NY Mental Health Counselors Association - Metro Chapter (NYMHCA Metro)

05/11/2022

Attention NYMHCA Metro Members! You are invited to our Annual Psychiatry Panel Discussion, followed by our annual open board meeting on Sunday May 15th from 1-3:30pm. This is a members only event, so join the Metro Chapter today due access to this exclusive and riveting discussion!
Click the tab to join on http://www.nymhcametro.org/

03/11/2022

Do babies have feelings? Do little kids tantrum on purpose? Can children under 5 years old have traumatic experiences? If you find yourself wondering about these questions, join NYMHCA Metro on Sunday, March 20th from 1-3:30 to learn about Early Childhood Mental Health!
Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-childhood-mental-health-tickets-277829494497

02/15/2022

Join us Sunday 2/20 for our February workshop: Ma*****na Basics for Parents and Teens. Presented by Deborah A. LaBounty, LMHC, CASAC.
Register here: https://nymhcametro.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f7762db416013528807e623e3&id=bfc2f19988&e=fd3abf2102

01/11/2022

Start your 2022 with CEUs! The January NYMHCA Metro workshop will be on Supporting Clients in Psychologically Abusive Relationships. Join Cynthia Madsen on Sunday January 16th from 1-3:30pm to learn about this crucial work. Register below:
https://nymhcametro.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f7762db416013528807e623e3&id=b43fc68971&e=e7ab3c3a3f

12/17/2021

*December Social!*
Take some much needed self care time to connect with fellow counselors, reflect on 2021, and plan together for 2022. We'd love to see you bring a cozy drink and wear a festive sweater! This Sunday 12/19 1-3pm, register below: https://nymhcametro.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f7762db416013528807e623e3&id=c36f91e672&e=fd3abf2102

12/14/2021

Action Item! Email Gov Hochul today to add LMHCs to the state's list of Medicaid providers! The bill has already passed both the Senate and Assembly, and now is just waiting for the Governor's signature.

11/15/2021

Join us Sunday November 21, 2021 from 1-3pm for this month's NYMHCA Metro Chapter Meeting and CE Workshop! We'll be discussing Preventing Harm Displacement When Practicing Harm Reduction for 1.5 CEs

To register please use the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ce-workshop-preventing-harm-displacement-when-practicing-harm-reduction-tickets-203425279487

This workshop will cover the philosophical foundations of harm reduction, discuss the counselors role in preventing harm displacement, and introduce us to harm reduction resources in our area.

09/13/2021

Register today for the NYMHCA Metro kick off event!!
**New date! Still time to sign up!**

BYOBrunch Virtual Meeting & Panel Discussion
"The New Normal in Counseling"
Sunday October 17th, 2021
1 - 3 PM
Limited to 100 attendees, registration ends September 18th.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nymhca-metro-chapter-byobrunch-virtual-meeting-with-panel-discussion-tickets-170350839948

BYO Brunch and join us for our first meeting of the 2021/2022 year! We will be hosting a panel discussion on The New Normal in Counseling.

09/02/2021

Save the date!
NYMHCA Metro invites you to our annual kick off Brunch event! Counseling in "the new normal"
Sunday, September 19th 1-3pm!
BYOB (bring your own brunch)

08/03/2021

It's already August!

Don't forget! The NYMHCA 2021 Virtual Convention begins on August 4th!

There's still time to register! Or you can register at any time during the 6 days of the convention....or even after!

Need CEUs?

You can go to the beach now and earn your CEUs later! More than 35 CEUs are possible and you'll have 60 day on-demand access!

Visit: ConventionNYMHCA.org

Click here to register.
http://www.nymhca.org/ConventionInfo.html

Questions? 1-8004NYMHCA
NYMHCA2@optonline.net

06/08/2021

Are you interested in private practice, but don't know where to start? Or maybe you're interested in growing your practice? Or maybe you just want to hear from other LMHCs about going solo!
This is a great opportunity to join us on Sunday, June 13th from 1-3pm for a Private Practice Panel. Reserve your spot ASAP!
This event is open to members only. Not a member? Join NYMHCA and the Metro Chapter today!

