Washington Mental Health Counselors Association upcoming events

Weaving Connection: Building Inclusion and Connection In Therapy (05/02/2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Mental Health Awareness Month invites reflection on how care is shaped by knowledge, lived experience, and connection.

This conference brings clinicians and advocates together to strengthen inclusive, ethical mental health practice. Sessions are led by speakers whose work is grounded in professional expertise and lived experience, representing a wide range of identities, cultures, and disciplines. Through practical learning and shared dialogue, participants engage perspectives that deepen understanding, support professional sustainability, and strengthen care for the individuals and communities we serve.

The Conference will be May 1st-3rd, 2026 at the Seatac Hilton near Seatac Airport. May 1st will be an evening Welcome Reception and the 2nd & 3rd will be full days of continuing education.

The full presenter list with session information can be found using this LINK. (Session days and times are subject to change.)

The complete agenda can be found HERE. You can earn up to 12.5 CE's.

The Room Block is currently open, as well as the discounted airfare. Book your room early as space is limited. You can also find our accessibility information HERE.

WMHCA is also excited to announce we have secured the keynote speaker for our upcoming conference. The Cost of Healing in Silence — Racial Trauma and the Call for Culturally Responsive Care

Ashley McGirt, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed therapist, author, and Founder & CEO of Therapy Fund Foundation, a nonprofit eliminating barriers to healing in Black communities. A TEDx speaker and NAACP Health Chair, she specializes in trauma and culturally responsive care. Her forthcoming book, "The Cost of Healing in Silence", explores racial trauma and the call for inclusive, equitable mental health practices.

Get your tickets in advance as it is likely to sell out - registration closes April 15th, 2026.

You will be invited to the Whova app within 72 hours of your completed registration so you can pick your sessions.

Conference Includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Become a WMHCA Member

No refunds will be given.

Washington Mental Health Association (WMHCA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 2079. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. WMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

CANCELED: Professional Development and Education Committee (05/04/2026)

Mon, 04 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join the WMHCA Professional Development and Education Committee!

Are you passionate about shaping the future of ethical, liberative, and culturally responsive clinical practice? The Professional Development and Education Committee (PDEC) invites all WMHCA members to join us in advancing high-quality and accessible continuing education presentations rooted in decolonized principles and cultural humility.

Our mission is to increase competency, challenge oppressive systems, and support counselors in reducing suffering through thoughtful and timely educational opportunities. We actively seek to uplift diverse voices and perspectives—both in our committee and through the presenters we recruit.

As a member of the committee, you’ll help:

Vet and select workshop presenters and topics
Plan and host continuing education events
Ensure Washington State CE requirements are provided with clarity to WMHCA members
Contribute to the development of impactful educational curricula for Washington state counselors

Whether you’re curious about our work or ready to get involved, we’d love to have you join a meeting and explore how you can contribute.

The Counseling Compact: What It Means for Washington Counselors (05/13/2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The Counseling Compact is a transformative initiative that expands opportunities for licensed professional counselors by allowing practice across participating states through a privilege to practice. This webinar is designed specifically for members of the Washington counseling community and will provide a clear, practical overview of how the Compact can support your professional mobility and growth.

During this session, Executive Director Greg Searls will explore the history and purpose of the Counseling Compact, along with how the Commission operates to support participating states and counselors. Attendees will gain step-by-step insight into the process for applying for a privilege to practice, along with the latest updates on implementation timelines and availability of privileges.

In addition, this webinar will address key ethical considerations for Washington counselors who are considering practicing across state lines, helping you make informed decisions that align with both professional standards and client care.

By the end of the presentation, you will have the tools and knowledge to evaluate how the Counseling Compact fits into your career goals and how to successfully navigate the application process.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the requirements for Washington counselors to participate in the Compact and how to apply for a privilege to practice
Identify current member states and what that means for cross-state practice opportunities
Explain ethical considerations when practicing across state lines under the privilege to practice

Suicide Assessment, Management, and Treatment Presented by Emily Hughes LMFT CMHS, SUDP (05/15/2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Description:

Please note: this is a live in-person training located on Bainbridge Island.

