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MaMHCA

Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc.

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  • 08/07/2025 11:27 AM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)

    This is an LMHC License Renewal Year!

    Over 30 workshops are already scheduled between September 1 and December 13, with new sessions added frequently.

    Registration for all events is now open.

    Remember to register early, as some workshops have limited "seats" even if they are on Zoom.

    All registration closes 5 business days prior to the workshop, even if there are still 'seat's available.

    MaMHCA does not maintain a waitlist, so please, don't wait to register.

    Remember to obtain your 30 CEUs before December 31, 2025. 

  • 08/05/2025 7:27 PM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)
    On July 28th, several of MaMHCA's staff and board members testified around bills H.2218 and S.1380

    "Thank you, Chairpersons Domb, and Velis, Vice Chairs and honorable members of the Joint committee for holding this very important hearing to improve the behavioral health and wellbeing of those consuming mental health and substance use services in the Commonwealth. I’d additionally like to thank Senator Brady and Representative LaNatra for being the primary sponsor for this important bill and to all those who signed up to cosponsor.

    We’re asking that you support H2218 and S1380 and report these bills out favorably.
    First and foremost, this legislation directly addresses the critical workforce shortage in our behavioral health system. By updating job classifications to explicitly include Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselors (LSMHCs), we’re unlocking a highly trained and underutilized segment of the mental health workforce.These professionals are already qualified under state licensure to provide care—but outdated job specs prevent many from serving in key roles. This simple change modernizes our hiring pipeline and fills critical vacancies faster.

    When we integrate LMHCs and LSMHCs into roles overseen by EOHHS such as DMH, DYS, DCF, and DPH, we’re not just improving hiring, we’re expanding access to care in the places that need it most. Children in foster care, youth in the justice system, families in crisis, these are populations who often wait too long for services. This language ensures our systems can recruit professionals who are already licensed to provide therapy, crisis intervention, and care coordination. That means earlier interventions, fewer escalations, and healthier outcomes across
    the board.

    Another key benefit: LMHCs and LSMHCs represent a diverse and growing part of the behavioral health workforce. They are more likely to be bilingual, work in underserved areas, and reflect the cultural backgrounds of the communities they serve. This change not only makes hiring more inclusive, it builds a more equitable and sustainable system over time. And by ensuring that job classifications reflect current scopes of practice, we send a strong signal that we value all licensed professionals equally in our behavioral health response.
    Additionally, this is a fiscally responsible move. We already license these professionals, they’re ready and willing to work. There's no additional training cost, no need for new positions, just a correction to outdated administrative language. And given the deadline of September 1st, it ensures timely implementation without delaying services.

    Lastly, EOHHS has recently accomplished this by a regulation change this past December in relation to MassHealth and their job and payment schedules.

    I urge you to support this language because it’s efficient, equitable, and essential to fixing workforce gaps that directly impact the mental health of our most vulnerable residents. Thank you for your time and commitment to strengthening our behavioral health system."

  • 07/08/2025 3:35 PM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)

    Thank you to everyone who voted in our President-Elect 2025 elections! We are delighted to introduce Ariel Axelrod as our President-Elect.


    MaMHCA is honored to serve the needs of our members and encourages all members to make their voices heard through elections, attending board meetings, or reaching out to us directly.

  • 06/16/2025 10:26 AM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)

    MaMHCA's Summer Institute is soon to be in session! Join us from Monday July 14th to Friday July 25th. Check out Bringing your Private Practice to Life, Supervision in Eating Disorder Treatment, and Improvisational Group Therapy. Register today!

  • 04/16/2025 3:27 PM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)

    The legislative session is now in full swing. Committee assignments have been finalized, and hearings are already underway on key issues affecting our communities. As bills are introduced and begin moving through the legislative process, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and engaged.

    We will be posting updates on our website, www.mamhca.org as they become available, including bill summaries, hearing schedules, and calls to action. Be sure to check back regularly to stay in the loop.

