There is so much activity in the world of mental health right now it is a challenge to keep everyone informed. But we truly value all the participation and input, so I want to be very clear about two things. First, all the work groups and meetings we are holding are open meetings and anyone can attend and participate.  There was some lack of clarity about the working group on the design of the new state owned and operated hospital planned for Berlin, but the message is the same.  All meetings are open, all are welcome. Second, the other challenge is to do our best to make sure all the interested parties know what is happening.  That is the main goal of this weekly update.  We will continue to provide updates and information about upcoming meetings.  If you have suggestions about how to improve this please let us know.

Thank you for all your help in making so much positive change happen and please let us know how we’re doing, and how we can improve.

~ Patrick

Click Here to read the April 24, 2012 DMH Weekly Update

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American Mental Health Counselors Association
801 N. Fairfax Street, Ste. 304
Alexandria, VA 22314

AMHCA/ACA/NBCC Update: The Department of Veterans Affairs Recognizes Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors!

Washington, DC – October 4, 2010 – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued qualification standards formally recognizing licensed professional counselors as mental health specialists within the Veterans Health Administration. The standards, released internally to the VA late on September 28th and available online now, are the culmination of years of work by the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) to open up mental health provider jobs within the VA to professional counselors. This is a landmark step forward for the counseling profession as well as an important means of expanding the pool of mental health service providers available to meet the growing treatment needs of our nation’s veterans. Continue reading →

American Mental Health Counselors Association
801 N. Fairfax Street, Ste. 304
Alexandria, VA 22314

Reps. Rooney and McMahon Introduce CARES Act to Allow for LMHC TRICARE Independence

Alexandria, VA — October 16, 2009 — AMHCA commends Reps. Tom Rooney (R-Fl), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, and Michael McMahon (D-NY), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for today introducing legislation that would strip TRICARE of its licensed mental health counselor “supervision and referral” requirement, thus giving TRICARE beneficiaries immediate access to licensed mental health counselors. Continue reading →

American Mental Health Counselors Association
801 N. Fairfax Street, Ste. 304
Alexandria, VA 22314

Reps. Rooney and McMahon Introduce CARES Act to Allow for LMHC TRICARE Independence

Alexandria, VA — October 16, 2009 — AMHCA commends Reps. Tom Rooney (R-Fl), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, and Michael McMahon (D-NY), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for today introducing legislation that would strip TRICARE of its licensed mental health counselor “supervision and referral” requirement, thus giving TRICARE beneficiaries immediate access to licensed mental health counselors.

This legislation, appropriately titled the CARES Act, “The Counselor Accessibility Reform and Expansion for Soldiers Act,” would permit TRICARE beneficiaries the same direct access to licensed mental health counselors currently available to numerous beneficiaries of private insurance plans. Disturbing statistics about recurring incidents of post traumatic stress syndrome in soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan inspired Reps. Rooney and McMahon to introduce the CARES Act. Rep. Rooney says, “An important part of properly treating PTSD and other mental health problems facing our soldiers is to ensure them access to professional counselors.” Rep. McMahon identifies “face to face counseling with mental health professionals” as the means to ensuring America’s men and women of the Armed Forces “adequate, efficient mental health services.” Continue reading →