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P.O. Box 1217, Meridian, Idaho 83680
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Letter from our President,
Julie Thompson, LPC
Sitting out on my small patio, surrounded by the fruits of my husband’s labor, the early summer blooms and budding trees, despite the disagreeable climate, I am reminded, this is why we do the work, (or I should say, why he does the work :) ! Eventually, the snow recedes, the sun coaxes everything back into a full production and for a few months, we are in heaven.
In thinking about how to address our members on the eve of my official induction into presidency I found a pleasant parallel to my patio realization.
There have been significant efforts in recent years to propel our profession’s status so that we might have equitable opportunity to provide client services as other professionals in related fields do. In reviewing this last years progress I am asking myself, “What has been gained?”
I have been so impressed with the wisdom, motivation, resourcefulness and raw determination of the individuals who have committed themselves to our professional cause as Mental Health Counselors, not to mention the incredible patience they exemplify. I have had moments of feeling discouraged by recent failed efforts to successfully pass legislation that would have allowed us professional recognition as independent providers. Over three years have passed since President Bush signed into law the “Veterans Benefits Act” and yet there are still several steps that must be accomplished before counselors can be on par with LCSWs when providing mental health services to Veterans. It seems we are in the late winter phase of mental health professionals coming into their own and sometimes it feels like spring will never come.
However, I have to remind myself, we are still young as a profession and we are just now hitting our stride. We have the advantage as counselors of being visionary and generally optimistic in our pursuit of change. No other profession is more committed to defining and sustaining the gold standard when it comes to professional ethics. We are a profession that is driven by our hearts, because if we listened to our heads, we would never have chosen to be in this field :). We are creative, compassionate, long suffering, and connected. Our cause is worthy and eventually our efforts will bare incredible fruit. Spring for our profession is coming. There are still some storms to weather and we will weather them.
These are exciting times. I am given such an amazing opportunity to be a part of this great board that serves IMHCA and more so than ever, I am ever appreciative of being surrounded by such competent, hard working and caring individuals that currently make up the IMHCA board. I will be relying on their wisdom and intuition to guide me in this position.
Janet Allen has been a great mentor and she continues to be a strong advocate for positive change in the profession. Those will be hard shoes to fill. Dana Hunt Unruh continues to put her heart and soul into defining and refining the curriculum that helps our members meet the ethical standards required for continued licensure. I am thrilled she has agreed to run for the position as the next President Elect. Eric Pettingill has put in many hours keeping our board and members up to date on legislative developments along with helping to guide us in effective ways of responding to legislative actions currently impacting our field.
Charmagne Westcott, in charge of IMHCA’s Publications, is central in keeping us connected and achieves this in the most efficient and resourceful ways and our Treasurer Nichole Jordan does an amazing job of keeping us in the black. I am unsure what has happened with past representation from Northern ID, however, it seems that Dean Allen as Representative goes above the call of duty in all that he does with keeping our bylaws updated and making sure we are honoring guidelines set for board operations. It goes without saying that this board continues to benefit from its association with Diana Pals whom recently has taken the post for President Elect for ICA. There are many others behind the scenes who get little credit for all that they contribute.
We, as counselors, are a network of incredible force. I have no doubt we are on the edge of some amazing breakthroughs! Spring is eminent and the long winter will only makes us more appreciate the fruits of our labor.
I look forward to serving you!