    In the meantime, here are a few ways you can stay engaged:

    • Contact Your Legislators: Reach out to your state representatives and senators to share your perspective. Personal stories and thoughtful messages can have a real impact.

    1. If you need assistance finding your legislator, please visit here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator 
    • Track Legislation: Use your state legislature’s official website to follow bills and committee agendas.

    1. Register for MyLegislature by going here:  https://malegislature.gov for more information, follow our guide on our website
    • Watch or Attend Hearings: Many hearings are streamed online or open to the public. Observing these sessions can give you valuable insight into the process and priorities.

    • Join Our Alerts List: Become a member and get access to our full newsletter or advocacy alerts to receive timely updates and opportunities to take action.

    Your voice matters. Whether you're new to advocacy or a seasoned policy watcher, now is the time to stay involved and speak up.

    For more resources and to follow legislative developments, visit www.mamhca.org

  • 04/16/2025 9:00 AM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)

    After many years, LMHCs are included providers for Medicare. MaMHCA highly recommends that you choose to opt-in or opt-out.

    If you do not know that someone has Medicare, and they ask for a private contract, you would be in a position of being out of compliance.

    If someone needs to get on Medicare during the course of treatment, you will then have to then make a decision to opt-out or in or transfer their case.

    Upon knowing you have a Medicare-covered client, you have 10 days to submit an opt-out affidavit.

    For more information on opting-in, please watch our Medicare Opt In Video and review the Opt In Slides.

    For more information on opting-out, please watch our Medicare Opt Out Video and review the Opt Out Slides.

  • 03/06/2025 11:16 AM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)

    Nominations to MaMHCA's Executive Board are now open for the position of President-Elect. You may nominate yourself or another person who is an LMHC in good standing for at least one year prior to nomination, a member of MaMHCA,  has served on the MaMHCA board for at least 6 months prior to nomination, and able to serve a 6 year term (President-Elect, President, Past-President) at the beginning of July. Nominations close at the end of March.

  • 03/06/2025 11:10 AM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)
    The Haberman-Williams Scholarship is open for applications. This scholarship rewards MaMHCA members currently in graduate school who exemplify the ideal mental health counseling graduate student, as demonstrated by academic performance and commitment to the counseling field. Applications close on May 31, 2025, apply online today!
  • 02/05/2025 1:37 PM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)

    MaMHCA has filed 3 pieces of legislation.

    SD2089 An Act Establishing a Board of Registration of Licensed Mental Health CounselorsThis is also being worked to get a late filing from a representative. As of now we have freshman representatives Badger and Sweezey working on getting a late filing done.

    Rep. LaNatra and Sen. Brady both sponsored 2 additional pieces of legislation. HD1465/SD471 An Act to Further Advance Behavioral Workforce Development  and HD1470/SD472 An Act Expanding Access to Mental Health Services and Strengthening Risk Assessment Protocols.

    In addition, our Public Policy and Legislative Director, Joe Weeks, is working with Rep. LaNatra's office to ensure the board moves forward with it's mandates to rollout the LSMHC, MaCCS, and to appoint the additional LMHC board members as directed in the 2022 legislation.

    The docket numbers will change to bill numbers in the coming weeks. Sometimes this can be confusing as the numbers will change in their entirety once committees have been assigned and bills moved accordingly to those committees. The committee assignments and bill distributions will be happening within the next two weeks so stay tuned. For now, you can contact your legislators and ask them to cosponsor the bills above.
  • 01/29/2025 2:14 PM | Aleeya Ensign (Administrator)

    Thank you to all members who have been attending and participating in our new MaMHCA clinical book club! So far, we have had THREE scheduled events, every other month to review books on our current home study list. Due to popular demand, we will continue this offering, as there is no limit to wonderful books out there.

    So you can keep up with your reading, here are the next three offerings! Keep an eye out for reminders in your emails:

    March, 10th : “No Bad Parts” by Richard Schwartz, Ph.D.

    May, 19th : “Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy” by Sue Johnson

    July, 14th : “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers” y Robert Sapolsky

    Happy reading, and we hope to see you there!

    Membership Committee

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