NYMHCA Metro Chapter Annual
Private Practice Panel
NYMHCA Members Only
Sunday June 13th, 2021
1 - 3 PM
Limited to 100 attendees, registration ends June 10th.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/private-practice-panel-discussion-tickets-152430280071

05/20/2021

We're on Instagram! Follow us for tips, announcements, and updates!
https://instagram.com/nymhcametro?utm_medium=copy_link

05/18/2021

This Sunday! NYMHCA Metro Chapter Annual Meeting
and CE Workshop

Sunday May 23rd, 2021
1 - 4 PM
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: AN UPDATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
1.5 CEs

Presented by Wendy M. Pinder CAGS, MA, LMHC, Cht
If you are confused and overwhelmed by the myriad of psychotropic medications available for your clients, this workshop will help you to understand the difference between an SNRI and an SSRI, between a benzodiazepine and an anti-hypertensive, an antipsychotic and an anti-seizure medication. We will explore how to talk with a medication provider about medications to ensure the best outcome for your client.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nymhca-metro-chapter-annual-meeting-and-ce-workshop-tickets-152003798453

05/07/2021

TIME SENSITIVE REQUEST
ADVOCACY ALERT!!
Help get our diagnosis bill passed.
The legislative session ends June 10th
if the bill does not pass by then - it cannot be acted on until 2022.

WHO SHOULD SEND THE EMAIL?
Everyone! Students, Limited Permit holders, LMHCs, and
Counselor educators! And, start sending your email ASAP!

ALREADY SENT AN EMAIL? PLEASE SEND ANOTHER ONE

The goal is to get as many Legislators to sign on as possible.

So far the following people have joined our sponsors Assembly member Bronson and Senator Brouk: M.A. Barrett, M.A. Simon, M.A. Gallegher, and M.A Lundsford. This is a good start in the Assembly.

We need to gather as many supporters as possible over the next week or two.

If legislators don't hear from us, then we won't be able to move forward diagnostic authority for LMHCs!

TEMPLATE EMAIL
Feel free to edit and add any personal statements from your experience that would help your legislator to understand why passing this bill is so important.
- Please include your address so that your legislator knows you are in their district.
NOTE: The memo of support was sent to you by NYMHCA if you do not have it, email president@nymhcametro.org and ask for a copy or remove the reference from your email.

Dear
I am writing to ask you to become a co/multi-sponsor on A.6008-A/S5301-A by Assembly member Bronson and Senator Brouk. The bill would allow licensed mental health counselors to diagnose and provide assessment-based treatment plans. Please see attached a Memo of Support signed by many organizations.

New York does not have a sufficient mental health workforce to meet the needs of New Yorkers struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues. We simply do not have enough providers to diagnose a develop assessment-based treatment plans in our clinics, agencies and community-based organizations. This issue will only increase when the exemption for licensure expires on June 24, 2021. These licensed professionals are willing to change their requirements for licensure to match that of llicensed clinical social workers, who currently can diagnose.

By standardizing the requirements to become license as a diagnosing professional and modernizing the scope of practice for licensed mental health counselors we can increase the number of diagnosing professionals by over 8,000 professionals.

I would be happy to speak with you about the bill. Please consider becoming a co/multi sponsor.

Thank you.
NAME, TITLE
ORGANIZATION
CONTACT INFO

NOW THROUGH JUNE 8TH
The legislative session ends June 10th. If the bill doesn't pass by then - it cannot be acted on until 2022.

Please participate in NYMHCAs Twitter Mondays - NYMHCA will be tweeting a positive message in support of A6803-A/S.5301-A by Assembly member Bronson and Senator Brouk, which provides diagnostic authority. Please consider re-tweeting & liking the tweet.

Please consider tweeting your own positive message in support of diagnostic authority. Remember to tag , your Legislators and Assembly member Bronson & Senator Brouk.
Send emails to your Senator and Member of Assembly encouraging them to support our bills A6008-A & S5301-A - see template above
Watch for emails from NYMHCA sharing how you can advocate for the Mental Health Counseling Profession in New York.
Stay tuned for information on our Lobby Day.
Become a member - your membership directly supports our lobbying efforts for getting the diagnosis bill passed.

04/16/2021

Our April workshop on ethics is next week! Register today!

Thursday April 22nd, 2021 NYMHCA Metro Chapter Meeting
and CE Workshop
7-9:30 PM

Professional Ethics
2 CEs
Presented by Kara Juszczak, LCSW-R, CCFP

Ethics plays a large role in how mental health is delivered. Understanding the professional boundaries and ethical responsibilities to our work prevents doing harm to our clients. Frederick Reamer's work will be referenced. Ethical dilemmas and examples will be explored to build awareness of professional ethics including confidentiality, legal issues, telehealth, and dual relationships.

