Thank You, Invitation and Compact Presentation

Dear MMHCA Members,

First and foremost, thank you. We deeply appreciate your support, your participation in our consultation groups and events, and your emails. Your membership makes our work possible—including maintaining a lobbyist, which is essential in navigating the evolving landscape in Lansing and advancing our organization’s goals. It’s been a pleasure connecting with many of you already, and we look forward to continuing to grow and work together in the months and years ahead. 

In-person get together in Lansing!

You’re invited! Please join us from 3pm - 6pm on Friday, April 25th, at 3970 Heritage Ave, Okemos, MI 48864. The first hour will be a meet and greet with snacks! At 4pm Chris DeBoer will present and facilitate an open discussion about Counseling in Times of Collective Stress. This is open to members and non-member guests.

What happens when we are affected by the same large-scale stressors as our clients—such as a pandemic, natural disasters, or other distressing events? How do we continue to provide support when we are also experiencing the weight of these challenges?

This in-person discussion offers a space to reflect on how shared adversity shapes our clinical work and to explore practical ways to support our clients—while also caring for our own well-being as therapists.

Open house RSVP Link.  Refreshments will be provided based on RSVP numbers.

Compact Presentation at the Building Bridges Conference for Counselors

We’re proud to tell you that Board members Chris DeBoer, Carol Berger, Dr. Joy Creel and Dr. Larry Pfaff presented on the Counseling Compact to about 60 people at the Building Bridges Conference at EMU on 4/11/25. We surveyed the people in attendance after our presentation and they responded as depicted in the following graphs. 

People seemed grateful to learn about the Counseling Compact and asked good questions. Adopting the Counseling Compact is a big decision for our state. We plan to continue educating Michigan Counselors about the Compact so we can make an informed decision as a collective about what is best for us in Michigan.

Member Amy Szaraz joined the presenters for a picture.

Save the date 4/10/26 for the conference next year!!

Email us at MMHCABOARD@mmhcanow.org with any questions or comments.

In Service,

MMHCA’s Board

Chris DeBoer, President

Krystin Sankey, Treasurer

Carol Berger, Secretary

Dr. Joy Creel, Member at Large

Dr. Larry Pfaff, Member at Large

Lauri Rowe, Member at Large

Dr. Elizabeth Teklinski, Outreach & Education Chair

Links you may find useful:

Our website MMHCANOW.org

LINK to the Counseling Compact website

"Answers to Michigan Counselors’ Questions about the Counseling Compact."

📌 Listen to the Audio Version: [Click here]

📌 Download the Written Report: [Click here]

LINK to our 1/30/25 Compact report

LINK to a 17 minute overview of the Compact by Chris DeBoer

LINK to 58 min video about vertical integration in Mental Health by Chris DeBoer

LINK to MMHCA's 2024 accomplishments

LINK to MMHCA’s 2025 accomplishments so far

LINK to MMHCA’s LinkedIn group.

LINK to MMHCA's YouTube channel

LINK to MMHCA's FaceBook page. Please follow us!