The American Counseling Association was recently invited to be one of a select group of organizations to participate in a joint Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) listening session on the behavioral health workforce. During the June 5 meeting, ACA received a clear message that professional counseling was viewed by the federal government as a key component of the behavioral health workforce in the United States. In a letter sent to SAMHSA and HRSA after the meeting, ACA expressed a desire to focus on the needs of clients and consumers rather than the needs of the mental health related professions represented at the session.

Click here to view the letter.