New York Mental Health Counselors Association

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New York Mental Health Counselors Association What is NYMHCA's role? To protect and enhance the rights of counselors to practice our profession.

NYMHCA is the only statewide professional membership association dedicated solely to representing LMHCs, limited permit holders, counselor education students, and counselor educators in New York State. History of NYMHCA
American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) was founded in 1976. AMHCA was founded because thousands of mental health counselors working in non-school settings had no organizational home. AMHCA has capitalized on the uniqueness of mental health counseling by touting the counseling skills, developmental approach, and preventative strategies employed by its members and demanding recognition of their contributions in health care. The New York State chapter of AMHCA (NYMHCA) was founded in 1979. The Profession of Mental Health Counseling:

Mental Health Counseling is a distinct profession with national standards for education, training, and clinical practice. The New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) is the professional membership organization that represents the mental health counseling profession in New York State.

Crucial Lifelines: Practical Su***de Risk Assessment & Intervention 🛡️Supporting a client through suicidal ideation or s...
10/07/2026

Crucial Lifelines: Practical Su***de Risk Assessment & Intervention 🛡️

Supporting a client through suicidal ideation or self-harm requires a delicate balance of structured clinical assessment and deeply attuned, validating communication. When providers feel underprepared, high-risk conversations can become stressful for both the clinician and the client.

Led by Jaimee Arnoff, PhD, this practical 3-hour workshop equips clinicians with evidence-based, actionable tools to respond to crisis disclosures with precision and empathy. Participants will learn how to strengthen the therapeutic alliance during acute distress, deliver psychoeducation, implement means-restriction counseling, and collaborate with caregivers while maintaining the client's autonomy and trust. The session provides concrete scripting tools, assessment frameworks, and safety planning strategies to reduce liability and enhance safety across youth and adult populations.

Core Insights:
Rapport Following Disclosure: Master specific clinical communication skills that build trust and rapport immediately following a disclosure of self-harm or suicidal ideation.
Risk Assessment & Level of Care: Accurately evaluate su***de risk status to determine when immediate referral to a higher level of care is clinically warranted.
Collaborative Safety Planning: Construct developmentally appropriate, actionable safety plans in direct collaboration with clients and caregivers.
Caregiver Engagement: Implement effective caregiver-engagement strategies that reinforce ongoing monitoring, means safety, and stability between sessions.

đź“… Workshop Details
Title: Assessing and Treating Suicidal Ideation and Self-Injury
Presenter: Jaimee Arnoff, PhD
CEUs: 3.0 CE hours
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM Eastern

Ready to enhance your clinical response to high-risk disclosures? Register Here!

https://www.nymhcainstitute.org/courses/205735

***dePrevention

Step Outside: Clinical Foundations of Walk & Talk Therapy 🌳Before opening your office doors to the outdoors, stepping th...
10/05/2026

Step Outside: Clinical Foundations of Walk & Talk Therapy 🌳

Before opening your office doors to the outdoors, stepping thoughtfully into walk and talk therapy requires a solid clinical and operational foundation. Grounded in the biophilia hypothesis and physiological responses to movement, integrating nature into practice offers clients new physical and emotional spaces for deep therapeutic work.

Led by Jennifer Udler, LCSW-C, SEP, this 3-hour workshop provides a comprehensive roadmap for bringing clinical work outside. Clinicians will review the history and research behind walking therapy, explore critical screening and informed consent protocols, and learn how to navigate confidentiality in public spaces. Through real-world case studies, participants will gain concrete strategies for handling heightened emotions on the trail, managing scheduling and safety protocols, and weaving movement seamlessly into their practice.

Core Insights:
The Biophilia Rationale: Identify the research and evidence demonstrating the mental health benefits of walking therapy.
Outdoor Confidentiality: Assess and implement best practices for managing client privacy and boundaries in public settings.
Emotional Navigation: Learn effective strategies for supporting clients who become openly emotional or dysregulated during a walking session.
Operational Essentials: Develop trail-specific safety plans, weather contingency protocols, and custom informed consent documentation.
Nature Integration: Master techniques for weaving movement and natural surroundings into effective therapeutic interventions.

