Native American Heritage Month. During this time, many forms of communication often honor Indigenous peoples who reside within what is now known as the United States. These messages tend to highlight and honor strengths such as resiliency, a sense of community, deep connections to land and animals, and adaptability. While these attributes are frequently celebrated, it is important to recognize the vast diversity among Native peoples, who represent many different languages, customs, and cultures. As someone who identifies as a member of the Iháŋkthuŋwaŋ (Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota), I acknowledge that I cannot speak for all Native people or claim to know what aspects of heritage are most valued by everyone.

Indigenous Perspectives on Wellbeing

Instead of generalizing, I wish to share insights from Indigenous mental health practitioners regarding themes that influence the wellbeing of Native communities. Reflecting on these themes can help us become more effective allies and facilitators of healing for Native people in our professional practices.

LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship Workshop Series

WMHCA is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs. WMHCA is a member of the Washington State Governor's Challenge and has been working with the team on identifying service members, veterans, and their families (SMVF) and screening for suicide risk. The new partnership expands the connection and work between WDVA and WMHCA.

The WDVA is hosting a series of LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship Workshops. More info can be found below.

Statement on Chiles Vs. Salazar

Chiles vs. Salazar is a case challenging a Colorado law, currently being heard by the Supreme Court that could possibly overturn the ban on conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy — the practice of attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity — is a discredited and harmful intervention that poses serious risks to LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.

The Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA) affirms that:

Conversion therapy lacks credible evidence of effectiveness and is associated with significantly increased rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicidality.
Major medical and mental-health associations affirm that such practices can cause lasting psychological harm and thus should not be offered, especially to minors.
State and federal protections banning conversion therapy are essential public-health safeguards, not restrictions on legitimate therapeutic care.
In the case of Chiles v. Salazar, where the constitutionality of Colorado’s ban is contested, the outcome may have profound implications for similar protections across the country. WMHCA urges policymakers and the Court to recognize that banning conversion therapy is consistent with professional ethics, public-health science, and human rights.
We commit to continuing our advocacy for safe, affirming, evidence-based mental health care and to supporting legislation and policies that protect LGBTQ+ people from harmful conversion practices.

Membership Outreach & Engagement Committee: Regional Networking Meetups

WMHCA has heard from members that there is interest in more opportunities for socializing and networking. Because WMHCA represents members throughout Washinton State we are interested in supporting members in hosting regional networking events. If you are interested in hosting an event in your area, WMHCA can help support you. Some ideas for events include coffee shop meetups, happy hour meetups, food truck meetups, Sip & Paint meetups, or even meeting up for a group walk. These would be free events where attendees would cover any of their own costs. WMHCA can help advertise and manage registration for these events. If you are interested in hosting a regional meetup please contact info@wmhca.org.

Policy & Professional Advocacy Committee Updates

The Policy and Professional Advocacy Committee (PPAC) recently surveyed members to learn which policy and advocacy issues feel most urgent right now. We heard from 143 respondents—thank you to everyone who took the time to share your voice.

Here’s what stood out:

Insurance contracting fairness topped the list, with 93% of members rating it as very or extremely important.
Creating a governing board for counseling followed closely at 83%.
Limiting AI use in mental health treatment was rated very or extremely important by 79%.
Erosion of licensure standards and licensure wait times also ranked high, at 75% and 71%, respectively.
Access to affordable health insurance was important for 68% of respondents.

Finally, adding supervision as a formal endorsement on licenses was rated very or extremely important by 41%.

In addition to the numbers, members shared thoughtful comments about what the PPAC should prioritize.The feedback from this survey offers a clear message: our members are deeply committed to fairness, access, and integrity in the counseling profession. The PPAC will use these insights to guide our upcoming advocacy efforts and legislative priorities. Thank you for continuing to speak up, stay engaged, and help shape the future of our field.

Read Additional Priorities

Learn more about the Amen Clinics

Join WMHCA for an Informational Session to learn more about the Amen Clinics on December 17th from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm.

The Amen Clinics utilize a multi-modal treatment approach to uncover the root cause of challenges often undiscovered by traditional treatment solutions for mental health. Supported by 11 clinics nationwide, >70 peer-reviewed publications, 255,000 patients seen in over 35 years, the Amen Clinic Seattle’s goal is to serve as a referral partner by assessing overall brain health and to shed light into complex cases.

