NJMHCA - New Jersey Mental Health Counselors Association

Dear One and All,

Our organization represents mental health clinicians in all types of settings - schools, agencies, and private practice. We are dedicated to improving mental health services for the consumer on a state and national level as well as advocating for all Licensed Professional and Licensed Associate Counselors (LPC and LAC) in the state of New Jersey. Licensed Professional and Licensed Associate Counselors are master level clinicians who have attained their licenses following a rigorous program of study and experience. Their license is renewable every two years with a requirement of continuing education. They utilize many different theories of psychology and counseling along with practical and skill based resources. If you are seeking a counselor, please click on FIND A COUNSELOR for a selection of names and location in your area. We believe the information found on this website will be beneficial to both clinicians and consumers. We hope you agree! If you have any suggestions or comments, email us at presidentelect@njmhca.org

Join in the celebration of Mental Health Month in May and Mental Health Counseling Week, May 5-11, 2008.

Each year, Mental Health Counseling Week helps to educate parents and families, communities, schools, health policymakers and insurers, health professionals and employers about the importance of good mental health and the profession of mental health counseling.

The 2008 theme is Mental Health Awareness and the first–ever Mental Health Awareness Day will take place on May 7, 2008.

This year's Honorary Chair is Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), a longtime advocate for the passage of comprehensive mental health parity legislation.

"I am confident that our nation’s mental health counselors will continue in their quest to improve the lives of their fellow Americans and I salute them for their devotion in helping others."
-- Senator Orrin G. Hatch

Get Involved!

PBS Special on Depression
On May 21, 2008, PBS will broadcast nationally Depression: Out of the Shadows. The show tells the dramatic stories of people of different ages, from diverse backgrounds, who live with various forms of depression and explores the causes and treatments. AMHCA is proud to be a promotional partner of this program. Learn more about the program.

March for Mental Health
AMHCA's Foundation, AMHCF, kicks off Mental Health Counseling Month with a March for Mental Health on March 3. The event is coordinated through AHMCA's state chapters; please contact your chapter for details about the march in your area. Find your chapter.

Mental Health Stamp Petition
More than 20,000 AMHCA members, friends, colleagues, and members of the public support AMHCA's drive to have the U.S. Postal Service issue a new commemorative stamp celebrating mental health awareness.

"The time has come. This country and all of its inhabitants could benefit from the subtle but powerful message that would come from a mental health awareness stamp. Take ACTION NOW."
An AMHCA member in Cedar Falls, Iowa
"This stamp would not only be a factor in raising the importance of Mental Health Awareness but a catalyst in the initiation of conversation regarding the topic. This open dialogue will lead to questions that will lead to research, which in turn lead to answers. The more the general public is educated to this, stigma and fear will fade as compassion and understanding begin to prevail."
An AMHCA member in Sacramento, Calif.

Download the stamp petition. You are welcome to make as many copies as you wish.

Please join AMHCA's national initiative to emphasize the positive aspects of Mental Health for every individual. Contact your local AMHCA chapter to find out how you can help promote national Mental Health Counseling Week. Find your chapter

For more information, contact: Katarina Briedova at AMHCA headquarters.
Phone: 1-800-326-2642
FAX: 703 548-4775
www.amhca.org

Employment Opportunities
DoD Program Seeks Mental Health Counselors to Work with Military Families
Are you thinking about a change? Ready to move away from the traditional clinical hour? Can you see yourself learning military structure and working within that structure? Do you have a desire to travel to military installations—stateside and overseas—to support active-duty members, National Guard, and their families? Independently licensed mental health counselors are needed for the Military & Family Life Consultant (MFLC) Program. Driven by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the MFLC Program was created in 2004 to support service members and their families. MFLC services supplement existing counseling services on military installations. The role of the MFLC counselor is not a traditional counseling role. Rather, MFLCs offer confidential, informal support, outreach, problem-solving to military personnel and families—but this is not a clinical hour. Support may be provided in the form of individual coaching or in psychoeducational groups. Opportunities are available for both summer programs and as year-round consultants. Consultants generally work during business hours, but may be asked to respond after hours in urgent situations. Consultants have been placed in assignments throughout the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and the Pacific Rim, but consultants are not sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. The amount of time worked weekly varies according to assignment, but MFLCs on rotational assignments typically work full 40-hour weeks. When consultants travel to a distant location for an assignment and need to stay near the base, they are reimbursed for their travel, lodging, and meals. For assignments close to the practitioner’s home, a mileage reimbursement is available. Payment for rotational assignments (30 to 90 days, usually) and on-demand (1 to 3 days, usually weekends) assignments is based on $55/hour. Expertise with young children is required for assignments with MFLC Child and Youth Services, Summer Youth Programs. For more information about this important work, contact dod.inquiry@healthnet.com.

As a service to its members NJMHCA provides job postings in the field, but does not necessarily endorse all listed employers.