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
A counseling license doesn’t inoculate practitioners against wrestling with “what if” thinking, struggling with problems in their home life and personal relationships, or experiencing some of the same hardships that they help clients walk through. Read more in Counseling Today's October cover story.
Journal of Counseling & Development
High-performing professionals with work addiction may need help finding life balance. Learn what counselors can do in the October issue of the Journal of Counseling & Development. Read

Latest News

The American Counseling Association Foundation Offers Grants of Up to $500

Oct 10, 2019

The American Counseling Association Foundation is seeking proposals from American Counseling Association members for grants of up to $500.
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ACA Foundation Awards Seven Grants

Sep 30, 2019

The American Counseling Association Foundation Board of Trustees provided grants in the amount of $500 to seven American Counseling Association members to further counseling-related projects they created to benefit their clients and communities. The grant recipients’ work will help many people, including counselors in training, children, incarcerated individuals and others.
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Counselor Researchers Contribute to 'Psychotherapy Relationships that Work'

Sep 24, 2019

The first-ever chapter from counselor researchers is included in the new edition.
Read More

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.

BetterHelp Online Therapy

Planning Ahead Can Lower College Application Stress

Oct 14, 2019

Applying for college admissions can be a time of high stress for many families. It doesn't have to be that way. With a little planning, and an early start to the process, it may not be possible to make that college application process stress-free, but it certainly can make getting it all done much easier.
Full story
Diagnosis: Depression

Oct 10, 2019

Depression in teenagers, teenage boys in particular can be tricky to deal with. It can be hard for a parent to distinguish between normal adolescent mood swings and something more severe.
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