NEHCA began with grassroots meetings of holistically-trained counseling professionals in 1987. Two conferences followed calling New England Holistic Counselor to explore a new counseling paradigm. By-laws were adopted and officers elected in 1992 as a 501(c)3 organization.
It is the intention of NEHCA to promote responsible practice in the field of holistic counseling and to advocate for public acceptance and legislative recognition. Networking and educational events are offered on a regular basis, and an annual conference is held in April of each year.
An active group of dedicated professionals form NEHCA's Governing Council and Committees. They are working hard to be responsive to the needs of its members and to the changing paradigm. All members are encouraged to become involved in the work of NEHCA's committees and to support the activities of the association.
In January 1993, NEHCA began certifying Professional Holistic Counselor. At that time two levels of certification were created: Provisional Certification, which was granted for a two-year period (with one two-year extension allowed), and Final Certification. Both levels of certification allowed a counselor to use the designation "CPHC" (Certified Professional Holistic Counselor) after his/her name. Beginning January 1, 2004, these two levels of certification were combined into one process. A counselor had to have at least one year post-graduation from an accredited Master's degree program in holistic counseling (or related counseling graduate program) and have a certain minimum level of counseling experience and supervision hours to begin the revised certification process. We discontinued this process. If you are interested in a future certification program, please contact NEHCA.
Rhode IslandMental Health Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapists StatuteMassachusetts
MH and MFT Therapist Qualifications
Contact: Division of Health Services Regulation (RI Board of MH Counselor and MFT Therapists)
Unlicensed Health Care Practices Statute
Unlicensed Health Care Client�s Bill of Rights
General Law on Mental Health CounselorConnecticut
Mental Health Counselor Requirements
Contact: Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health Professionals
Professional Counselor Statute
Contact: CT Licensing Info Center (requirements)
NEHCA has a Student Chapter located at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI. Student members join together informally in networking groups and plan events per school year. Student events are open to all students (and graduates) in the Holistic Counseling program at Salve, and any guests they would like to invite. Matriculated students in the Holistic Counseling program may join NEHCA at the student membership level.
Salve Regina University, Newport, RI
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
"The counselor is as effective as he/she is living effectively." - Carkhuff
"Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." - William James
"What is good is not yin or yang but the dynamic balance between the two; what is bad or harmful is imbalance." - The Tao
"He then learns that in going down into the secrets of his own mind he has descended into the secrets of all minds." - Emerson
"The heart has its reasons that the mind knows nothing of." - Blaise Pascal
"One hears through the heart, not the eyes or the intellect." - Mark Twain
"If you observe well, your own heart will answer." - R. A. Schwallerde Lubicz
"For the secret of man's being is not only to live but to have something to live for." - Dostoyevsky
"We're so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it is all about." - Joseph Campbell