Within the American Counseling Association there are 18 divisions. These divisions enhance professional identity and are organized around specific interest and practice areas. The divisions provide professional strength and satisfy the diverse needs of the counseling community.
UPDATE: In November 2018, the Governing Council received notice from the American Mental Health Counselors Association that they wished to disaffiliate from ACA as a national division. After discussion and negotiation with AMHCA, the ACA CEO reported that AMHCA fulfilled the requirements to complete their disaffiliation from ACA as of March 14, 2019. Both organizations look forward to continued collaboration on issues that will benefit mental health counselors and the profession.
Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA)
Chartered in 1986, AADA serves as a focal point for information sharing, professional development, and advocacy related to adult development and aging issues; addresses counseling concerns across the lifespan.
2020-2021 President: Christian Chan
2020-2021 President-Elect: John C. Nance
2020-2021 Past President: Amber Randolph
Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC)
Originally the Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Guidance, AARC was chartered in 1965. The vision of AARC is to recognize and advance excellence in assessment and research in the counseling profession.
2020-2021 President: Philip Gnilka
2020-2021 President-Elect: Elizabeth Prosek
2020-2021 Past President: Jacqueline Swank
Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC)
Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling aims to focus on the training needs of counselors who work with children and adolescents, while also providing professional support to those counselors, whether they are school counselors, play therapists, or counselor educators.
2020-2021 President: Emily Goodman-Scott
2020-2021 President-Elect: LeAnn Solmonson
2020-2021 Past President: Evette Horton
Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC)
The Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC) is a forum for counselors, counselor educators, creative arts therapists and counselors in training to explore unique and diverse approaches to counseling. ACC's goal is to promote greater awareness, advocacy, and understanding of diverse and creative approaches to counseling.
2020-2022 President: Edward Hudspeth
2020-2022 President-Elect: LoriAnn Stretch
2020-2022 Past President: Ruth Ouzts Moore
American College Counseling Association (ACCA)
ACCA is one of the newest divisions of the American Counseling Association. Chartered in 1991, the focus of Ioana Marcus ACCA is to foster student development in colleges, universities, and community colleges.
2020-2021 President: Andrew J. Lee
2020-2021 President-Elect: Raime Thibodeaux
2020-2021 Past President: Richard Tyler-Walker
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
Originally the National Association of Guidance and Counselor Trainers, ACES was a founding association of ACA in 1952. ACES emphasizes the need for quality education and supervision of counselors for all work settings.
2020-2021 President: Heather Ambrose
2020-2021 President-Elect: Casey Barrio Minton
2020-2021 Past President: Kristopher M. Goodrich
Executive Director: Kelly Duncan
Association for Humanistic Counseling (AHC)
AHC, formerly C-AHEAD, a founding association of ACA in 1952, provides a forum for the exchange of information about humanistically-oriented counseling practices and promotes changes that reflect the growing body of knowledge about humanistic principles applied to human development and potential.
2020-2021 President: Victoria Kress
2020-2021 President-Elect: Amanda Evans
2020-2021 Past President: Joel Givens
Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD)
Originally the Association of Non-White Concerns in Personnel and Guidance, AMCD was chartered in 1972. AMCD strives to improve cultural, ethnic and racial empathy and understanding by programs to advance and sustain personal growth.
2020-2021 President: Kimberly Hughes
2020-2021 President-Elect: Margarita Martinez
2020-2021 Past President: Taunya Tinsley
American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA)
ARCA is an organization of rehabilitation counseling practitioners, educators, and students who are concerned with enhancing the development of people with disabilities throughout their life span and in promoting excellence in the rehabilitation counseling profession's practice, research, consultation, and professional development.
2020-2021 President: Steve Zanskas
2020-2021 President-Elect: Sonia Peterson
2020-2021 Past President: Michael Hartley
Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC)
Originally the National Catholic Guidance Conference, ASERVIC was chartered in 1974. ASERVIC is devoted to professionals who believe that spiritual, ethical, religious, and other human values are essential to the full development of the person and to the discipline of counseling.
2020-2021 President: Ryan Foster
2020-2021 President-Elect: Daniel Gutierrez
2020-2021 Past President: Laura (Marinn) Pierce
Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW)
Chartered in 1973, ASGW provides professional leadership in the field of group work, establishes standards for professional training, and supports research and the dissemination of knowledge.
2020-2021 President: Dibya Choudhuri
2020-2021 President-Elect: Lorraine Guth
2020-2021 Past President: Ana Puig
Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ)
CSJ is a community of counselors, counselor educators, graduate students, and school and community leaders who seek equity and an end to oppression and injustice affecting clients, students, counselors, families, communities, schools, workplaces, governments, and other social and institutional systems.
2020-2021 President: Collette Dollarhide
2020-2021 President-Elect: Delila Owens
2020-2021 Past President: Lauren Shure
International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC)
Originally the Public Offender Counselor Association, IAAOC was chartered in 1972. Members of IAAOC advocate the development of effective counseling and rehabilitation programs for people with substance abuse problems, other addictions, and adult and/or juvenile public offenders.
2020-2021 President: Angie Cartwright
2020-2021 President-Elect: Kirk Bowden
2020-2021 Past President: Tina Chasek
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC)
Chartered in 1989, IAMFC members help develop healthy family systems through prevention, education, and therapy.
2020-2022 President: Rebecca Lynn Pender Baum
2020-2022 President-Elect: TBD
2020-2022 Past President: Samuel Gladding
Executive Director: Robert L. Smith
Military and Government Counseling Association (MGCA) formerly ACEG
Initially known as the Military Educators and Counselors Association, MGCA was chartered in 1984. MGCA is dedicated to counseling clients and their families in local, state, and federal government or in military-related agencies.
2020-2021 President: Katherine Atkins
2020-2021 President-Elect: Natasha Barnes
2020-2021 Past President: Jennifer Sztalkoper
National Career Development Association (NCDA)
Originally the National Vocational Guidance Association, NCDA was one of the founding associations of ACA in 1952. NCDA provides professional development, connection, publications, standards, and advocacy to career development professionals who inspire and empower individuals to achieve their career and life goals.
2019-2020 President: Kathy Evans
2019-2020 President-Elect: Seth Hayden
2019-2020 Past President: Spencer Niles
Executive Director: Deneen Pennington
*NCDA term of office is October 1 - September 30
National Employment Counseling Association (NECA)
NECA was chartered in 1966 as the National Employment Counselors Association. NECA is committed to offering professional leadership to people who counsel in employment and/or career development settings.
2020-2022 President: Carolyn Greer
2020-2022 President-Elect: Sujata Ives
2020-2022 Past President:Rebecca Lynn Downie
Executive Director of Strategic Leadership, Professional Development, and e-News: Kay Brawley
Executive Director: John Hakemian
Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE)
Formerly Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC)
Educates counselors to the unique needs of client identity development; and a non-threatening counseling environment by aiding in the reduction of stereotypical thinking and homoprejudice.
2020-2021 President: Cory Viehl
2020-2021 President-Elect: Christie Jenkins
2020-2021 Past President: Misty Ginicola