INSIDE AMHCA
New AMHCA Standard Issued on Affectional Identity
“ In an effort to articulate the distinction between gender and affectional or other identities , AMHCA has taken the pioneering approach of differentiating the standards ,” states the first line of AMHCA ’ s newest practice standard : Affectional Identity Counseling Standards and Competencies .
“ Because the common practice has been to combine the identities in an acronym of varying letters , gender and affectional identities are often conflated . AMHCA recognizes the need for specific standards addressing gender and affectional identities , given the distinct nature of the identities and the requisite knowledge and skills that are unique to each ,” the introduction continues .
AMHCA ’ s new Affectional Identity standard “ will surely leave a lasting impact on the trans and diverse affectional identity communities ,” said Joni McLeod , LMHC , who coauthored the new standard along with Cole Timonere , JD , NCC , who wrote the Gender Identity standard released earlier this year .
The latest revision of AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling , which identifies and describes the norms within the profession , was released in the spring . The new standard on Affectional Identity will appear in the 2022 revision of the AMHCA Standards .
AMHCA ’ s Advancement for Clinical Practice Committee ( ACPC ) began work in the summer of 2020 on creating the two certifications “ to increase the clinical competency of CMHCs counseling clients within a diverse LGBTQ community ,” recalled Angele Moss-Baker , LPC , LMFT , MAC , DCMHS-COD , who was then AMHCA ’ s president .
“ I know of no other professional association similar to ours that has taken a stand like this ,” said Judith A . Harrington , PhD , LPC-S LMFT , chair of AMHCA ’ s ACPC .
This standard is one “ that we took extraordinary care with due to the potential for misunderstanding or misinterpretation . I am proud of the work and the message and support that this sends to both AMHCA members and the mental health community at large .”
These two new identity-related standards “ really have the potential to set AMHCA apart ,” concurred Charmayne Adams , PhD , a member of the ACPC . “ I ’ m excited to see AMHCA leading the way to help CMHCs better understand affectional identity and gender identity .”
Both standards , Moss-Baker observed , have “ escalated ” AMHCA ’ s Vision —“... To position clinical mental health counselors to meet the health care needs of those we serve while advancing the profession .”
Download the AMHCA Standards , free , at www . amhca . org / publications / standards .
Free Video — Online Therapy With Suicidal Clients
VIDEO : https :// academy . psychotherapy . net / suicide-prevention-amhca-2021-excerpt-2
Watch renowned therapist John Sommers-Flanagan , PhD , discuss how to effectively engage , assess , and monitor suicidal clients in the age of online therapy and the impact COVID has had on suicidality . This interview —” Working Online With Suicidal Clients in the Age of COVID ”— as well as another video , “ Safety Planning With Suicidal Clients ,” are both free of charge during December , at shorturl . at / jrxJV .
Fall Summit Is a Success
AMHCA ’ s Fall Summit , which drew more than 250 registrants , featured 16 diverse speakers who spoke on a range of topics related to the theme —“ Promoting Healing for the Community , Clients , and Counselors ”— and an outstanding virtual Awards program ( see the list of winners in the box on page 7 ).
Held Nov . 1 – 5 , the virtual forum offered attendees as many as 18.0 CEs , and the opportunity to use the educational sessions to obtain credentialing with AMHCA ( see www . amhca . org / members / career / credential ).
The Summit opened with Brandon J . Johnson giving the keynote address on “ Suicide Prevention for the Black Community .” Johnson is public health advisor at the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMHSA ) in the Suicide Prevention Branch .
Call for Nominations for AMHCA ’ s 2022 Election
Every year , three of the 11 members of AMHCA ’ s board of directors , including the immediate past-president , complete their terms of service . AMHCA invites nominations for the 2022 election of the association ’ s board of directors to fill those three vacancies . This year , applications are being accepted for positions : president – elect , treasurer , and director-at-large .
The term for these positions is July 1 , 2022 , through June 30 , 2025 . Serving on AMHCA ’ s board gives members an opportunity to help advance the profession of mental health counseling , make their voices heard , and interact with their colleagues on a regular basis .
For information on each open board position , please contact Past President Angele Moss-Baker , LPC , LMFT , MAC , DCMHS-COD , who chairs AMHCA ’ s Nominations and Elections Committee , at pastpresident @ amhca . org .
Election packets are available from Whitney Meyerhoeffer at wmeyerhoeffer @ amhca . org . Deadline for nominations is March 11 .
6 The Advocate Magazine Fall 2021 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org