đź“… Workshop Details
Title: Walk and Talk Therapy One Step at a Time: Guidelines for Successful Outdoor Clinical Work
Presenter: Jennifer Udler, LCSW-C
CEUs: 3.0 CE hours
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM Eastern

Ready to transition toward an active, identity-affirming framework? Register Here!

https://www.nymhcainstitute.org/courses/300732

A few days left to register! The Counselor Educators Symposium is Friday, October 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., held virtually, a...
10/04/2026

A few days left to register!

The Counselor Educators Symposium is Friday, October 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., held virtually, and registration is still free and still open.

Presenting: state regulators, NYMHCA leadership, our lobbyist in Albany, and representatives from the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports. We close with an open discussion on gatekeeping and professional standards.

Link to register: https://buff.ly/vDJeSvz

Counselor educators in New York State: the program for our October 9 symposium is set, and registration is free.Over fou...
10/02/2026

Counselor educators in New York State: the program for our October 9 symposium is set, and registration is free.

Over four hours you will hear from Evan Seiden, Secretary of the Mental Health Practitioners Regulatory Board; from NYMHCA lobbyist Heather Evans on the legislative picture; and from representatives of the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, all of whom will be presenting. NYMHCA President Tom Murphy opens the day, and we close with an open discussion on gatekeeping and professional standards.

The through-line is practical: what students need to know when they graduate, and what we owe them before they get there.

Friday, October 9, 2026 · 9 a.m.–1 p.m. · Virtual event · No cost to register. https://buff.ly/PesO4QL

Ten days out. Here is who will be presenting at the Counselor Educators Symposium on October 9.Evan Seiden of the Mental...
09/29/2026

Ten days out. Here is who will be presenting at the Counselor Educators Symposium on October 9.

Evan Seiden of the Mental Health Practitioners Regulatory Board and Dr. Owen Donovan of the NYS Office of the Professions on licensure and regulation. NYMHCA lobbyist Heather Evans on what is moving in Albany. Representatives from the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports on the systems your graduates will work in. Then an open discussion on gatekeeping and professional standards.

Bring the questions your students ask you and cannot get answered. This is a virtual event and free to attend:

https://ams.nymhca.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=EventInfo&Reg_evt_key=ce43fc4b-2d6e-4b2c-89b1-2d9aa7f582e3

Shifting the Lens: Gratitude as a Clinical Tool When anxiety, depression, or chronic stress dominate a client’s thoughts...
09/09/2026

Shifting the Lens: Gratitude as a Clinical Tool

When anxiety, depression, or chronic stress dominate a client’s thoughts, noticing what is going well can feel nearly impossible. For the practical clinician, the goal isn't to minimize a client's pain through forced positivity, but to introduce evidence-informed interventions that safely shift perspective and build cognitive flexibility.

Led by Steve Baron, Psy.D, NCSP, this highly practical workshop dives into the neurobiology of gratitude and its role as a clinical protective factor. You will learn how to adapt gratitude-based practices for children, teens, and adults in both individual and group settings. The training focuses on actionable strategies—such as targeted reframing language, specialized journaling prompts, and brief in-session exercises—while providing concrete tools to navigate client resistance and barriers during difficult times.

Core Insights:
The Science of Hope: Describe at least three distinct mental health and neurological benefits of practicing gratitude.
Age-Appropriate Strategies: Formulate at least four adaptable clinical interventions tailored for child, adolescent, and adult populations.
Overcoming Resistance: Learn to identify and ethically address common barriers, skepticism, or toxic positivity concerns in therapy.
Immediate Application: Walk away with ready-to-use exercises designed to rewire negative thought patterns and build resilience against rising burnout.

đź“… Workshop Details
Title: Gratitude As A Therapeutic Tool: Practical Interventions For Counselors
Presenter: Steve Baron, Psy.D, NCSP
CEUs: 2 hours
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern

Ready to bring evidence-based perspective shifts into your clinical practice? Register Here!

https://www.nymhcainstitute.org/courses/199290

Save the date! The New York Mental Health Counselors Association is hosting a new student event on Sunday, October 18th ...
09/02/2026

Save the date! The New York Mental Health Counselors Association is hosting a new student event on Sunday, October 18th from 4:00 to 5:00 PM EST via Zoom. Stay tuned for details!

