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

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.