About ACA

The American Counseling Association is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. Founded in 1952, ACA is the world's largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings.

What Is Counseling?

According to 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling, the delegates comprised of 31 counseling organizations agreed upon a unified definition of counseling: Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.

Divisions, Branches, and Regions

There are 19 chartered divisions within the American Counseling Association. These divisions provide leadership, resources and information unique to specialized areas and/or principles of counseling.  ACA has four regions, which serves members in those regions.  Lastly, ACA has 56 chartered branches in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.  Please click the following links to get more information about ACA's Divisions, Branches, and Regions.

More About ACA

Counseling Today

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    Counseling Today's February cover story, "Bully Pulpit," delves into the changing landscape of bullying, providing practical steps for helping targets of bullying and promoting an anti-bullying culture. More

Featured Podcast

Integrated Care: Applying Theory to Practice

  • Podcast
    Dr. Russ Curtis is an LPC and associate professor of counseling at Western Carolina University; where he serves as coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. Eric Christian is an LPC, a national certified counselor, and has been working as an integrated care coordinator for the past five years.

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Latest News

ACA 2013 Graduate Student Essay Competitions Winners

by Don Kenneally | Feb 22, 2013
The 2013 ACA Graduate Student Essay competition has come to a close and the 32 winning essayists have been chosen.

The 2013 ACA Graduate Student Essay competition has come to a close and the 32 winning essayists are identified below. The ACA Foundation is pleased to announce that a record 271 essays were contributed to the Future School Counselors Essay Competition (sponsored by the Roland and Dorothy Ross Trust) and the Graduate Student Essay Competition (sponsored by Gerald and Marianne Corey and Allen and Mary Bradford Ivey).

The ACA Foundation would like to recognize the very strong submissions received this year to the essay competitions and thank all essayists for their individual contribution. Essayists are encouraged to join the award winners and many other fellow students at the ACA Conference, March 21-24, 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

ACA Foundation’s Gerald and Marianne Corey and Allen and Mary Bradford Ivey Graduate Student Essay Competition

Grand Prize Winner:  Jenna Meyerberg – Georgian Court University

Runners-up: (in alphabetical order)

  • Angela Bryner – Western Illinois University
  • Everett Painter – University of Tennessee – Knoxville
  • Emily Shields – University at Buffalo, State University of New York
  • Alissa Weinberger – New Mexico State University
  • Abigail Wengerd – Duquesne University

Honorable Mentions: (in alphabetical order)

  • Cara Blakes – University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Liz Hickey – New Jersey City University
  • Eleni Honderich - College of William and Mary
  • Bonnie Kozminski – Capella  University
  • Summer Milton – Mid America Christian University
  • Michelle Monforton – Oakland University
  • Julia Olson – Regis University
  • Michele M. Pappert – Oakland University
  • Jose Bullecer Rebustes III – Kean University
  • Travis Watson – Slippery Rock University 

The Roland and Dorothy Ross Trust Graduate Student Essay for Future School Counselors

Grand Prize Winner:  Jessica A. Jackson - Loyola University

Runners-up: (in alphabetical order)

  • Mary Carideo – DePaul University
  • Elizabeth Drumm - Xavier University
  • Susan Gallagher - George Washington University
  • Ora C. Smith - Central Michigan University
  • Angeline T. P. Teoh – Regent University

Honorable Mentions: (in alphabetical order)

  • Emily Adams - Fairfield University
  • Oyundelger Enkhtur – Western Michigan University
  • Adam M. Hanson – Old Dominion University
  • Kristen Hauck – Virginia Tech - Falls Church
  • Lynn Heramis – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  • Angela Ness – Capella University
  • Rosalie Pleiman – University of Dayton
  • Chimela Soublet – Our Lady of Holy Cross College
  • Andrea Sulek – Eastern Michigan University
  • Bryn Thatcher – Bowling Green State University