In this issue readers will find:
- ACA Membership Rises to Highest Level Since 2003
- Pets: Sources of Social Support for Everyday People
- Ethical Standards Casebook is Top Seller for FY11
- In the News: Adopted Children More Prone to Health, Mental Health Problems
- San Francisco Conference: Summer Discount Ends Monday, August 15
- Sign of the Times: Counseling and Psychotherapy as Close as the Internet Connection
- Summer Reading: What Do Counseling Professionals Read?
- Home Purchase Still Stressful but Remains Priority for Americans
- New Podcast Offers Extension of Adlerian "Acting As If" Technique
- Grants Support Myriad Counselor Interests
- Next Public Policy Conference Call Tuesday, August 2
- NECA, AACE, and ACES Conferences Approaching
Visit our website:
ACA blogs, written by counselors, for counselors:
ACA Membership Rises to the Highest Level Since 2003
When the fiscal year ended recently, 46,506 members were listed on the ACA membership rolls, an 8% increase over last year and the highest total since 2003. During the 12-month period just ended, New Professional membership grew a "whopping" 45%, Professional membership by 7%, Regular membership by 10% and Students by 3%. Retired membership decreased by 2%.
A larger ACA translates into stronger professional voice as the association seeks to influence public policy and extend citizen understanding of the role of counseling and work of professional counselors in our society. It also means a greater network of professionals in varied settings sharing their knowledge, skills and expertise. ACA is the international home of professional counselors and each member should take an active role in inviting their non-member peers under our growing roof. If every tenth member enlisted one new member, 50,000 could be a reality very soon!
Pets: Sources of Social Support for Everyday People
Supporting the role of animal assisted therapy advanced in a feature story by Lynn Shallcross in an upcoming edition of Counseling Today, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology is reporting that pets can serve as important sources of social and emotional support for "everyday people." Bottom line: Close ties to pets can fulfill humans' social needs.
A series of studies reported in the article found that the bonds formed by pet owners and their animals were just a close as those they had with key humans in their lives and that people often turn to their pets for support when their human relationships fail or become diminished. Watch for the Counseling Today story in the August edition.
Ethical Standards Casebook: is Top Seller for FY11
The sixth edition of the ACA Ethical Standards Casebook was the number 1 seller among ACA publications for the fiscal year ending June 30. The popular professional guidebook, a staple in counselor training programs, sold 4,582 units during the 12 month period. Also joining the 2010 list was Career Counseling Contexts, Processes & Techniques.
The 10 best-selling book titles for the year were:
by Barbara Herlihy and Gerald Corey
by Albert B. Hood and Richard W. Johnson
by Anne Marie "Nancy" Wheeler and Burt Bertram
by John J. Murphy
by Norman C. Gysbers and Patricia Henderson
by Norman C. Gysbers, Mary J. Heppner and Joseph A. Johnston
by Courtland Lee
by David Capuzzi and Douglas R. Gross
by Keren M. Humphrey
by Ford Brooks and Bill McHenry
In the News: Adopted Children More Prone to Health, Mental Health Problems
Adopted children have higher rates of health and mental health problems than those raised by their biological parents, according to a 2006 federal report analysis posted recently by Bloomberg News. The study found 29% of adopted children had moderate to severe health problems—compared to 12% of all children. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affected 20% of foster care adoptees, and 16% suffered from behavior and conduct problems. Only 4% of all children, adopted and those living with biological parents, suffered from attention ADHD, the researchers stated.
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), approximately 3% of U.S. children are adopted, totaling 1.8 million kids.
San Francisco Conference: Summer Discount Ends Monday, August 15
The clock is ticking and less than 1 month remains for members to register for the 2012 ACA Conference at the summer discount rates of $320 ($220 for Students/New Professionals/ Retirees). The 2012 ACA Conference & Expo will be held in San Francisco, CA on March 21-25, 2012. This special registration rate will be available through August 15, 2011. Register online or call 800-347-6647, x222 (M-F, 8 am to 6 pm ET).
Sign of the Times: Counseling and Psychotherapy as Close as the Internet Connection
Is counseling via the Internet becoming a reality faster than the professional community expected? Are some client needs addressed more effectively than others through the establishment of a virtual connection? These and other key issues are addressed in a recent New York Times article, "The Therapist Will See You Now, via the Web."
Citing resistance from both therapists and clients, the article suggests that using the technological tools of the times will open access to clients previously not served, and, that using the teleconference technique is especially effective in treating depression and anxiety. One potential obstacle to further expansion, however, may be the refusal or reluctance of insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid to pay for services not delivered in person.
Summer Reading: What Do Counseling Professionals Read?
ACAeNews is conducting a totally unscientific study of what publications readers have thrown into their vacation luggage or are reading at home during down time this summer. Send an email listing the title and author(s) of the professional book or publication you have read, are reading, or intend to read this summer to fburtnett@counseling.org. If you're using your leisure time to get away from reading and tasks like this, don't apologize. You deserve the break. A future edition of ACAeNews will report the most popular titles.
Home Purchase Still Stressful but Remains Priority for Americans
Coming out of a devastating recession and expressing the concern that it might not be the best investment at the moment does not deter Americans from putting home ownership high on their list of personal priorities. According to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, nearly 9 in 10 Americans say home ownership remains a major component in their achievement of the "American dream."
Taking steps toward home ownership like making an offer on a house, once done routinely, has become a behavior fraught with anxiety. Currently, only 49% of respondents see home ownership as a safe investment, and 45% say it is risky.
