Proposal Guide
Overview
The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association invites mental health counselors and professionals in related fields to submit proposals for presentations aimed at providing continuing education (CE) credits to licensed mental health counselors. Our goal is to offer engaging, research-based, and practice-informed sessions that enhance clinical knowledge and improve client care.
Conference Tracks
Proposals should align with one or more of the following specialized areas:
• Trauma-Informed Care – Advances in trauma assessment, diagnosis, and intervention strategies.
• Addiction Recovery – Best practices for assessment, treatment, and relapse prevention.
• Military & Veterans' Mental Health – Addressing the unique challenges faced by service members and their families.
• Children, Adolescents & Family Therapy – Effective approaches to support young clients and strengthen family systems.
• Evidence-Based & Emerging Practices – Innovations shaping the future of mental health care and treatment modalities.
• Cultural Competency & BIPOC Mental Health – Enhancing culturally responsive care for diverse communities.
• LGBTQ+ Inclusive Therapy – Affirmative and inclusive treatment approaches for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Clinical Supervision & Ethics – Strengthening ethical decision-making and supervisory best practices.
• Counselor Education and Supervision – Supporting counselor educators in preparing the next generation of mental health counselors through effective teaching, mentoring, and leadership.
• Telehealth & AI in Mental Health Counseling – The impact of technology on client care and service delivery.
• Domestic Violence, Ethics & Other Required Continuing Education – Essential workshops, including those required for Florida re-licensure including domestic violence, ethics, medical errors, and laws and rules.
Proposal Submission Guidelines
All proposals must include the following components:
1. Presenter(s) Information
o Full Name
o Credentials (e.g., Ph.D., LPC, LMHC)
o Degree information (e.g. masters and/or PhD in counseling related field)
o Affiliation (Organization/Institution)
o Contact Information (Email, Phone Number)
o Brief Bio (Please include credentials, current employer, position/title, and relevant/related experience related to the proposed topic using complete sentences. Please write in the third person (e.g. Jane Smith, LMHC is the Program Director...) (800 character max, 2 paragraphs))
2. Presenter(s) professional photos
3. Presenter(s) CV
4. Presentation Title (100 characters max including spaces, dashes, etc.)
o A clear and concise title that reflects the content and objectives.
5. Presentation Description/Abstract
o A 250–300-word summary of the session, including the relevance to mental health counseling and the target audience.
6. Learning Objectives
o To describe your learning objectives, please create statements that indicate what the attendees will/should be able to do after your presentation.
o You may use these terms: list, state, explain, describe, differentiate, discuss, calculate, compare, contrast, choose, define, demonstrate, estimate, evaluate, locate, match, name, plan, predict, rank, recommend, select, summarize, write, etc.
o Please do not use these terms: know, learn, appreciate, value, acquire, comprehend, be familiar with, recognize, understand, etc.
o Examples of Learning Objectives:
▪ Locate free assessment measures online.
▪ Differentiate between malingering and Factitious Disorder.
▪ Summarize four principles of motivational interviewing.
▪ List signs and symptoms of an alcohol use disorder.
▪ Define "introversion" and "extroversion."
▪ Match clients to appropriate levels of care.
▪ Evaluate clients for suicidal risk
7. APA Formatted References
o Provide at least 3 current references (i.e., no more than 7 years old) from professional literature that you will incorporate into your presentation.
8. Instructional Methods
o Description of interactive elements such as case studies, role-plays, or Q&A sessions.
9. Evidence-Based Support
o Summary of research, theories, or clinical practices supporting the presentation.
10. Presenter Agreement
o Acknowledgment FMHCA presenter agreement.
Submission Deadline & Review Process
• Proposal Deadline: August 1st, 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: by September 1st, 2025
• Review Criteria: Clarity, relevance, evidence-based content, interactivity, and CE compliance.
Submission Process
Please submit your completed proposal by clicking here by August 1st, 2025. Incomplete proposals will not be considered. For inquiries, contact Laura Giraldo at office@FLmhca.org