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 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.
CODE OF ETHICS
Find the tools needed to ensure compliance with the ethical standards of the counseling profession. Read
ACA ADVOCACY
Stay up-to-date on legislative news, policy updates and timely announcements that affect the counseling profession. Read
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
COUNSELING TODAY
Strengthening skills relative to building and maintaining close personal connections is key to clients’ health and overall well-being. Read more in Counseling Today's February cover story.
Journal of Counseling & Development
People choosing a counselor prefer those who say they are “board-certified” and possess multiple specialties, suggests a new study in the January issue of the Journal of Counseling & Development. Read

Latest News

ACA Announces President-Elect for 2019-2020

Feb 12, 2019

Sue Pressman, nationally recognized as one of the country’s leading career management and transition experts, has been named President-Elect of the American Counseling Association (ACA) for 2019-2020. She will begin her term as ACA President-Elect on July 1, 2019, and will begin serving as American Counseling Association 69th President on July 1, 2020.
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Support New Legislation That Would Provide Medicare Reimbursement to Counselors

Feb 01, 2019

On Jan. 31, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Representative John Katko (R-NY) introduced the Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019. This measure would include Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and Marriage and Family Therapists as covered Medicare providers.
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Fighting suicide: The importance of hope

Jan 08, 2019

In a new CT Online article, American Counseling Association Chief Professional Officer David Kaplan discusses the importance of hope in the fight against suicide—and provides a look at a range of strategies and statistics focused on this devastating public health issue.
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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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Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)

Feb 14, 2019

Traumatic stress - when a person’s normal way of coping with life circumstances exceeds their capability to handle adverse situations. Because trauma can happen suddenly and is not something that judges based on age, race, gender, socio economic status, religion, or culture, we are all susceptible to trauma at any given point in our life.
Full story
Online Reviews: A Challenge for Counseling Practices

Feb 14, 2019

Yelp, Facebook, Google, and Angie’s List are just a few places where customers and clients speak their minds; leaving reviews—both positive and negative—that can raise or crush the reputation of a business.
Full story

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ACA Publications

Bookstore

Wellness Counseling

Jonathan H. Ohrt, Philip B. Clarke, and Abigail H. Conley

This innovative text presents a comprehensive review of the theoretical and empirical support for a wellness approach to counseling.... Learn More
The Counselor and the Law, Eighth Edition

Anne Marie "Nancy" Wheeler and Burt Bertram

This eighth edition provides a current and comprehensive discussion of counselors' legal and ethical responsibilities.... Learn More
Choosing the Right Counselor for You

Samuel T. Gladding and Kevin G. Alderson

This concise guide is for individuals seeking a counselor for themselves or others. It contains a treasure trove of information.... Learn More
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

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

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

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