Submission Guidelines

Deadline: Presentations must be received in the online portal by October 31, 2025.
Required Content ─ Abstracts must include the following information, as indicated on the online form:

• Primary Presenter Contact Information, including AMHCA Membership Category. An active AMHCA membership is not required to submit a proposal, but is required to present at the annual conference.
• Presentation Title (75 Characters Maximum)
• Program Categories
• Type of Presentation (Oral or Poster, Single or Multiple Presenters, Panel)
• Level of Program: Introductory, Intermediate or Advanced
• Contact Information for Co‐Presenters
• CV/Resume for all presenters (to include all licenses and degrees)
• Short Biography for Each Presenter (50 Words Maximum for Each Presenter)
• Presentation Annotation (50 Words Maximum – for use in program, web, etc.)
• Program Description to include:
  • Program Abstract to be used in conference program (400 Words Maximum, follow APA style requirements). Please describe your program in a way that engages potential attendees and clearly identifies what they will take away.
  • Learning Objectives: Please share 3 learning objectives from this presentation. Please clearly state measurable learning objectives.  Course objectives must be realant to mental health counseling and state how the content will help the clinician become a more proficient practitioner in providing client care.
  • Supporting evidence (What is the evidence to support your proposal? Does it rest on or extend an existing body of literature? Does it show an innovative application of existing evidence? Do you have any anecdotal or program evaluation data to support your claims? Please briefly synthesize the evidence to justify the merit of your proposal).
  • Description of presentation format. (Provide a rough outline of what you will do during your session. For instance, will it be primarily didactic/lecture with questions at the end or more interactive with activities and questions throughout? Be sure to connect the format with the type of presentation you selected and account for enough time matching your selected length.)
  • Description of accompanying materials or handouts.
  • How does your presentation address multicultural perspectives and elevate diversity?
  • How does your presentation align with conference theme of: Rooted in the Past; Growing Towards the Future
• Presenters must also be prepared to answer the following questions:
  • Marketing: Are you selling or endorsing a product or service?
  • Commitment: Do you agree to register for the conference and be present for the presentation? Failure to register by December 31, 2025 may result in losing the privilege to present.
  • Cancellations will result in a forfeit of registration fees paid.
  • Audio Recording Release: Are you willing to have the session audio-recorded?
  • Agree to all Terms & Conditions, including AMHCA Conference Disclosure Requirements
  • A/V Needs: All breakout rooms will be equipped with an LCD projector and screen. Any additional equipment (computer, microphone, phone, etc) must be provided by the presenter or arranged directly with the conference organizer at the presenter’s expense.

If any of this information is not included, the presentation will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

AMHCA actively works to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act.
Tips for Preparing a PowerPoint Presentation:

• Use a sans serif font that is at least 22 point
• A light colored background with dark text is preferred
• Use a plain background without any watermark, photo, or design behind the text
• Use a PowerPoint as an outline for your presentation, with only short sentences and/or bulleted phrases (about 4 lines of text / 40 words per slide)
• Keep it short. As a rule, one slide for every two minutes of speaking time
• Photographs, images, clip art, graphics, maps, and charts cannot be read by screen readers - embed "Alt Text" descriptions with images
• Include verbal descriptions of all photos / images during your presentation

Presentation Formats

Presentations are designed to be interactive and produce identifiable outcomes. This year, we are accepting proposals for various presentation formats: 

Breakout Sessions 
Various lengths (1 hour, 1.25 hours, 1.5 hours or 3.5 hours).
Presentations are designed to be interactive and produce identifiable outcomes. Presentations may be made by single or multiple presenters, or in panel formats. Breakout sessions can focus on any of the following:

1. Critical synthesis of existing literature that informs innovative perspectives
2. Innovative applications of existing models
3. Novel program designs
4. Experiential activities
5. Clinical demonstrations and role-plays with discussion afterwards
6. Panel discussions
7. Moderated discussion on a timely topic

Poster Presentations
Poster Presentations are displays of innovative practices and award‐winning programs, documents and ideas/questions. Posters will be placed throughout the conference and presenters will be available at select times to answer questions about the materials displayed. AMHCA will provide easels for your poster presentation. Posters should not exceed the standard poster board size of 36” x 48”. 

This year, we are seeking presentations in the following areas: 

• Advocacy and Leadership
• Aging Adults
• Children and Adolescents
• Couples and Families
• Crisis Counseling
• Diversity and Multiculturalism
• Ethics
• Forensic Evaluation
• Gender Identities and Sexual Orientations
• Immigration and Human Trafficking
• Integrated Care, Practice Issues, and Healthcare Reform
• Military and Veterans
• Neurodiversity
• Neuroscience/Biological Bases of Behavior
• Specialized Clinical Assessments
• Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders
• Supervision
• Technology Assisted Treatments (Telemental Health, Virtual Reality, Biofeedback, etc)
• Trauma
• General/Other

Conference Home

Call for Proposals

Submission Guidelines