NEHCA began with grassroots meetings of holistically-trained counseling professionals in 1987. Two conferences followed calling New England Holistic Counselors 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 Counselors. 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 must be 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. A new brochure is available describing the details of this revised process.

Why become certified? Certification is evidence of a counselor's commitment to high standards, and is intended to be a source of acceptance and recognition for Holistic Counselors in the field of human services.

Purpose of certification:

• To demonstrate publicly that you have met a minimum standard of education and have documented experience in Holistic Counseling;
• To foster the integration of personal and professional growth;
• To provide evidence of professional credibility and commitment to public safety;
• To provide a standard of accountability to your peers and clients;
• To promote collegiality with other health and human service professionals;
• To advance public awareness of Holistic Counseling.

For more information on certification and eligibility requirements, contact NEHCA.

Rhode Island

Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists Statute
MH and MFT Therapist Qualifications
Contact: Division of Health Services Regulation (RI Board of MH Counselors and MFT Therapists)
Unlicensed Health Care Practices Statute
Unlicensed Health Care Client�s Bill of Rights

Massachusetts

General Law on Mental Health Counselors
Mental Health Counselor Requirements
Contact: Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health Professionals

Connecticut

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 at least two workshop events per school year. These events involve presentations on holistic topics by invited speakers after which there is discussion and socializing. The 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

• MA in Holistic Counseling
• CAGS in Mental Health
• CAGS in Expressive Arts
• Expressive Arts Institute
  

Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

• MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Holistic Studies Specialization
• MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Expressive Therapies Specialization
• MA in Expressive Therapies and Mental Health Counseling
• MA in Expressive Therapies
• CAGS in Expressive Therapies

HOL-COUNSEL is an online discussion using email to discuss Holistic Counseling topics.
The discussion is open to anyone. Click here to join the discussion list.
The listowner is Diane Kulha.

"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

American Counseling Association (ACA)
Liability Insurance through the ACA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
ACA State Mental Health Licensure Chart
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Exams

The Hakomi Institute
International Expressive Arts Therapy Association
EMDR Institute, Inc.
EMDR International Association
Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Belleruth Naparstek's Guided Imagery Resource
Mind and Life Institute
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute

Center For Women & Enterprise
RI Office of Training and Development
RI Dept of Mental Health, Retardation, and Hospitals
RI Council of Community Mental Health Organizations
Butler Hospital (RI)
Mental Health Association of RI
MA Mental Health Counselors Association

Medline Plus Drug Info
National Library of Medicine Database (PubMed)
Internet Mental Health Site