By Yoon Suh Moh , PhD , LPC , CRC , NCC , BC-TMH , BCN
AMHCA ’ s 48th President , 2024 – 2025
AMHCA ’ s 2024 Annual Conference Breaks Recent Attendance Records
Conference Planning Committee Chair ,
AMHCA 2024 Annual Conference
For three full days in June , 650 attendees filled the hotel meeting rooms with presentations specifically for clinical mental health counselors , and filled the lobby with conversation , connection , and laughter . The focus of the conference , held in Charlotte , N . C ., was H . E . A . L .: Healing Through Counseling Relationships , Equity , Access , and Leadership .
AMHCA ’ s Conference Planning Committee chose that theme to reflect the significance of the power of healing through relationships , particularly facilitated by helping professionals such as mental health counselors . Also , we knew in advance that we wanted to help cultivate both individual and collective actions and practices to help promote the connection among everyone at the conference — including attendees , presenters , sponsors , and vendors , as well as the AMHCA staff and leadership . We accomplished that in part by enabling equity and access to relevant information and resources for all attendees .
In addition , Conference Planning Committee members , volunteers , and staff were required to attend a virtual training session in April with Dr . K . Lynn Pierce , who has expertise in disability and rehabilitation counseling . That training helped us think broadly and creatively about ways to increasing accessibility and equity for attendees with disabilities in conference settings .
In addition to the 2024 AMHCA annual conference , held June 10 – 12 , AMHCA offered a pre-conference of in-depth sessions on June 10 , and a leadership symposium June 9 – 10 to foster the development and enhancement of state chapter leaders ’ competency and leadership skills .
A sampling of some conference tributes !
8 The Advocate Magazine 2024 , Issue # 1 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org