Tennessee Mental Health Counseling Association
TMHCA is a state Division of
and the
Tennessee Counseling Association
Tennessee Counseling Association - 54th Annual Conference
Coming Together, Working Together, Succeeding Together
Hosted by Martha Polk and West Tennessee Counseling Associations
November 19 – 22, 2011
Hilton Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee
2011 AMHCA Awards Honor Excellence and Commitment to Mental Health Counseling
TMHCA wins TWO awards!
Service to
Members Award:
Tennessee.
AMHCA honors
TMHCA
outstanding
activities
directed at
providing
service to
members.
Professional
Service and
Leadership to
State Chapter:
Francis Martin
Dr. Martin is
honored for his
dedication,
energy, service,
and leadership,
which have
strengthened the
Tennessee
chapter. He has
promoted the
goals and
missions of his
state chapter
and the mental
health
counseling
profession.
NBCC, ACA and AMHCA are pleased to announce that on July 26, 2011, Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh signed Army Directive 2011-09, Employment of Licensed Professional Counselors as Fully Functioning Army Substance Abuse Program Practitioners.
This
directive
authorizes “the
Army Substance
Abuse Program to
employ licensed
professional
counselors and
licensed mental
health
counselors as
independent
practitioners
with a
well-defined
scope of
practice.”
The directive
also establishes
credentialing
and privileging
standards for
licensed
counselors who
seek employment
through the Army
Substance Abuse
Program (ASAP).
The criteria
include the
following:
- Successful completion of a master’s degree in counseling from a regionally accredited college or university that has its counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) (Counselors who are already employed with ASAP or who have already entered the application process for an ASAP counseling position prior to the effective date of the directive do not have to meet the accreditation requirement.)
- Possession of a state license as a professional counselor or mental health counselor
- Achievement of the highest clinical level offered by their state licensure board
- Passage of the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
The directive became effective upon signature by Secretary of the Army McHugh on July 26, 2011.
We have been told that the directive is a temporary policy that allows counselors to practice independently until the TRICARE regulations are completed as directed by the FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 111-383).
You may recall that the TRICARE regulations were due out by June 20, 2011, but the deadline was missed and we were told that it may be another six months or more. There is no requirement that the final TRICARE regulations establish the same criteria as this directive. NBCC, ACA and AMHCA continue to urge the Department of Defense to adopt broad TRICARE regulations that recognize all qualified professional counselors.
Qualifying counselors who are interested in ASAP positions should act quickly. The Army is in dire need of more counselors and recently launched a national hiring initiative described here: www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/08/army-urgent-to-hire-130-substance-abuse-counselors-asap/.The job announcements reference social workers and psychologists, but we have confirmed with ASAP leadership that these positions are available to professional counselors.
ASAP vacancies are posted here for interested counselors: http://medcell.army.mil/spotlight.asp?id=20
Our organizations are pleased with this step forward, but continue to encourage recognition of all qualified professional counselors. We invite counselors to report back on any challenges or successes they experience as the result of this new policy and employment opportunities.
TMHCA -Nashville
Do you need CEUs? Do you want convenient events?
Do you need CEUs in professional ETHICS?
Are you interested in some HIGH QUALITY and LOW COST professional development events?
Many individuals have asked for opportunities for continuing education opportunities. This is a response to their requests.
TMHCA is providing five brief events that offer continuing education hours. In keeping with the idea that continuing education ought to be HIGH QUALITY and LOW COST, here is what TMHCA is inviting you to attend.
Five dates.
Five topics.
Five presenters.
Many free professional items.
Low cost.
And, of course, CEUs.
THE DATES: JULY 7, 2011
JULY 21, 2011
AUGUST 11, 2011
AUGUST 25, 2011
SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
THE TOPICS:
1. Manage Your Stress OR It Will Manage You
2. Diagnosing and Treatment Planning
3. First, Do No Harm: The Ethics of Taking Personal Beliefs into Therapy
4. If you really knew me: The Ethics of Treating Bullies
5. Sexual minorities: Understanding Developmental Stresses
Each topic counts as three hours of continuing education in professional ethics.
One topic is presented during each session.
Each session is held from 5:30 to 8:30 in the evening.
CEUs: TMHCA/TCA is an NBCC-approved continuing education provider. These events offer approved continuing education hours. TMHCA is solely responsible for the content of these sessions.
LOCATION: Hermitage House Smorgasbord 615-883-9525
3131 Lebanon Pike
Nashville, Tennessee 37213
To get to the restaurant, drive eastward on I-40 from downtown Nashville
Exit at Stewart’s Ferry Pike. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Stewart’s Ferry.
At Lebanon Pike, turn right.
The restaurant is on the right side of the road on the front of the parking lot at Target. So, look for Target. When you find Target, you have found the restaurant.
PRESENTERS: Dr. Cris Cannon
Dr. Francis Martin
Mr. John Clausi
Ms. Lauren Bussey
Mr. Bob Loos
FREE ITEMS: On April 2, 2011, TMHCA provided approximately three thousand five hundred books, DVDs, booklets, and other materials at no cost to those who attended the conference on this date. TMHCA has gathered books, DVDs, and other materials that attendees can take at NO COST. You can select the ones you want and take them with you.
Without knowing the number who may attend these meetings, the number of available items cannot be accurately predicted. However, if the meeting room is full each time, every participant will be able to take twelve to fourteen items at no cost.
COST: The cost of each event comes in two parts.
For about ten dollars, you get your meal by gathering your selections from the buffet. The selections are terrific—and really good quality. To get your meal and to join the meeting, we encourage you to come to the restaurant, maybe, fifteen minutes before the meeting, if possible.
The other cost is ten dollars for the three hours of continuing education. This ten dollar fee will be collected at the meeting.
REGISTRATION: To register for one or all of these events, here is what you do:
Send an e-mail message to Tncounselor@comcast.net
In your message, provide your name—mainly, so that we can prepare a certificate for you.
Indicate the date or dates that you plan to attend.