AMHCA.org - About Us

About AMHCA

AMHCA Is For Mental Health Counselors-Exclusively!

Our Mission...
"To enhance the profession of mental health counseling through licensing, advocacy, education and professional development."

Our Vision...
"To be the national organization representing licensed mental health counselors and state chapters, with consistent standards of education, training, licensing, practice, advocacy and ethics."

Our Guiding Principles...
AMHCA members are dedicated to the principles in our Code of Ethics. As our profession and the needs of our clients change, a committee of respected peers updates the code.

Our Leaders...and You
Build your leadership skills as part of AMHCA’s volunteer structure at the national and state chapter levels. You’ll find committee chairs, state chapter leaders and other officers in our annual Leadership Directory. To volunteer for committee service contact the appropriate committee chair or state chapter president.

State Counselor Licensure and Certification Boards
Use this complete list of state boards to locate your state board, get contact information, and link directly to their web site.

What is a mental health counselor?

FACTS:

According to the report, "Mental Health, United States, 1998" published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 96,000 professional counselors are licensed or certified for independent practice in the United States.
The majority of national behavioral health managed care companies reimburse mental health counselors for services they provide.
The median cost per session for mental health counselors is $85, compared to a median cost of $100 and $145 for psychologists and psychiatrists respectively, according to the October 2000 issue of Psychotherapy Finances.
Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia license or certify mental health counselors for private practice.
Mental health counselors adhere to a rigorous code of ethics.

Mental health counseling is a distinct profession with national standards for education, training and clinical practice. The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is the professional membership organization that represents the mental health counseling profession. Clinical membership in AMHCA requires a master's degree in counseling or a closely related mental health field and adherence to AMHCA's National Standards for Clinical Practice.

Graduate education and clinical training prepare mental health counselors to provide a full range of services for individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children. The core areas of mental health programs approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs include:

Diagnosis and psychopathology
Psychotherapy
Psychological testing and assessment
Professional orientation
Research and program evaluation
Group counseling
Human growth and development
Counseling theory
Social and cultural foundations
Lifestyle and career development
Supervised practicum and internship

Licensure requirements for mental health counselors are equivalent to those for clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists - two other disciplines that require a master's degree for independent status.

A licensed mental health counselor has met or exceeded the following professional qualifications:

Earned a master's degree in counseling or a closely related mental health discipline;
Completed a minimum of two years post master's clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional; and
Passed a state-developed or national licensure or certification examination.

Mental health counselors practice in a variety of settings, including independent practice, community agencies, managed behavioral health care organizations, integrated delivery systems, hospitals, employee assistance programs and substance abuse treatment centers. Mental health counselors are highly skilled professionals who provide a full range of services including:

Assessment and diagnosis
Psychotherapy
Treatment planning and utilization review
Brief and solution-focused therapy
Alcoholism and substance abuse treatment
Psychoeducational and prevention programs
Crisis management

In today's managed care environment, mental health counselors are uniquely qualified to meet the challenges of providing high quality care in a cost-effective manner. Mental health counselors provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. They combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical problem solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution.

In the five states that have not yet enacted credentialing legislation, AMHCA recognizes the credential of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) as evidence that a counselor has met the professional qualifications for independent practice. The National Board of Certified Counselors issues the CCMHC credential.

For more information, contact NBCC at (336) 547-0607. For further information about the profession of mental health counseling, including licensure, scope of practice, practice standards and ethics, contact the American Mental Health Counselors Association at (703) 548-6002 or (800) 326-2642.

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American Mental Health Counselors Association
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Alexandria, VA 22314
800-326-2642 | 703-548-6002
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