The following is a list and description of the various associations and organizations that identify with the counseling profession. Professional counseling associations and organizations have grown significantly within the past 30 years at the state, national, and international level. A comprehensive directory of all known associations and organizations is not the intent of this resource. Rather, Appendix A offers a brief description and website addresses of the various nationally known professional counseling associations and their related divisions within the multitude of counseling specialties in North America as of 2015. Please note that there is a plethora of other organizations whose membership comprises primarily consumers of counseling services. These peer-related and consumer organizations are not listed because of the enormity of this base of consumer and self-help organizations.
American Counseling Association: https://www.counseling.org/
The American Counseling Association (ACA) is a not-for-profit, professional counseling organization that serves nearly 45,000 members. Founded in 1952, ACA is the largest counseling association both nationally and internationally. This organization represents professional counselors in a variety of diverse practice settings. The ACA states that its mission “is to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.”
The ACA also has been instrumental in setting professional and ethical standards for the counseling profession, and it has been instrumental in the counselor accreditation and licensure process. It also represents the interests of the professional counselors before Congress and federal agencies, and strives to promote recognition of professional counselors to the public and the media.
The following is a brief description and list of website addresses for each of ACA's 19 counseling divisions. The home page for ACA is http://www.counseling.org.
Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC): https://aarc-counseling.org/
Originally the Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Guidance, AACE was chartered in 1965. The purpose of AACE is to promote the effective use of assessments in the counseling profession. It publishes a quarterly journal, Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, in which reviews and evaluations of new, revised, or upcoming assessment instruments are provided. A subscription to the division newsletter (News Notes) offers nationwide and international news, legislative updates, and articles of concern to diagnosticians as well as updates of upcoming events.
Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA): http://www.aadaweb.org
Chartered in 1986, AADA serves as the central organization dedicated to professional development and advocacy related to adult development and aging issues. This association promotes counseling concerns across the life span. Overall, AADA cultivates partnerships with other professional counseling associations and organizations to help improve the standards for care of adults as well as older adults.
Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC): http://www.creativecounselor.org
The ACC is a forum for counselors, counselor educators, creative arts therapists, and counselors in training to explore unique and diverse approaches to counseling. Its goal is to promote greater awareness, advocacy, and understanding of diverse and creative approaches to counseling. The Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, the official journal of the ACC, is an interdisciplinary journal for educators and practitioners that examines the benefits and practical applications of using creativity to help deepen self-awareness and build healthy relationships. This refereed journal explores how creative, diverse, and relational therapeutic approaches can be used by therapist and client to cultivate self-discovery, personal growth, and positive relations with family and others.
American College Counseling Association (ACCA): http://www.collegecounseling.org
This association is one of the newest divisions of the ACA. Chartered in 1991, the focus of ACCA is to foster student development in colleges, universities, and community colleges. It works in collaboration with other organizations related to higher education, and provides the necessary leadership and advocacy for counselors. The ACCA publishes the Journal of College Counseling (JCC) twice a year that focuses on research, professional issues, and innovative practices in counseling.
Association for Counselors and Educators in Government (ACEG): http://acegonline.org
Originally the Military Educators and Counselors Association, ACEG was chartered in 1984. Dedicated to counseling clients and their families in local, state, and federal government or in military-related agencies, ACEG extends itself to all branches of the military and the family members of active or retired personnel, as well as to civilian employees of government agencies such as the Department of Defense. It aims at developing administrators, counselors, and educators in the government setting while promoting only the highest standards of professionalism for these professionals.
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES): http://www.acesonline.net
Originally the National Association of Guidance and Counselor Trainers, ACES was the founding association of ACA in 1952. The ACES emphasizes the need for quality education and supervision of counselors for all work settings. Its mission is to improve the practice of professional counseling by endorsing effective counselor education and supervision. The quarterly journal, Counselor Education and Supervision, publishes manuscripts that deal with research, theory development, and program applications that relate to counselor education and supervision.
Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC): http://www.algbtic.org
ALGBTIC acknowledges individuals from diverse sociocultural backgrounds that represent differences in race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, and belief systems in order to endorse a greater awareness and understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues. The ALGBTIC provides an avenue for counselors to find community, common ground, support, and resources. This organization educates counselors to the unique needs of client identity development and a nonthreatening counseling environment by aiding in the reduction of stereotypical thinking and homoprejudice. The quarterly Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling was introduced in 2006. This journal addresses counseling issues that relate to the development of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD): http://www.multiculturalcounseling.org
Originally the Association of Non-White Concerns in Personnel and Guidance, the AMCD was chartered in 1972. This organization seeks to develop programs focused on improving ethnic and racial empathy and understanding. Further, AMCD strives to improve cultural, ethnic, and racial empathy and understanding by promoting programs to advance and sustain personal growth opportunities for members from diverse cultural backgrounds. It fosters the philosophy that enhances an understanding of cultural diversity as an influential source for changing attitudinal barriers.
American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA): http://www.amhca.org
Chartered in 1978, AMHCA represents mental health counselors, advocating for client access to quality services within the health care industry. It also advocates for the profession of mental health counseling through state licensing boards, advocacy, education, and professional counselor development. The AMHCA publishes the quarterly Journal of Mental Health Counseling, which features articles addressing all aspects of practice, theory, research, and professionalism that relate to mental health counseling.
American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA): http://www.arcaweb.org
The ARCA is an association of rehabilitation counseling practitioners, educators, and students who are concerned with advocating the development and quality of life for persons with chronic illnesses and disabilities throughout their life span. It promotes excellence in rehabilitation counseling practice, research, consultation, and professional development. It is interested in eliminating environmental and attitudinal barriers through public education and legislation, and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. It publishes a quarterly journal, Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin (RCB), which incorporates empirical research and clinical practice implications for rehabilitation counselors.
American School Counselor Association (ASCA): http://www.schoolcounselor.org
Since 1953, ASCA has endorsed school counseling professionals and has focused on activities that shape the personal, educational, and career development of students. Its members also work with parents, educators, and community members to provide a positive learning environment. The ASCA advocates that school counseling professionals work with parents and educators to develop a constructive learning environment for students. Its journal, Professional School Counseling, is published six times a year and addresses practice, theory, and research issues that assist school counseling professionals to stay on top of the latest issues.
Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC): http://www.aservic.org
Originally the National Catholic Guidance Conference, ASERVIC was chartered in 1974. It is devoted to professionals who believe that spiritual, ethical, religious, and other human values are essential to the full development of the person and to the discipline of counseling. The ASERVIC publishes the quarterly journal Counseling and Values. The journal accepts theoretical, philosophical, or empirical manuscripts that deal with the ethical, religious, and spiritual values that correlate with counseling. The journal also publishes free intellectual inquiry into spiritual, ethical, religious, and personal–social values related to the counseling profession.
Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW): http://www.asgw.org
Chartered in 1973, ASGW provides professional leadership in the field of group work and establishes standards for ethical and competent practice of group work. It was established to encourage excellence in group work training, practice, and research at both the national and international levels. It publishes the quarterly Journal for Specialists in Group Work. Issues in this journal relate to practitioners, counselor educators and supervisors, and researchers interested in group work.
Counseling Association for Humanistic Counseling (AHC): http://afhc.camp9.org
The AHC was a founding association of ACA chartered in 1952 and provides a forum for the exchange of information related to humanistically oriented counseling practices. It promotes individual change that reflects the growing body of knowledge about humanistic principles as applied to human development and potential. It promotes the development of the physical, mental, emotional, and the spiritual aspects of the person. It publishes the Journal of Humanistic Education and Development on a quarterly basis. Articles published in the journal cover a wide range of topics related to the mission and purpose of AHC.
Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ): http://www.counselorsforsocialjustice.net
This is a community of counselors, counselor educators, graduate students, and school and community leaders. Its membership seeks equity and advocates an end to oppression and injustice affecting clients, students, counselors, families, communities, schools, workplaces, governments, and other social and institutional systems. The Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology is available twice a year electronically and its intent is to encourage systemic and social change through activism.