New Podcast Offers Extension of Adlerian "Acting As If" Technique
The 26 titles in the ACA podcasts series are popular self-help and training tools and the latest program featuring Richard E. Watts is no exception. Dr. Watts, Distinguished Professor at Sam Houston University and Diplomate in Adlerian Psychology, addresses the brief counseling process he developed titled "Reflecting As If," an integrative and procedural extension of the Adlerian "Acting As If" technique.
Members can access "Reflecting As If: Adler and Constructivists Unite," a free 52:25 minute professional development program, hosted by Rebecca Daniel-Burke
Grants Support Myriad Counselor Interests
Ronald McDonald House Charities – Child Health and Well-Being
Ronald McDonald House Charities supports nonprofit organizations whose programs help improve the health and well-being of children throughout the world. The current focus is on sustainable, replicable projects that include a train-the-trainer component in their pursuit of addressing the most pressing issues relating to children's health and well being. Application deadline: August 5, 2011. Information and application forms:
Open Meadow Foundation – Girls and Women
The Open Meadows Foundation is dedicated to funding projects that are led by and benefit women and girls, particularly those from vulnerable communities in the U.S. and worldwide. Priority is given to organizations that have limited financial access or have encountered obstacles in their search for funding. Grant amounts: $2,000 to cover start-up expenses or to support ongoing projects. Application deadline: August 15, 2011. Information and forms:
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Healthcare Issues
The mission of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is to improve the health and healthcare of all Americans. The Foundation works with a diverse group of dedicated people and organizations to address problems at their roots and to help make a difference on the widest scale, particularly for the most vulnerable among us. Application deadline: Unsolicited proposals are reviewed throughout the year. Information and forms:
W.K.Kellogg Foundation – Children, Families, and Communities
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families, and communities as they create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to their larger community and society. The Foundation approach is one of whole child development: ensuring the emotional, social, cognitive, physical, cultural, and civic development of young children, ages: birth-8, within the context of families and communities. Application deadlines: Grant requests are reviewed throughout the year. Information and forms: http://www.wkkf.org
State Farm Foundation – Community Development and Education
The State Farm Foundation is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing giving in three areas, two of which—Strong Neighborhoods (community development) and Education Excellence (education)—may be of interest to counselors. Grant amounts: Vary. Application deadline: October 31, 2011. Information and forms:
Christopher D. Smithers Foundation – Alcoholism Issues
The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on a wide range of issues related to alcoholism, including prevention, treatment, research, public education, and creating awareness of alcoholism problems in the nation’s work world. Application deadline: Proposals are reviewed throughout the year. Information and forms:
Next Public Policy Conference Call Tuesday, August 2
The ACA Public Policy staff is preparing once again to report federal news, trends and issues affecting counseling in their next Public Policy conference call scheduled for Tuesday, August 2. Members wanting to keep abreast of the public policy issues under scrutiny at the federal level should participate in the call on August 2 from 1:00 - 2:00pm ET. Open Q&A from callers will follow.
To participate, call 866-220-0969 (toll free) and enter *1603550* as the meeting number. To mute/unmute your line during the call, hit *6. Pre-call questions can be directed to Scott Barstow at 1-800-347-6647, x234 or sbarstow@counseling.org.
NECA, AACE, and ACES Conferences Approaching
Three ACA divisions are holding national conferences in late summer and fall.
National Employment Counselors Association
Theme: Wellness in the Workplace – NECA Summer Institute
August 16, 2011
Annapolis Yacht Club, Annapolis, MD
Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education
Theme: Assess. Advocate. Create. Empower.
September 8 – 10, 2011
Radisson Fort Worth Fossil Creek, Fort Worth, TX
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
Theme: Leading the Leaders, Helping the Helpers, Shaping the Future
October 26 – 30, 2011
Gaylord Resort and Convention Center, Nashville, TN
ACA divisions, branches, and regions are valuable sources of learning and professional development. Information on events will be posted approximately 8-10 weeks prior. This information is made available to ACAeNews via the ACA master calendar and the various organization web sites. Send calendar items to hclubb@counseling.org. Please provide the sponsor, dates, theme, site, and contact person information. Information posted here is restricted to that sponsored by ACA divisions, branches, regions and related organizations.
About ACAeNews
ACAeNews is published 24 times annually by the American Counseling Association for the benefit of members across the counseling profession. Any reference to a product, service, activity or listing of a website in ACAeNews does not imply endorsement by ACA. Any views and opinions are those of the sponsoring organization and may or may not be shared by ACA.
Past editions can be found at
Direct comments, questions, and submissions to fburtnett@counseling.org. All submissions will be subject to review by ACA for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance to the readership and may be edited to meet space parameters.
Don W. Locke, President
locke@mc.edu
Richard Yep, CAE, Executive Director
ryep@counseling.org
Debra Bass, Director of Marketing and Communications
dbass@counseling.org
Frank Burtnett, NCC, NCCC, ACAeNews Editor
fburtnett@counseling.org
Don Kenneally, Internet Development / Production
dkenneally@counseling.org
ACA Web site: www.counseling.org
Copyright 2011, American Counseling Association, 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone: 703/823-9800. Email: fburtnett@counseling.org. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce anything contained in this newsletter as long as the American Counseling Association is identified as the original source of the information.
CONTACT INFORMATION
5999 Stevenson Ave. Alexandria, VA 22304
800.347.6647 | 800.473.2329 (fax)
Copyright 2011, American Counseling Association, All Rights Reserved.