AMHCA
American Mental Health Counselors Association
Vision
The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is the leading national organization for licensed clinical mental health counselors. AMHCA strives to be the go-to organization for LCMHCs for education, advocacy, leadership and collaboration. Our organization provides the backbone of skills and resources needed for clinical mental health counselors to thrive in today's world.
Mission
The mission of AMHCA is to enhance the profession of clinical mental health counseling through advocacy, education and collaboration.
Guiding Principles
Advance the profession of clinical mental health counseling.
Promote the exchange of professional information among clinical mental health counselors by means of a newsletter, a journal, electronic media, and other scientific, educational, and professional materials.
Provide continuing education opportunities through conferences, workshops, and other means that assist clinical mental health counselors in updating and enhancing their competencies.
Promote standards for the training of clinical mental health counselors.
Promote research studies into the effectiveness of clinical mental health counseling interventions and related professional issues.
Promote positive relations with other professional organizations for effective advocacy of clinical mental health issues.
Promote a program of effective public relations to enhance the awareness of clinical mental health counseling and the competencies and services of its practitioners.
Promote high standards for credentialing and licensure of clinical mental health counselors, portability of these credentials and licenses, and the acceptance of clinical mental health counselors by all private and public employers and insurance programs.
What is a clinical mental health counselor?
Clinical mental health counseling is a distinct profession with national standards for education, training and clinical practice. Clinical mental health counselors are highly-skilled professionals who 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.
Clinical mental health counselors offer 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, clinical mental health counselors are uniquely qualified to meet the challenges of providing high quality care in a cost-effective manner. CMHCs have a foundational skillset that is distinct from those of other behavioral health disciplines. Their training in addressing the needs of the whole person and in wellness and prevention makes them well-situated to lead the effort in integrating health care.
Graduate education and clinical training prepare clinical mental health counselors to provide a full range of services for individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children. The core areas of mental health education programs approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) 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 clinical 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 clinical 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.
Where can I find a clinical mental health counselor?
Clinical mental health counselors practice in a variety of settings, including:
- private practice
- community agencies
- managed behavioral health care organizations
- integrated delivery systems
- hospitals
- employee assistance programs, and
- substance abuse treatment centers
Need a counselor? Find one in your area.
What makes a good counselor?
Great question! The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies says it best:
"When people look for mental health treatment for themselves or a loved one, it is common to search for a psychotherapy provider who may have availability in their schedule, desired fees, or is covered by a specific insurance plan. However, it is essential that people in search of treatment also get specific information about the type of treatment that a mental health care provider will offer."
What is AMHCA?
The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is the professional membership organization that represents the clinical 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. Rapid changes in the health care marketplace make it more necessary than ever for AMHCA members to make their voices known to this Congress. Through a set group of standards and ethics for mental health counselors, AMHCA is dedicated to training and cultivating excellent practitioners. We want to break through walls of stigma and show how excellent mental health counselors change lives and improve mental health. AMHCA offers many different ways for counselors to improve their excellence in any field they work in.
White papers published by the Advancement for Clinical Practice Committee
- 9 Ways to Build your Practice
- Technology Assisted Counseling
- Treating Trauma and Chronic Distress
- Understanding Suicide Prevention
- Mental Illness Prevention
- Integration of Mental Health and Primary Care Service
- The Professional Identity of Clinical Mental Health Counselors
Clinical practice briefs published by the Advancement for Clinical Practice Committee
- How to Become a Medicaid Mental Health Provider
- The Changing Behavioral Health Care Workforce Under Health Care: Reform: New Opportunities and Roles for Clinical Mental Health Counselors
- The Need for Early Mental Health Screening and Intervention Across the Lifespan
- Quality and Performance Measures: The Role of Clinical Mental Health Counselors (CMHSCs) in Improving Mental Health Services
- Thriving in a New Era of Neuroscience: Understanding How Brain Science Can Inform Clinical Practice
Browse our long list of articles about specific topics.
Texas Mental Health Counselors Association (TMHCA)
A Branch of American Mental Health Counselors Association
A Division of Texas Counseling Association
Mission
- Promote the practice of quality mental-health psychotherapy services
- Enhance education for mental-health practitioners
- Evolve a viable professional identity unique to mental-health
clinicians - Influence legislation policy to benefit mental-health practitioners
consistent with our State and licensure ethics
Vision
- Increase public visibility of the mental health profession throughout Texas
- Organize and advocate practices and policies that positively impact mental-health professionals
- Promote the profession of mental-health counseling in Texas
- Provide a system for the exchange of professional information and resources
- Provide programs and resources for professional development of mental-health clinicians
- Promote the mental-health profession in Texas through advocacy, research, and best practices
- Provide a liaison between other state, national, and international mental-health groups
- Provide the public information on the role and function of the mental-health clinician
- Promote the provision of quality training standards for mental-health clinicians
- Promote equitable licensure and certification for counselors nationwide
- Advocate for the mental-health profession in public policy, local and state government agencies, and legislation