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Becoming Essential

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHCs) are Primary Health Care Providers. We are uniquely educated and licensed in ways that make us distinct from the other mental health professions. Like members of the other mental health professions (Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy), we have either a master's or doctoral degree. In our graduate studies, we become qualified in psychopathology and in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. But philosophically, we are distinctly trained to be holistic and strength-based in working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. In addition, we strive to focus on treating both the symptoms and causes of mental and emotional concerns.

Promote Overall Wellness and Well-being

As Primary Mental Health Care Providers LCMHCs offer a remarkable combination of holistic focus, rigorous training, and advanced practice experience prepares them for careers that promote public health.

• Assessment and diagnosis
• Psychotherapy
• Treatment planning and utilization review
• Trauma informed care
• Solution-focused therapy
• Alcoholism and substance use treatment
• Treatment for multiple mental disorders (e.g. addiction and PTSD)
• Integrated behavioral health coordinated with Primary Care Physicians and other medical providers (e.g. psychiatric medication monitoring, diabetic life-style management, etc.)
• Psychoeducational and prevention programs
• Crisis Management

• The Clinical Mental Health Counselor Declaration: A Hippocratic Pledge
• AMHCA Code of Ethics
• AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Career guidance
• Career credentials and board certifications

Other AMHCA Publications

• The Journal of Mental Health Counseling
• The Advocate Magazine
• Practice Guidelines

AMHCA members elevate themselves and the profession by practicing with integrity and being knowledgeable about the foundational documents of their profession.

Becoming a member of the profession presumes engagement with the national organization dedicated solely to Clinical Mental Health Counselors: The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). 

There are real benefits for joining AMHCA as well as one of the state chapters (e.g. low-cost insurance, up-to-date information, etc.).

It has never been a better time to become a part of this rapidly growing profession.