Background On March 31, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued its 8-1 decision in Chiles v. Salazar, holding that Colorado’s Minor Conversion Therapy Law — which prohibited licensed mental health professionals from using talk therapy to attempt to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity — constitutes viewpoint-based regulation of speech in violation…
February 24, 2026 – The New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) is proud to announce that Assembly Bill A5894A, with companion Senate Bill S6912, has officially passed the New York State Assembly and is moving forward in the Senate. This legislation amends New York’s Workers’ Compensation Law to formally recognize licensed mental health counselors…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Steven PerdekEmail: sperdek@nymhca.orgPhone: 800-4NYMHCA Albany, NY – January 8, 2026 – The New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA), representing the thousands of Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) across New York State, proudly announces its strong support for Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest State of the State proposals aimed at combating the youth mental…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) Condemns Department of Education’s Reclassification Proposal: A Direct Threat to the Mental Health Workforce ALBANY, NY – The New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) vehemently opposes the recent proposal by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and its RISE Committee to redefine “professional degree”…
The New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) is pleased to announce that Governor Kathy Hochul has signed NYS Assembly Bill A8045 / Senate Bill S7622 into law, extending the temporary exemption period for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) to gain the required experience for diagnostic privilege. The exemption period now ends on June 24, 2027.…
Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act that aims to protect children and adolescents from social media harms, making New York the latest state to take action against intrusive and dangerous practices of social media companies. The New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) fully supports the SAFE…
The New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) enthusiastically supports Governor Kathy Hochul and SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. for their visionary leadership in securing $100,000 annually for each SUNY campus to enhance mental health services for students as part of the 2025 budget. This substantial investment underscores a critical commitment to the mental…
The New York Mental Health Counselors Association has joined 18 other organizations to oppose a bill currently in the NYS Legislature (A.10009 / S.9214) that would enact the “Health Care Professional Transparency Act.” The name implies the law would be beneficial but, in fact, it’s not. “This bill is a blatant attempt to undermine public…
The New York Mental Health Counselors Association has submitted a memorandum of opposition to the New York State Assembly and Senate opposing Assembly bill A8464-A/Senate bill S8765A, which would create a certification within the Office of of Mental Health toward a “Qualified Mental Health Association (QMHA).”
The New York Mental Health Counselors Association has submitted a memorandum of opposition to the New York State Assembly and Senate opposing Assembly bill A5291/Senate bill S5975, which would eliminate the exam requirement for those seeking to become licensed master social workers (LMSWs).
