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.
2019-2020 President: Amber Randolph
2019-2020 President-Elect: Christian Chan
Past President: Katherine Hermann-Turner
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.
2019-2020 President: Jacqueline Swank
2019-2020 President-Elect: Philip Gnilka
Past President: Catharina Chang
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.
2019-2020 President: Evette Horton
2019-2020 President-Elect: Emily Goodman-Scott
Past President: Catherine Tucker
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.
2018-2020 President:Ruth Ouzts Moore
2018-2020 President-Elect: Edward Hudspeth
Past President: Ionana Marcus
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.
2019-2020 President: Richard Tyler-Walker
2019-2020 President-Elect: Andrew J. Lee
Past President: Janelle C. Johnson
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.
2019-2020 President: Kristopher M. Goodrich
2019-2020 President-Elect: Heather Ambrose
Past President: Melissa Luke
Executive Director: Vacant
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.
2019-2020 President: Joel Givens
2019-2020 President-Elect: Victoria Kress
Past President: Mark D. Stauffer
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.
2019-2020 President: Misty Ginicola
2019-2020 President-Elect: Cory Viehl
2019-2020 Past President: Jared Rose
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.
2019-2020 President: Taunya Tinsley
2019-2020 President-Elect: Kimberly Hughes
Past President: Shon Smith
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.
2019-2020 President: Michael Hartley
2019-2020 President-Elect: Steve Zanskas
Past President: Noel Ysasi
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.
2019-2020 President: Laura (Marinn) Pierce
2019-2020 President-Elect: Ryan Foster
Past President: Leila Roach
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.
2019-2020 President: Ana Puig
2019-2020 President-Elect: Dibya Choudhuri
Past President: Chris McCarthy
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.
2019-2020 President: Lauren Shure
2019-2020 President-Elect: Collette Dollarhide
Past President: Anna Flores Locke
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.
2019-2020 President: Tina Chasek
2019-2020 President-Elect: Angie Cartwright
Past President: Connie Jones
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC)
Chartered in 1989, IAMFC members help develop healthy family systems through prevention, education, and therapy.
2019-2020 President: Samuel Gladding
2019-2020 President-Elect: Rebecca Lynn Pender Baum
Past President: Brandé Flamez
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.
2019-2020 President: Jennifer Sztalkoper
2019-2020 President-Elect: Katherine Atkins
Past President: Thomas I Watson
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
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.
2019-2020 President: Rebecca Lynn Downie
2019-2020 President-Elect: Carolyn Greer
Past President: Gray Edwards, Jr.
Executive Director of Strategic Leadership, Professional Development, and e-News: Kay Brawley
Executive Director: John Hakemian