The Amen Clinics integrate SPECT imaging, medication management, brain-directed nutrition, genetics, lab testing and a comprehensive array of assessments to personalize a treatment plan for each patient, specializing in:

Identifying the physiology of underlying mood disorders, anxiety disorders, or attention deficit disorders.
Evaluating the effects of mild, moderate, and severe head trauma or concussion, which can be identified and ruled out.
Evaluating and differentiating Traumatic Brain Injury from PTSD.
Subtyping the varying physiology and brain activity of AD/HD.
Neuropsychiatric complications from mold exposure, toxicity, and Lyme Disease.
Evaluating atypical, unresponsive, or mixed psychiatric conditions.
Evaluating aggressive or suicidal behavior.
Evaluating the extent of brain impairment caused by drug/alcohol abuse or other toxic exposure.
Evaluating suspected cerebral vascular disease (such as stroke).
Following up to evaluate the physiological effectiveness of medications and other forms of treatment.

Use this Link to Register

Guidance on Practicing with a Pending Associate License

Associate (LMHCA) applicants who submitted a complete associate license application to the Department of Health (DOH) before October 1, 2025, may begin practicing under supervision of a Washington State Approved Supervisor on October 1, 2025 while their license is pending in HELMS or through a paper application. For these applicants, the 120-day practice window runs through January 29, 2026.

Those who submit a complete application after October 1, 2025, may also begin practicing under supervision of a Washington State Approved Supervisor on the date the department receives all required application items which shows as pending in HELMS or through a paper application; however, their 120-day window will have a different end date.

All applicants should be aware that the Department of Health will not issue reminders or notifications when the 120 days have expired. It is the applicant’s responsibility to track their own practice timeline and ensure compliance with all requirements.

The 120-day period cannot be renewed or extended. If a license is not issued within that timeframe, the applicant must stop practicing immediately. Supervisors must verify that applications are complete and ensure associates remain within the 120-day limit. Billing for services provided by pending licensees varies by payer, so employers should consult insurers or legal counsel for guidance. WMHCA members have access to a consultation with attorney and counselor Eric Ström for questions about ethics and business practices.

For full details, visit the Department of Health’s website: DOH – Frequently Asked Questions -- Practicing with a Pending License.

AMHCA Conference: Rooted in the Past: Growing Towards the Future

Early bird registration for the AMHCA 2026 Annual Conference is now open! Don’t miss your chance to save and be part of the 50th anniversary!

Early bird registration ends December 31, 2025

Department of Health Updates

Upcoming Learning Sessions for LMHC, LMFT, and Social Work Professionals – Based on Your Feedback!

Thank you for your thoughtful responses to the survey we sent earlier this month. Based on your feedback, we’re excited to offer a series of 1-hour virtual learning sessions designed to address the topics you care about most.

️ Learning Session Schedule

Nov 20 11:00am: Diagnostic Authority of Master-Level Counselors: ADHD vs. ASD
Nov 25: 10:00am: Ethics & Scope of Practice
Dec 5: 9:00am: AI and Regulation (Advisory Meeting) David D. Luxton, PhD, M.S.
Dec 10 1:00pm: Supervision Standards & Expectations
Dec 19 1:00pm: Counseling and Social Work Compact
Dec 23 10:30am: Out-of-State Licensure, Reciprocity & Telehealth Regulations
Dec 31 12:00pm: Application Process, Renewal & Continuing Education Requirements

Please note: Topics and times are subject to change as needed.

Join the Sessions via Microsoft Teams
Join the meeting now Click here to join
Meeting ID: 272 488 494 441 9
Passcode: Sa3j7Wx3
Dial in by phone:
+1 564-999-2000,,742345466# (United States, Olympia)
(833) 322-1218,,742345466# (Toll-free)
Find a local number
Phone Conference ID: 742 345 466#

DOH Notice

Continuing Education In-Person vs Online Learning Rules

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) states there are no limits on how many continuing education (CE) hours licensed counselors (LMHCAs and LMHCs), may complete through in-person or online distance learning. This rule was updated in WAC 246-809-610, effective January 1, 2024, and remains in place.

Licensed professionals may complete all CE requirements through in-person or online learning, whether live (synchronous) or recorded/self-paced (asynchronous).

Synchronous online or in-person learning does not require a test of comprehension, while asynchronous courses must include a comprehension test upon completion. This flexibility allows counselors to meet their CE requirements conveniently while maintaining professional standards.

New On Demand Continuing Education Courses

For many clinicians, patient lethality and mandatory reporting are some of the most difficult topics to navigate. In this 3 hour workshop we will examine the applicable Washington State laws and regulations regarding mandatory reporting obligations with a specific focus on how these rules apply to the delicate balance of protecting client best interest and confidentiality while still meeting the reporting obligations in behavioral health settings.

Law & Ethics for Washington State Mandarory Reporting
3 CE's Recorded 08.26.25

As of July 27 th 2025, the legal framework for confidentiality in behavioral health practice will undergo a significant shift in Washington State. Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs), Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), and Social Workers will now be subject to the standards of RCW 70.02—Washington’s Uniform Health Care Information Act—through its incorporation into RCW 18.225.105. This 3-hour ethics workshop is designed to prepare clinicians for this critical change.