Sponsored and hosted by Space for 50 in-person with no limit on online attendance. Those who choose the online option will be sent a Zoom link the morning of the symposium.
Sponsored and hosted by
Space for 50 in-person with no limit on online attendance. Those who choose the online option will be sent a Zoom link the morning of the symposium.
The Annual Spring Symposium will be presented on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 This will be an in-person/online event geared for student and interns, in the Tampa Bay Area. This annual event is FREE! It has been a life-saver for those taking the licensing exam and a welcomed activity of SMHCA for many years. Despite the local Florida focus of this symposium, the content will benefit Mental Health Graduate Students and Interns from other areas as well in Florida. Learn what to expect after graduation, the benefits of belonging to professional associations, how to prepare for the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCCME), which is required for licensure in Florida. Stay up to date on legislation, and enjoy the opportunity to network with Qualified Supervisors and Agencies in the community for internship and employment opportunities. Students and Interns will be entered into a raffle to win the fee for a licensure exam or other prizes including a DSM5-TR.(Must be present to win/in-person.) Space for 50 in-person with no limit on online attendance. Those who choose the online option will be sent a Zoom link the morning of the symposium. Symposium Schedule 9:00 AM – 9:10 AM (10 minutes) Welcome and Preliminary Information about the Symposium Demetrius Jifunza, LMHC (President) 9:10 AM – 9:20 AM (10 minutes) Getting Involved with the Profession A brief discussion about SMHCA, FMHCA, and AMHCA 9:20 AM – 10:00 AM (40 minutes) Ethics and Boundaries for Early Career Counselors Dr. Stephen Giunta 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (60 minutes) Preparing for the NCMHCE Licensure Exam Dr. Linton Hutchinson, Counseling Exam 11:00 AM – 11:10 AM (10 minutes) Break 11:10 AM – 11:55 AM (45 minutes) Florida Legislative Update Dr. Aaron Norton (Lunch will be available during this session.) 11:55 AM – 12:45 PM (50 minutes) Launching Your Counseling Career: Private Practice Foundations Dr. Ana Aluisy (Attendees may continue eating during this session.) 12:45 PM – 1:00 PM (15 minutes)
The Annual Spring Symposium will be presented on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 This will be an in-person/online event geared for student and interns, in the Tampa Bay Area. This annual event is FREE! It has been a life-saver for those taking the licensing exam and a welcomed activity of SMHCA for many years. Despite the local Florida focus of this symposium, the content will benefit Mental Health Graduate Students and Interns from other areas as well in Florida.
Learn what to expect after graduation, the benefits of belonging to professional associations, how to prepare for the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCCME), which is required for licensure in Florida. Stay up to date on legislation, and enjoy the opportunity to network with Qualified Supervisors and Agencies in the community for internship and employment opportunities. Students and Interns will be entered into a raffle to win the fee for a licensure exam or other prizes including a DSM5-TR.(Must be present to win/in-person.) Space for 50 in-person with no limit on online attendance. Those who choose the online option will be sent a Zoom link the morning of the symposium.
Learn what to expect after graduation, the benefits of belonging to professional associations, how to prepare for the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCCME), which is required for licensure in Florida. Stay up to date on legislation, and enjoy the opportunity to network with Qualified Supervisors and Agencies in the community for internship and employment opportunities. Students and Interns will be entered into a raffle to win the fee for a licensure exam or other prizes including a DSM5-TR.(Must be present to win/in-person.)
Symposium Schedule
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM (10 minutes) Welcome and Preliminary Information about the Symposium Demetrius Jifunza, LMHC (President) 9:10 AM – 9:20 AM (10 minutes) Getting Involved with the Profession A brief discussion about SMHCA, FMHCA, and AMHCA 9:20 AM – 10:00 AM (40 minutes) Ethics and Boundaries for Early Career Counselors Dr. Stephen Giunta 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (60 minutes) Preparing for the NCMHCE Licensure Exam Dr. Linton Hutchinson, Counseling Exam 11:00 AM – 11:10 AM (10 minutes) Break 11:10 AM – 11:55 AM (45 minutes) Florida Legislative Update Dr. Aaron Norton (Lunch will be available during this session.) 11:55 AM – 12:45 PM (50 minutes) Launching Your Counseling Career: Private Practice Foundations Dr. Ana Aluisy (Attendees may continue eating during this session.) 12:45 PM – 1:00 PM (15 minutes)
Welcome and Preliminary Information about the Symposium Demetrius Jifunza, LMHC (President)
Getting Involved with the Profession A brief discussion about SMHCA, FMHCA, and AMHCA
Ethics and Boundaries for Early Career Counselors Dr. Stephen Giunta
Preparing for the NCMHCE Licensure Exam Dr. Linton Hutchinson, Counseling Exam
Break
Florida Legislative Update Dr. Aaron Norton (Lunch will be available during this session.)
Launching Your Counseling Career: Private Practice Foundations Dr. Ana Aluisy (Attendees may continue eating during this session.)
SunCoast Mental Health Counselors Association
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