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Welcome Dr. Beverly Smith, the 45th President of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)

By Whitney Meyerhoeffer posted 07-23-2021 11:23

  

AMHCA is pleased to welcome the 45th President of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), Dr. Beverly Smith.

Dr. Smith has professional counseling experience in various settings including private practice, public education, corrections, community counseling, and in higher education. She is the owner and principal therapist of BSmith Consulting Group, LLC. Dr. Smith is an adjunct professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mercer University teaching Psychopathology & Diagnosis, Cultural Perspectives in Counseling, and Ethics. She is a proud two-time graduate of Tuskegee University (B.S.-Biology, M.Ed.-Counseling & Higher Education) and earned counseling degrees from Troy University (Ed.S.) as well as Amridge University (Ph.D.). Additionally, Dr. Smith has a certificate in Administration and Leadership from Kennesaw State University.

 

Dr. Smith will focus on

  • Leadership, Advocacy & Strategic Support (LASS): Enhance the organizational infrastructure, revisit strategic planning with SWOT analysis, create an ad hoc finance committee, create an Interstate PC Compact Taskforce and establish a Leadership Institute
  • Multiculturalism & Social Justice (MSJ): Create a MSJ Taskforce, attend to post COVID-19 culture & climate, develop relevant culturally competent standards, develop certificate modules for trauma, disaster mental health, and neuroscience counseling
  • Membership Services Recruitment & Retention (MSRR): Create a MSRR Committee and a Member Engagement Program (Volunteer Program & Training) and host quarterly town hall meetings

“It is an honor to serve as president of our esteem organization as we begin Reimagining AMHCA in an era of COVID-19. As with many others, the encounter of COVID-19 was an abrupt interruption to our personal and professional lives. Some of us found ourselves, families, organizations, and communities in spaces of collective uncertainties. We still do not know when COVID-19 would end and the long-hauler effects. Thus, this past year has been undoubtably challenging for some and enormously difficult for others,” Smith said. “As an organization, we realize the need to pivot very quickly and to adapt to the ever-changing needs of those we serve. This realization made Reimagining AMHCA our number priority for growth and sustainability.”

Look for her upcoming article in The Advocate Magazine and an announcement about her first town hall meeting!

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