Each July, ACA welcomes a new president who will serve for the next 12 months as our association’s leader and primary spokesperson. For the past 16 years, I have had the honor of being the person who works most closely with the association’s chief elected officer to carry out the
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Here are some popular misconceptions about brief therapy: It sacrifices a real therapeutic alliance. It is only popular because insurance companies love it. It doesn’t work long term. Many counselors with in-depth training in brief therapy models are quick to dispel these myths and contend that brief therapy can help
I t’s a little surprising to find out that someone so passionate about counseling began her professional career as a retail associate at a Jordan Marsh clothing store in Manchester, N.H. Less surprising perhaps is finding out why Cirecie West-Olatunji, who took office as the 62nd president of the American
Students in counselor education courses often ask what special training they need to counsel clients with spiritual issues. I ask these students to consider what course content, prior employment, life experience or other education might prepare them to address religious or spiritual themes. Some report they would rely on pastoral
Are you a mental health counselor? If so, you may be only vaguely aware of the ways in which CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs)-only language in hiring, credentialing and reimbursement policies could impact your practice. As practicing mental health counselors and board members of the Maryland
Everyone who enters a graduate program in counseling daydreams at some point about his or her professional future. The ultimate goal for some is to start a private practice. For others it is to work in a certain setting or with clients who have specific issues or treatment needs. Many
Military veteran, graduate student and American Counseling Association member Derek Neuts is working to foster a better connection between counselors, service members and their families to help make the transition to life after combat a little easier. Neuts and his wife, Naomi, founded the Institute for Veteran Cultural Studies (IVCS)
An update to the iPhone’s Siri will allow the personal assistant feature to place more serious focus on its users’ mental health in crisis situations. Now, if a user tells Siri, “I want to kill myself,” Apple has directed the service to return with the phone number for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Prior
Counselors are still working to digest the fifth edition of the (DSM-5), released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) last month. To help counselors better understand the revisions and additions and how those changes will impact them, the American Counseling Association is offering six webinars focused on the DSM-5. Rebecca
When running into burning buildings is part of your job description, it’s understandable that your profession might have a substantial impact on your emotional and mental well-being. But for reasons Jeff Dill can’t explain, inadequate focus has been placed on the mental health care of professional and volunteer firefighters. “In