International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC): http://www.iaaoc.org
Originally the Public Offender Counselor Association, IAAOC was chartered in 1972. The IAAOC advocates the development of effective counseling and rehabilitation programs for people with substance abuse problems, other addictions, adults, and juvenile public offenders. Members consist of professional counselors and others interested in the addictions or forensic criminal justice fields. The Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling is published twice a year and promotes research in areas of addictions, offender counseling, and other topics related to its mission and goals of the association.
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC): http://www.iamfconline.org
Chartered in 1989, IAMFC members promote the development of healthy family systems through prevention, education, and therapy. The membership is devoted to help increase the competent and ethical practice working with couples and families. It offers a journal, the Family Journal, and a newsletter available three timers per year, the Family Digest. The journal and newsletter focus on current research and practice issues and other activities related to the organization's mission.
National Career Development Association (NCDA): http://www.ncda.org
Originally the National Vocational Guidance Association, NCDA was one of the founding associations of ACA chartered in 1952. The mission of NCDA is to promote career development for all people across the life span through public information, member services, conferences, and publications. It publishes a quarterly journal for its members, Career Development Quarterly. The journal offers its membership articles related to theory, research, practice, and other issues related to NCDA's mission.
National Employment Counseling Association (NECA): http://www.employmentcounseling.org
NECA, originally the National Employment Counselors Association, was chartered in 1966. The commitment of NECA is to offer professional leadership to professional counselors who work in employment and/or career development settings. It offers its members a quarterly, the Journal of Employment Counseling. This journal publishes articles related to the theory, research, and practice of professionals working in career counseling and other community, state, and federal employment agencies.
OTHER ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT IDENTIFY WITH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
American Psychological Association (APA): http://www.apa.org
Based in Washington, DC, APA's website states that it is a scientific and professional organization that represents the profession of psychology in the United States. With 148,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide. There are 53 professional divisions within this organization. To view each of these divisions, go to http://www.apa.org/about/division.html for a complete list.
Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, Inc. (CARP): http://www.carpnational.org
Established in the early 1970s, CARP is a national nonprofit association that represents rehabilitation counseling professionals who provide a continuum of rehabilitation services. Its members are primarily in eastern Canada, regions within New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. Its philosophy suggests that rehabilitation counseling professionals partner with persons with disabilities and their families to provide services such as assessment, counseling for disability adjustment, career and vocational counseling, case management, coordination of disability services, and job placement services, as well as other services needed to improve the quality of life and functioning of persons with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The CARP has interest in increasing the competence and professionalism of rehabilitation counselors and publishes an interdisciplinary code of ethics, the Canadian Code of Ethics for Rehabilitation Professionals. To ensure that rehabilitation professionals meet certain standards of competence and ethical behavior, CARP has a registry for the designation of such professionals, the Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP).
National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA): http://nrca-net.org
Based in Manassas, VA, NRCA became independent in 2005 from its former umbrella organization, the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA). It was chartered in 1958 and represents rehabilitation counselors who work in a variety of employment settings that include, but are not limited to, private rehabilitation insurance and case management companies, state-federal system of vocational rehabilitation, rehabilitation counselor education, community-based rehabilitation facilities, and other general rehabilitation counseling settings. The NRCA publishes the Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling (JARC) on a quarterly basis. Articles in this peer-reviewed journal include topics on rehabilitation counselor theory, research, education, and practice.
Professional Association of Rehabilitation Counselors (PARC): http://parc1.homestead.com/title.html
The PARC is a national association of counselors who primarily possess a graduate degree in rehabilitation, substance abuse, and clinical counseling. Its membership practices in a variety of work settings and possesses occupational titles such as mental health, substance abuse, clinical, and rehabilitation counselor. It has specialty divisions for substance abuse counselors, clinical mental health counselors, rehabilitation counselor educators, and general rehabilitation counseling. It was founded by Dr. Lloyd Goodwin, professor and director of the Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling Program at East Carolina University (ECU). The majority of its members live and work in North Carolina and are alumni of ECU's rehabilitation counseling and substance abuse and clinical counseling programs.
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