Presented by:
Jim Messina, Ph.D. , NCC, CCMHC

What are the Hallmarks of a Profession?
• Professional Membership Organization
• Code of Ethics
• Research into Effectiveness of Service Delivery
• Certification and Licensure
• Accreditation

The National Professional Association of Mental Health Counselors
American Mental Health
Counselors Association

CODES OF ETHICS
Governing
Mental Health Counselors

Research in the field is Reported in
AMHCA’s Journal

• NCC: National Certified Counselor – Over
48,000
• CCMHC: Certified Clinical Mental Health
Counselor – Over 1,000 are CCMHC’s

State Licensure-FL 491License Board
In Florida
• 7,784 Licensed Mental Health Counselors
• 1,545 Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists
• 10,070 Licensed Social Workers
In USA
• 120,429 Licensed Professional Counselors
• 54,785 Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists
• 202,924 Licensed Social Workers

74 Graduate Programs in the USA are CACREP approved in Clinical Mental
Health Counseling
In Florida they are:
1.
Argosy Sarasota
2.
Barry University
3.
Florida Atlantic University
4.
Florida Gulf Coast University
5.
Florida International University
6.
Florida State University
7.
Rollins College
8.
Troy University Southeast Region: Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Walton Beach,
Panama City & Pensacola
9.
University of Central Florida
10.
University of Florida
11.
University of North Florida
12.
University of South Florida
Online:
1.
Cappella University
2.
Walden University

SO! What do Mental Health
Counselors Do?
Mental Health Counselors offer full range of services:
• Assessment & diagnosis
• Treatment planning and utilization review
• Psychotherapy
• Brief and solution-focused therapy
• Alcoholism and substance abuse treatment
• Psycho-educational & prevention programs
• Crisis management
• Trauma Intervention

Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals

What Skills Do Mental Health
Counselors Need?
• Ability to understand dynamics of Human
Development to capture good psychosocial history of clients
• Diagnosis of and treatment for behavioral pathology
• Evidenced based practices in psychotherapy to provide credible treatment to clients
• Understanding of basic neuroscience of brain and nervous system to understand roots of emotional responses to life’s stressors
• Understanding of psychopharmacological treatment of psychopathology

History Timeline of Creation of
Mental Health Counseling Profession
• 1976 – Coining of term Mental Health Counselor and formation of American Mental Health
Counselor’s Association as Division of ACA
• 1979 – Creation of the National Academy of
Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors
• 1981 – First State Law to license Mental Health
Counselors put into effect in Florida
• 1985 – AMHCA had over 12,000 members
• 2011 – AMHCA put out its newest Standards of
Practice in Mental Health Counseling

What are the future prospects for the profession?
• Recognized for VA Positions in VA Hospitals and
Field Agencies
• Hope to soon be recognized for Medicare Services
• Increased work in Behavioral Medicine in
Hospitals, Rehab Centers, and Primary Care
Physicians’ Offices
• Increased work in Substance Abuse and Alcohol
Treatment Facilities
• Increased work in Courts as Custody Evaluators

What Training is Needed to Become a
Mental Health Counselor?
• Masters in Mental Health Counseling – 60 hours including courses in all aspects of the field, plus a practicum and Internship
• 2 years post Master Internship under supervision of LMHC or registered supervisor prior to becoming licensed
• Pass the Master’s Comps and Licensing Exam

Where does one get
Mental Health Counseling training?
• CACREP accredited Mental Health Counseling
Graduate programs either
1.
in person on ground or
2.
Online or
3.
Hybrid mix of on ground and online

• Graduate from your Undergraduate Program
• Take the GRE or MAT
• Apply to CACREP accredited Masters Degree
Programs
• Get accepted
• Enjoy the ride to becoming a Recognized Mental
Health Professional as a Mental Health
Counselor!