Ever since the 2014 Matt Adler Act was signed into law, mental health professionals have been required to receive training in assessment, management, and treatment of suicide risk as part of their continuing education requirements. This six-hour presentation meets the Washington state CE requirements, and provides a practical, hands-on introduction for both new and experienced practitioners. The presentation will cover the assessment, management, and treatment of suicide risk in depth. The Assessment section will address informed consent and confidentiality, interviewing, risk factors and warning signs, accessory behaviors and co-morbid issues, suicide contagion, and using risk protocols. The Management section will explore immediate threats, active ideation, and emergencies, alongside distal threats, passive ideation, and para-suicidal behavior such as self-injury. Methods of reducing risk of contagion in a community following a suicide are reviewed, alongside the documentation of persisting suicidal risk. In the Treatment section, participants will be trained in the use of safety planning and coping skills training. Throughout the training, participants will have the opportunity to watch videos, engage in role-playing, and complete case studies in teams.

Meets Department of Health requirement of being on the model list.

Objectives: Participants will:

Understand legal reporting and documentation requirements for working with suicidal clients, compared to homicidal clients
Know risk factors and protective factors for suicide attempts among different social and cultural populations, including population-specific data to clients in the military/veterans
Learn to evaluate risk of imminent harm through self-injurious behaviors or lethal means, including objects, substances and actions commonly used in suicide attempts and their lethality, the importance of screening for and restricting access to lethal means in effective suicide prevention, communication strategies for talking with clients and their support people about lethal means, and how to recognize non-suicidal self-injury and other self-injurious behaviors and assess the intent of self-injury through suicide risk assessment
Learn how to structure an interview to gather information from a client on suicide risk, protective factors, and warning signs, including substance use
Practice strategies for safety planning and monitoring use of the safety plan, including how to conduct means restriction counseling with suicidal clients, particularly in regard to firearms, and continuity of care through transitions such as discharge and referral
Learn empirically-informed approaches to the treatment and management of suicide risk, including strategies from dialectical behavior therapy alongside medical interventions
Determine when to involve third party support systems in the treatment and management of suicidal clients
Consider when to refer suicidal clients to more intensive and restrictive settings on the continuum of care, and identify appropriate actions and referrals for various levels of suicide risk
Differentiate between suicidal vs. non-suicidal self-injury
Examine special considerations for suicidal risk among veteran populations through a guided case study and practice skills through small group work

About the Presenter:

Emily is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Substance Use Disorder Professional and a clinical supervisor with the state of Washington. Emily has a private practice that is telehealth based with an office in South King County. She sees adults, teens and couples.

Emily has also been involved in training and teaching and has done so with NW ATTC, the Washington Mental Health Counselor’s Association, City University of Seattle and she has been a guest speaking at a variety of schools in the greater Seattle area. Throughout her career she has worked in crisis management and stabilization primarily with youth and young adults. This work was done in a community based mental health agency, as the lead for a crisis outreach team and as a mental health evaluator at Seattle Children’s Hospital emergency room. In her work with clients, her areas of expertise include working with teens, young adults, adults and couples in life transition and mood-related disorders, and around self-harm/suicide assessment, prevention, intervention, and management, the intersection of co-occurring disorders and in clinical supervision.
Registration closes: May 11, 2026

This course is approved for 6 CE hours for LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and all associate-level licensees in Washington State

WMHCA Cancellation Policy

To receive a refund, less a $15 cancellation fee, cancellations must be made by contacting WMHCA at least 48 hours prior to workshop date. There will be no refunds within 48 hours of the workshop date. Please make sure you have the link 24 hours prior to the event starting.

Professional Development and Education Committee (06/01/2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join the WMHCA Professional Development and Education Committee!

As a member of the committee, you’ll help:

Vet and select workshop presenters and topics
Plan and host continuing education events
Ensure Washington State CE requirements are provided with clarity to WMHCA members
Contribute to the development of impactful educational curricula for Washington state counselors

Whether you’re curious about our work or ready to get involved, we’d love to have you join a meeting and explore how you can contribute.