Bio
Kara Juszczak, LCSW-R, CCFP is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and co-owner of Tree of Hope Counseling, LCSW, PLLC.. Kara specializes in supporting adolescents, adults, couples, and families through life transitions/adjustments, anxiety, chronic/critical illness, trauma, and grief/loss, by utilizing cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness based stress reduction, schema focused, and solution focused approaches. Kara also provides group therapy, professional education workshops and clinical supervision/consultation within Tree of Hope Counseling. Kara brings fifteen (15) years of post-graduate experience, which includes school, community, medical, clinic-based settings., as well as graduate level social work teaching experience. Kara is also certified as a Compassion Fatigue Professional and provides support, consultation and training to others around compassion fatigue prevention, intervention and resiliency

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/april-22nd-ce-workshop-professional-ethics-tickets-146480863205

Students and Professional Members - Attend only - No CE credit - free
Professionals - NYMHCA Metro Members - $5 per CEU
Professionals- NYMHCA Members - $10 per CEU
Professionals - NonMembers - $20 per CEU
(Non members may attend 2 workshops before joining)

Become a member

We invite you to become a member of the New York Mental Health Counselors Association. NYMHCA is the advocacy organization representing the clinical counselors of New York State. Our continuing role is to protect and enhance the rights of counselors to practice our profession. Please select Metro as your local chapter. State and chapter members receive discounted rates on CEU presentations offered as well as access to NYMHCA Metro's member's only site, participation in our peer consultation group, and other benefits listed at: http://www.nymhca.org

NYMHCA Metro Chapter Meeting and Workshop 2 CE Credits - Professional Ethics

03/24/2021

From Psychotherapy.Net: "Race and racism are charged topics in therapy. Unfortunately, many therapists are ill-equipped to bring these uncomfortable conversations into the room, even though they are crucial to helping African American men heal.

Today we’re proud to release a groundbreaking online course, Counseling African American Men, featuring extensive recordings of actual courses of therapy and in-depth discussions."

(Purchase by April5 to get the discount)

This groundbreaking online course combines numerous sessions and expert commentary that will increase your confidence and efficacy in working with Black men.

02/24/2021

Black History Month is coming to an end, but educating ourselves lasts a lifetime. Read about some of the most influential Black mental health professionals. Who else would you add?
https://www.mhanational.org/black-pioneers-mental-health

Black Americans' contributions to the field of mental health have been long overlooked. Check out these trailblazers in the mental health field.

02/16/2021

REGISTER NOW!

Psychiatric Assessment in the Hospital Emergency Department; Emerging Opportunities for Clinical Practice
Presented by Wendy M. Pinder CAGS, MA, LMHC, Cht

Sunday February 21st, 2021 NYMHCA Metro Chapter Meeting and CE Workshop (2.5 CEs)
1 - 4 PM

This workshop will teach clinicians what to expect when working in integrated healthcare, how to tease out the difference between medical and psychiatric emergencies, how to make psychiatric assessments in a crisis, and how to deescalate an agitated, panicked or fearful patient.

Bio
Wendy received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Developmental Psychology from Union Institute and University (Vermont College) with an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Buffalo Graduate School.

Her experience includes crisis management in both children and adult mental health services and as a team member on a 24/7 Mobile Crisis Unit in Charleston, SC. Research interests include studying the effects of trauma on human development and building resilience as a buffer against future mental illness, especially in young children.

She is currently the Behavioral Health Assessment Officer at UR St James Hospital in Hornell, NY. She resides in Livingston County with her husband, 3 dogs and 2 cats.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/february-ce-workshop-psychiatric-assessment-25-ces-tickets-139094155363

The NYMHCA Metro Chapter invites you to learn with us through our online continuing education workshops. Please register using the eventbrite link below. You will receive sign-in details after you reserve your spot. Members have early access to registration.

Students and Professional Members - Attend only - No CE credit - free
Professionals - NYMHCA Metro Members - $5 per CEU
Professionals- NYMHCA Members - $10 per CEU
Professionals - NonMembers - $20 per CEU
(Non members may attend 2 workshops before joining)
Become a member

We invite you to become a member of the New York Mental Health Counselors Association. NYMHCA is the advocacy organization representing the clinical counselors of New York State. Our continuing role is to protect and enhance the rights of counselors to practice our profession. Please select Metro as your local chapter. State and chapter members receive discounted rates on CEU presentations offered as well as access to NYMHCA Metro's member's only site, participation in our peer consultation group, and other benefits listed at: http://www.nymhca.org

Psychiatric Assessment in the Hospital Emergency Department; Emerging Opportunities for Clinical Practice - 2.5 CEs