GAMFT Members Lead the Way at MFT Celebration Day
On February 11, 2026, GAMFT members gathered at the Georgia State Capitol to celebrate the essential role of Marriage and Family Therapists in advancing mental health across Georgia. More than 100 therapists, graduate students, and faculty attended MFT Celebration Day at the historic Georgia Freight Depot, hosted by GAMFT to highlight professional achievements, promote advocacy, and support statewide access to high-quality, evidence-based care. Attendees heard from key legislators and mental health policymakers, including Kevin Tanner, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, who all spoke about mental health policy and the importance of accessible, systems-focused care for individuals and families throughout the state.
GAMFT Members: Your Presence Mattered
As GAMFT members, you made a difference. By showing up, engaging with policymakers, and sharing your expertise, you demonstrated the strength and unity of our profession. The collective voice of MFTs continues to shape conversations around mental health policy, access to care, and the importance of evidence-based, systems-focused treatment for Georgia’s individuals and families.
MFT Celebration Day was more than an event: it reflected the leadership, dedication, and advocacy that define our membership. Thank you for the work you do every day in your communities and for standing together to advance the future of marriage and family therapy in Georgia.
A Key Moment at the Event: Recognizing our Legislative Allies
A highlight of the day was the presentation of the Mental Health Legislative Impact Awards, which recognize lawmakers who have made significant contributions to MFTs and mental health policy. The Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Mental Health Legislative Impact Award is presented annually to legislators and policymakers who have been vocal supporters of our profession and influential in advancing positive mental health legislation.
This year’s honorees included:
Senator Larry Walker, Pro Tempore – Recognized for championing SB373 (MFT license portability, 2024), which made it easier for qualified therapists licensed in other states to practice in Georgia, increasing access to care. He was also honored for supporting a Senate Resolution declaring Marriage and Family Therapy Day at the Capitol.
Representative Mary Margaret Oliver – Honored for her ongoing support of GAMFT and leadership in advancing mental health care in Georgia. She sponsored HB76 (2023) to modernize our licensure process, HB591 (2021), which granted MFTs the authority to order emergency transport for clients in crisis, and played a key role in passing the Mental Health Parity Law (HB1013). She has also been an active voice in the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission, chairing the Workforce Committee, and continues to advocate year after year to increase access to mental health care and the resources needed to provide it.
Chairman Alan Powell – Recognized for updating MFT educational and clinical requirements with HB76 (2023), helping align Georgia standards with national benchmarks and improving the consistency of training for new therapists.
Senator Kim Jackson, Minority Whip – Awarded for her advocacy, including sponsoring HB272 (2024), part of the MFT license portability efforts, and chairing the Mental Health Caucus to expand access and quality of care across Georgia.
These awards highlighted the essential partnership between MFTs and policymakers, showing how collaboration, advocacy, and shared commitment help advance mental health care across Georgia. Together, members and lawmakers are shaping meaningful change that impacts individuals, families, and communities statewide.
From left to right: Sen. Larry Walker, Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, Chairman Alan Powell, and Sen. Kim Jackson; all with GAMFT Legislative Committee Chair Dan Upshaw.
Thank You Again for Making MFT Celebration Day a Great Success!
From left to right: Kevin Tanner, DBHDD Commissioner; Chet Bhasin, Executive Director of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce; Elizabeth Appley, GAMFT Lobbyist; Jenn Vann and Andrea Meyer Stinson, MFT Representatives to the Composite Board