Meet Our Leadership

London A. Breedlove, PsyD, MHA

Dr. London Breedlove (they/them) is a licensed psychologist and health care administrator serving as Director of Professional Affairs and Policy at the Washington State Psychological Association. Their work focuses on behavioral health policy, reimbursement and payment reform, workforce sustainability, access to care, and behavioral health systems reform.

Dr. Breedlove has been active in statewide and national psychology leadership since 2018, including service as WSPA Board Trustee, Board President, and Council Representative to the American Psychological Association. They currently serve as Chair-Elect of APA’s Advocacy Coordinating Committee, helping guide national advocacy strategy related to behavioral health access, reimbursement, workforce sustainability, and health equity. In 2025, they received the Karl F. Heiser APA Presidential Award for Advocacy.

In addition to their policy and leadership work, Dr. Breedlove has more than a decade of experience in integrated behavioral health across primary care, specialty treatment, academic, and community-based settings. They previously served as Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Integrated Behavioral Health in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington.

Dr. Breedlove co-founded WABHPC to strengthen collaboration across behavioral health professions and support a coordinated voice on workforce sustainability, access to care, reimbursement reform, and behavioral health systems policy.

Shannon Thompson, LMHC, CMHS, NCC

Treasurer

Shannon is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS). She earned her Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University in 2006 and spent several years working in community mental health before opening her private practice in 2013. Throughout her career, her primary focus has been serving children, adolescents, and their families.

Shannon has been an active leader with the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA) since 2016. She began as a volunteer and Workshop Chair before serving as Education and Advocacy Director, where she led continuing education initiatives and legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of Washington's mental health counselors. She now serves as Executive Director of WMHCA, overseeing the association's operations, professional development programming, and advocacy efforts to advance the counseling profession and improve access to quality mental health care throughout the state.

In addition to her work with WMHCA, Shannon served on the board for the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), collaborating with national leaders to advance the mental health counseling profession through advocacy, education, and professional standards

Ben Packard, MSW, LICSW

Ben is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who graduated from the University of Washington School of Social Work in 2015. Ben worked as a child welfare social worker for Washington's Department of Social and Health Services, and then as a mental health therapist on the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit at Seattle Children's Hospital. Ben is on the faculty of UW's School of Social Work and School of Family Medicine. Ben serves as the Legislative Chair of the Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work, overseeing the Society's efforts to manifest just and equitable change in public policy in Washington State. 

Ben works in his private practice, Packard Counseling, treating children, teens, families, and adults. He specializes in treating people with challenging behavioral problems, including suicidal ideation, aggressive and disruptive behavior, anxiety, depression, trauma, and sexual behavior problems. 

Ben is a second-generation mental health clinician, gardener, baker, and volunteer climbing instructor with the Mountaineer's. When he is not working or playing, he can be found reading on the couch with his dog, Otis.