Introducing ABAMHC

The Antigua & Barbuda Association of Mental Health Counsellors (ABAMHC) is the leading professional organization representing mental health practitioners and setting the standard for mental health counselling, in Antigua & Barbuda, West Indies. The ABAMHC is a non-governmental organization.

Work on the ABAMHC officially started in May 2020 after it was realized that a local professional organization for aspiring and practicing mental health counsellors did not exist. The professional counsellors who had been working in the various government and private sectors did not have an organizational home they could look to for guidance and assistance in developing their unique skill set. In May 2020, shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a working group was formed to begin the groundwork for creating such an organization.

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the increased need for mental health services and the importance of quality mental health counselling that was both accessible and affordable to people in the community. The working group, now referred to as the Founders of the ABAMHC, consisted of Dr. Sonya Ford, LCPC, NCC, NCSC, BC-TMH; Ms. T’Mira Looby, MS, NCC; Ms. Holly Christopher MSc, MBPsS, M-RAS; and Ms. Alaina Gomes, MSc, MBPsS; all of whom are practicing Counsellors in Antigua & Barbuda. This outstanding group of women identified the existing gaps in the mental health counselling field and worked diligently to address these gaps through the establishment of the ABAMHC. Various key stakeholders within the government and private sectors, including the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment of Antigua & Barbuda, were consulted on this initiative in order to garner support and ensure that the goals of the Association were comprehensive in nature.

The Association’s main priority is to advance the practice of mental health counselling to enhance the holistic well-being of the citizens of Antigua & Barbuda. The Association aims to be the national professional body for practitioners who provide mental health counselling in Antigua & Barbuda. Its mission is to promote the professional development of mental health counsellors in Antigua & Barbuda, uphold ethical standards, conduct, respect for diversity in the practice of counselling, and promote research and policy.