Counseling Organizations

There are different organizations that help facilitate counselor identity and can help you connect with other counselors with similar interests. The

Box 4.5

NBCC SPECIALTIES

National Certified Counselor (NCC)

Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) Master Addictions Counselor (MAC)

National Certified School Counselor (NCSC)

largest association for professional counselors is the American Counseling Association (ACA). The American Counseling Association helps you get the best out of your professional development by offering webinars, yearly conferences, up-to-date issues affecting the counseling profession, the ability to join specializations within ACA and network with others with similar interests, as well as many discounts for student members. Connecting with other counselors who share your same vision is important for your professional development and advocacy of the organization and counseling profession. Within ACA are 20 divisions or specialty groups (see Table 4.2) that you can be a part of and will help strengthen your professional identity.

Table 4.2. ACA DIVISIONS

Acronym	Division
AADA	Association for Adult Development and Aging
AARC	Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling
ACAC	Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling
ACC	Association for Creativity in Counseling
ACCA	American College Counseling Association
ACEG	Association for Counselors and Educators in Government
ACES	Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
AHC	Association for Humanistic Counseling
ALGBTIC	Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling
AMCD	Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
AMHCA	American Mental Health Counselors Association
ARCA	American Rehabilitation Counseling Association
ASCA	American School Counselor Association
ASERVIC	Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling
ASGW	Association for Specialists in Group Work
CSJ	Counselors for Social Justice
IAAOC	International Association ofAddictions and Offender Counselors
IAMFC	International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors
NCDA	National Career Development Association
NECA	National Employment Counseling Association

Box 4.6

INTERNATIONALIZATION OF COUNSELING

The internationalization of the counseling profession has made great strides during the last decade, providing many more opportunities for students who want to study abroad or experience counseling in other cultures while earning their master's degree in counseling. The number of counselor education programs outside the United States is growing rapidly, and programs in the United States offering international experiences have become the norm. One convenient way to find these programs is the International Registry for Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP; www.ircep.org), which is a subsidiary program of CACREP. Although still growing, it provides information about international opportunities in US programs and about programs in other countries that would be difficult to find anywhere else.

Dr. Charles (Rick) Gressard, Chancellor Professor of Education College of William and Mary IRCEP Chair

In chapter 10 you will learn more about how involvement in professional organizations is important for your professional development and identity. No matter what your specialty area, it is important to be involved in a professional organization, advocate for the counseling profession, continue your education, and collaborate with others who share a common interest. No counselor should be an island. Connecting with others through professional organizations is important for any counselor’s identity.