OUR STORY

MHPNM's origins begin with the Grand Traverse Area Counselors Association, a group of Northern Michigan counselors who saw the need for networking and support within the profession at the local level.

In 2010, GTACA morphed into Licensed Professional Counselors of Northern Michigan (LPCNM), but the mission remained the same: to create an organization that fosters strong counseling practices through collaboration, consultation, networking, reports of legislation pertinent to counseling, connection to community resources, ongoing communication with MCA/ACA and MMHCA, mentorship of new counselors, and referrals.

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As a profession, we continued to grow and shift within an ever-changing landscape. From the 2019 LPC legislative scare in Michigan to the professional isolation of the COVID-19 crisis to the ongoing elevated needs of clients in our rural communities and schools, one thing continues to be clear: we need each other.

Because of this, we want to grow our membership across the Northern Michigan region. We want to help counselors make connections with each other online and in person. And we want our fellow professionals to know that they are needed, valued, and most certainly not alone. 

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So in 2023, LPCNM expanded its membership to include mental health professionals from other disciplines including social workers, psychologists, and graduate students getting a degree in the mental health treatment disciplines.  This lead to a more inclusive name change to Mental Health Professionals of Northern Michigan (MHPNM).

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By tapping into our greatest resource--each other--it is our hope that MHPNM members can find greater strength, connection, and joy through their work within the counseling field.