NMCA 2026 Conference
Honoring Our Journey
Past Lessons, Present Impact, Future Possibilities
March 13th - 14th, 2026 | UNM Student Union Building, Albuquerque
Join Us March 13th & 15th, Albuquerque, NM
The New Mexico Counseling Association’s Annual Conference is a two-day, in-person gathering that brings together mental health professionals from across the state. We welcome counselors-in-training, unlicensed and licensed practitioners, educators, and clinical supervisors for meaningful connection, continued learning, and professional renewal.
Attendees will experience NBCC CE-eligible presentations (13 CE’s in 2 days!), and networking opportunities designed to enrich clinical skills, expand resources, and strengthen our collective impact in the mental health field. Whether you're just beginning your counseling journey or have years of experience, this event offers something for every stage of professional growth.
Join us as we build community, share knowledge, and celebrate the important work we do in supporting New Mexico’s mental health and well-being.
Keynote Speakers
March 13: Dr. Victoria E. Kress (she/her) is the elected 75th president of the American Counseling Association (ACA), taking office July 2026. She has been a counselor for 3 decades and a counselor educator for over 2 decades. She is the director of the clinical mental health and addictions counseling programs at Youngstown State University. Dr. Kress has engaged in legislative advocacy on behalf of the profession and those we serve for over two decades. She is also passionate about child advocacy, trauma-informed practices, growing counseling leaders, mentorship of developing counselors, and legislative advocacy.
March 14: Dr. Kristopher Goodrich is the Dean and Professor of Counselor Education at the University of New Mexico. He is a past president of the national Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC; now SAIGE), as well as the New Mexico Counseling Association. He is also the former editor for the Journal for Specialists in Group Work. He is a Fellow of the American Counseling Association and the Association for Specialists in Group Work
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Virtual Pre-Conference
March 5, 2026
4:00-5:30pm | Session 1 (Virtual)
5:45-7:15pm | Session 2 (Virtual)
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Conference Day 1
Friday, March 13, 2026
7:30- 8:00am | Registration
8:00-8:15am | Opening Remarks
8:15-10:15am | Keynote (2 CE)
10:15-10:30am | Break and vendor exploration
10:30am-12:00pm | Session 2 (1.5 CE)
12:00-1:30pm | Lunch
1:30-3:30pm | Session 3 (2 CE)
3:30-4:00 | Break and vendor exploration
4:00-5:30pm | Session 4 (1.5 CE)
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Conference Day 2
Saturday, March 14, 2026
7:30- 8:00am | Registration
8:00-10:00am | Keynote (2 CE)
10:00-10:30am | Break and vendor exploration
10:30am-12:00pm | Session 2 ( 1.5 CE)
12:00-1:30pm | Lunch
1:30-3:30pm | Session 3 (2 CE)
3:30-3:45 | Break and vendor exploration
3:45-5:15pm | Session 4 (1.5 CE)
5:15-5:30pm | Closing remarks
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Clyde Hotel Room Block
NMCA has secured a room block for March 12–15, 2026, at a special rate of $144.00 per night plus tax.
Use the link below to reserve your room online. Please note that the link is only valid for the designated room block dates, and you must select your arrival and departure dates from the drop-down menu.
Booking Link: NMCA 2026 book here. If you prefer to book by phone, call the reservations team at (800) 955-4455 and reference the following:
Group Code: NMCA 2026
Group Name: NMCA Room BlockThe reservation cut-off date is February 10, 2026, but the room block may fill earlier—so we highly recommend booking your stay as soon as possible.
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Food & Refreshments
Each conference day includes a 1.5-hour lunch break, giving attendees plenty of time to enjoy nearby dining options. The Student Union Building, where the conference is hosted, offers several food choices available daily. A campus food hall is also just a 5-minute walk away, and additional restaurants along Central Avenue are within easy walking distance.
Complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks will be available throughout the event in the vendor hall.
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Parking
More info coming soon!
Registration Cost
NMCA Members get 40% off!
Early Bird Registration
Available October 6 - November 9th
Member: $232 | Non-Member: $387
13 CE’s in 2 days!
Standard Registration
Available November 10- February 23
Member: $258 | Non-Member: $430
Late/In-Person Registration
Available after February 24
Non-Member: 2-days: $473 | 1-day: $236
Member: 1-day: $283 | 1-day: $142
Not a member yet?
Join now to save on registration and enjoy other exclusive member benefits!
Virtual Pre-Conference ONLY
March 5, 2026 from 4-7pm
Kick off the conference with pre-conference workshops led by expert presenters, giving you the chance to dive deeper into specialized topics and earn an additional 3 CE hours.
Member: $48 | Non-Member: $80
Conference Art
Each year we select art from a local artist to represent the conference and offer the artist a booth to showcase their work. We are excited to share that Krysteen Waszak has been selected as the winner of our conference art contest!
The Expanse - Canyon, River, Mountain, Sky
The Canyon, the depths we go. The River, the ebb and the flow. The Mountain, what we climb. The Sky, always to look up. Ultimately, The Expanse of who we are and can become.
Artists interested in receiving emails for future submissions should email communications@nmca-nm.org and request to be added to the email list.