[Stafford, VA] – The National Board of Mental Health Counselors (NCMHC) [Article IV] Section last week announced the election of Dorothy Butts-Valentine, LPC to serve as president of its Board of Directors. Ms. Butts-Valentine is a lifelong resident of Stafford County and is a Virginia Board of Professionals, Licensed Professional Counselor by training and a prolific volunteer activist.
“At a time when mental health is paramount in our communities, Licensed Professionals and other vested professionals are looking for ways to become active or re-engage in the development and process of making access to mental health care in every community a priority. We’re so proud to have Dorothy Butts-Valentine taking the helm of National Consortium for Mental Health Counselors [Article IV] Section’s Board of Directors,” added [SPOKESPERSON]. “Dorothy’s leadership skills and extensive experience will be invaluable to our organization as we seek to enlarge the footprint of mental health services, while providing training opportunities for residents in the field of mental health, essentially “developing the next generation of mental Health counselors.”
Dorothy Butts-Valentine moves to the board’s leading role, after her last essential role as the Deputy Director for Office of Community Engagement, for the Veterans Health Administration, Washington DC and CEO of FOCUS Group Solutions, LLC. She has been deeply engaged in developing curriculum for incoming interns and residents, as well as leading the charge in mental health awareness, where she has contributed extensively.
“As president, I will use my experience and skills to lead NCMHC [Article IV] Section to engage, lead, train and actively advocate across the nation,” said Dorothy. “NCMHC is the only organization that has developed a pathway to success for students seeking, practicum, internship, and residency, all while preparing the member for licensure. NCMHC consistently addresses the tough issues of students finding placement to complete required fieldwork to be eligible for graduation. Through the lens of development and opportunities to “grow our own clinicians”; we have a responsibility to our members both to provide opportunities, and to provide them with fieldwork, tools and resources as they pursue licensure of becoming licensed mental health professionals.”
Dorothy Butts-Valentine holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, from Walden University, a Master of Arts, in Human Services, Marriage and Family, from Liberty University and a bachelor’s degree from Park University. She lives in Stafford, VA with her husband Lesly A. Valentine, II and the proud mother to Shawn W. Valentine (Alexandra), Lesly A. Valentine III (Alexandria), Chandler A. Valentine, grandson Greyson and family pet Cuddles.