đź—“ Date: Sunday, October 18th

⏰ Time: 4:00–5:00 PM EST

đź’» Platform: Zoom

Young Adulthood Interrupted: Navigating Parental Loss While grief is widely studied across life stages, losing a parent ...
08/29/2026

Young Adulthood Interrupted: Navigating Parental Loss

While grief is widely studied across life stages, losing a parent between the ages of 18 and 35 presents a distinct, often-misunderstood convergence of developmental and identity-based challenges.

This training introduces an integrated psychoeducational framework specifically tailored to the young adult population. Clinicians will explore how parental loss during these formative years disrupts attachment security, identity formation, and major milestone trajectories, while navigating the compounding weight of social invalidation and secondary losses. Participants will leave with trauma-informed, holistic interventions—including ecotherapy and meaning-making exercises—designed to foster emotional regulation and post-traumatic growth.

Core Insights:
Distinct Psychosocial Factors: Identify at least three unique developmental elements that separate young adult parental loss from other life stages.
Attachment & Identity: Analyze the profound ripple effects of bereavement on a young adult's attachment security and relational functioning.
Complicated Grief Variables: Understand how secondary losses, such as sudden financial instability or loss of home, intersect with social invalidation.
Holistic Interventions: Apply concrete, trauma-informed tools like ecotherapy, mindfulness, and normalization techniques to promote emotional regulation and reconnection.

đź“… Workshop Details
Title: Young Adulthood Interrupted: Clinical Approaches to Parental Loss in Young Adults
Presenter: Valerie Smith, LCSW
CEUs: 3 hours
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern

Ready to deeply support your young adult clients through profound grief? Register Here:

https://www.nymhcainstitute.org/courses/194942

Navigating the Universal Experience: Advanced Grief Counseling Grief is completely universal, yet it remains one of the ...
08/29/2026

Navigating the Universal Experience: Advanced Grief Counseling

Grief is completely universal, yet it remains one of the most significant gaps in formal clinical training. For the dedicated therapist, understanding the nuances of bereavement is essential for helping clients navigate profound loss in a rapidly changing world.

Led by Janee Nesbitt, LMHC-D, LPC, this comprehensive training provides an in-depth look into the multiple layers of grief. Clinicians will move beyond basic concepts to explore crucial cultural considerations, differential diagnoses using the DSM-5-TR (including Prolonged Grief Disorder), and practical case conceptualizations. You will leave equipped with actionable interventions, methods, and the clinical confidence to empower clients as they cope with loss.

Core Insights:
Foundational Vocabulary: Master and define common clinical grief and bereavement terminology.
Clinical Interventions: Acquire practical, hands-on methods to effectively guide and assist clients through the active grieving process.
The Power of Ritual: Understand the clinical importance of memorials and tangible tokens in facilitating healthy mourning.
Diagnostic Clarity: Deepen your understanding of Prolonged Grief Disorder and how to differentiate it from other clinical presentations.

đź“… Workshop Details
Title: Multi-Aspects of Death, Dying and Bereavement
Presenter: Janee Nesbitt, LMHC-D, LPC
CEUs: 3 hours
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern

Ready to bridge the training gap and master grief-informed care? Register Here:

https://www.nymhcainstitute.org/courses/197896

Counselor educators in New York State: the program for our October 9 symposium is set, and registration is free.Over fou...
08/27/2026

Counselor educators in New York State: the program for our October 9 symposium is set, and registration is free.

Over four hours you will hear from Evan Seiden, Secretary of the Mental Health Practitioners Regulatory Board, and Dr. Owen Donovan, Deputy Commissioner of the NYS Office of the Professions; from NYMHCA lobbyist Heather Evans on the legislative picture; and from representatives of the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, all of whom will be presenting. NYMHCA President Tom Murphy opens the day, and we close with an open discussion on gatekeeping and professional standards.

The through-line is practical: what students need to know when they graduate, and what we owe them before they get there.

Friday, October 9, 2026 · 9 a.m.–1 p.m. · Virtual event · No cost to register. Details and registration:

https://ams.nymhca.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=EventInfo&Reg_evt_key=ce43fc4b-2d6e-4b2c-89b1-2d9aa7f582e3&RegPath=EventRegFees&FreeEvent=0&Event=Counselor%20Educators%20Symposium%20-%202026&FundraisingEvent=0&evt_guest_limit=9999

Address

146 Barrett Street, Suite 2
Schenectady, NY
12305

Telephone

+18004696422

Website

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