MCCA is a
State chapter of the
American
Mental Health Counselors Association
MCCA is a
State chapter of the
American
Mental Health Counselors Association
Mental health counselors are uniquely qualified to provide high quality care that's more affordable than other practitioners.
Mental health counseling is a distinct profession with national standards for education, training and clinical practice.
The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is the professional membership organization that represents the mental health counseling profession. Clinical membership in AMHCA requires a master's degree in counseling or a closely related mental health field and adherence to AMHCA's National Standards for Clinical Practice.
Graduate education and clinical training prepare mental health counselors to provide a full range of services for individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children. The core areas of mental health programs approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs include:
Licensure requirements for mental health counselors are equivalent to those for clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists - two other disciplines that require a master's degree for independent status.
A licensed mental health counselor has met or exceeded the following professional qualifications:
Mental health counselors practice in a variety of settings, including independent practice, community agencies, managed behavioral health care organizations, integrated delivery systems, hospitals, employee assistance programs and substance abuse treatment centers. Mental health counselors are highly skilled professionals who provide a full range of services including:
In today's managed care environment, mental health counselors are uniquely qualified to meet the challenges of providing high quality care in a cost-effective manner. Mental health counselors provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. They combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical problem solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution.
According to the report, "Mental Health, United States, 2002" published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
More than 100,000 professional counselors are licensed or certified for independent practice in the United States.
The majority of national behavioral health managed care companies reimburse mental health counselors for services they provide.
The median cost per session for mental health counselors is $85, compared to a median cost of $100 and $145 for psychologists and psychiatrists respectively, according to the October 2000 issue of Psychotherapy Finances.
Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia license or certify mental health counselors for private practice.
Mental health counselors adhere to a rigorous code of ethics.
For further information about the profession of mental health counseling, including licensure, scope of practice, practice standards and ethics, contact the
American Mental Health Counselors Association at:
(703) 548-6002 or (800) 326-2642.
Published with permission of the American Mental Health Counselors Association