When I ask professional counselors why they decided to pursue this particular career path, it is rare to hear someone respond that they did it for the money. (OK, honestly, that never happens.) Nor do they respond by saying that they did it for the power, prestige, community standing or because they thought it would be an easy job.

I, for one, appreciate that you didn’t go into the counseling profession for any of the reasons I just mentioned. I believe you have chosen one of the world’s most noble professions, and I am extremely honored to serve as ACA’s CEO. If I and my 60 fellow colleagues here on staff have contributed to helping you in your important work, then we have been successful in our main endeavor.

In the United States this month, millions of friends and families will gather to pause and express thanks for what they have in their lives. Though many of us will observe this very American Thanksgiving tradition, which normally includes copious amounts of food, we also know that many others won’t be so fortunate. For them, the thought of a warm home, watching football on TV for several hours and eating roast turkey with all the trimmings is nothing more than a dream or a distant memory. Because of life’s circumstances, we continue to live among a great number of adults and children who are hungry and homeless.

I know the members of ACA do more than their fair share to help society each and every day. Asking you to take on yet another task might seem unfair. In fact, it would certainly be appropriate to look for others outside of the profession to shoulder some of the responsibility for helping those who are facing life’s challenges.

But I am going to ask anyway.

Please continue to reach out, lend a hand and assist in making one more person’s path just a little easier. I encourage you to contribute a bag of groceries to a food bank, donate clothing or blankets to a homeless shelter, play some games with kids at a local Boys & Girls Club or make a monetary commitment to a local charity. I will be asking my colleagues here on staff to do the same.

Why take on even more? Because professional counselors have the capacity, compassion and character to do so. Your work is not easy, but you did not choose this path because it was easy. You chose it because you realize how important it is to make a difference in someone’s life.

I do salute all of you for your efforts. Although taking me up on my request to do just a little more this month may not result in any monetary gain, I do want to let our community know about your efforts. So, if over the next month or so you (and your colleagues, friends or family members) do something extra to help your community, please email me a photo or a written description of your effort. I can’t guarantee I will be able to report on what everyone did, but I will certainly do my best. Your effort might help many individuals and families, or perhaps just one lucky fellow human being who is the recipient of your generosity. Regardless, I hope to acknowledge and celebrate your good work.

As I have shared many times through the years, I am so thankful for the good work all of you are doing. I believe my being with ACA for 25 years can be attributed in large part to knowing that, through our efforts to promote, support and advocate for the counseling profession, we are helping you to help others.

As always, I look forward to your comments, questions and thoughts. Feel free to contact me at 800.347.6647 ext. 231 or via email at ryep@counseling.org. You can also follow me on Twitter: @RichYep.

Be well.