The American Counseling Association is the world's largest organization representing professional counselors in various practice settings. Learn more about counseling.

OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, 2018 - 2021

Our plan to address critical and strategic issues facing the profession over four years.

VISION | OUR IMPACT

Every person has access to quality professional counseling to thrive.

MISSION | WHAT WE DO

Promote the professional development of counselors, advocate for the profession, and ensure ethical, culturally-inclusive practices that protect those using counseling services.

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Spotlight

  • Free Ce icon

    FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION

    ACA members get free continuing education in 12 free annual online courses (a $264 value). Find out what we're offering this month. 
  • Ethics icon

    CODE OF ETHICS

    Find the tools needed to ensure compliance with the ethical standards of the counseling profession. Read
  • ACA Gov affairs Icon

    ACA ADVOCACY 

    Stay up-to-date on legislative news, policy updates and timely announcements that affect the counseling profession. Read
  • ACA News Icon

    ACA NEWS

    Get quick access to the latest in counseling in our two, bi-weekly newsletters, Counseling Insider and Member Minute (members only), industry news updates and our three blogs. Read
  • CT Dec 2018_Cover

    COUNSELING TODAY

    When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, family members can struggle to support the patient — and each other — as they battle their own shock, grief and fear. Read more in Counseling Today's December cover story.

  • Journal of Counseling & Development

    Motivational interviewing (MI) may be a useful tool for counselors working with school children who have chronic, persistent patterns of misbehavior, suggests a new study in the October issue of the Journal of Counseling & Development.   Read

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State Licensure & Certification Boards

Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) provide mental health and substance abuse care to millions of Americans. LPCs are licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Find the licensure board in your state.

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BetterHelp Therapy Online

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  • 11 Steps to Grow your Counseling Practice in the New Year

    Dec 10, 2018
    Maybe it’s New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe it’s “Blue Monday” (January 23rd) the day by which we’ve all broken our resolutions. Maybe it’s a post-holiday emotional hangover. Maybe it’s just that the days are depressingly short, and dark, and very cold. Maybe it’s a combination of all these things that makes it so that, for many counseling practices, the first 3 months of the new year are the busiest!
    Full story

  • Building Resiliency After Adverse Situations

    Dec 10, 2018
    Often times I reference the Serenity Prayer to my clients because the challenges of this world often times are things that are out of our control. When said situation seems to overwhelm and flood their thoughts with anxiety, fear, or doubt I remind them to “…accept the things they cannot change; courage to change the things they can, and to seek the wisdom to know the difference.”
    Full story
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ACA Publications

Bookstore
  • The Counseling Dictionary, Fourth Edition

    The Counseling Dictionary, Fourth Edition

    Samuel T. Gladding
    Even more comprehensive than previous editions, the 4th edition of The Counseling Dictionary fills an important void in the counseling field.... Learn More
  • The Secrets of Exceptional Counselors

    The Secrets of Exceptional Counselors

    Jeffrey A. Kottler
    Every profession has trade secrets that are passed on from one generation to the next and counseling is no exception.... Learn More
  • Counseling Research: A Practitioner-Scholar Approach

    Counseling Research: A Practitioner-Scholar Approach

    Richard S. Balkin and David M. Kleist
    This introductory text for counselors-in-training and emerging researchers focuses on research methodology, design, measurement, and evaluation.... Learn More
  • ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Seventh Edition

    ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Seventh Edition

    Barbara Herlihy and Gerald Corey
    The seventh edition of this top-selling text provides a comprehensive resource for understanding the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics and applying its principles to daily practice.... Learn More

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American Counseling Association

  • 6101 Stevenson Ave, Suite 600. Alexandria, VA 22304
  • 800-347-6647 | 800-473-2329 (fax)
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