Professional Organizations and Associations provide development and connections within your field. Consider joining or gathering information from these pertinent counseling associations.
Professional Associations and Organizations
American Mental Health Counselors AssociationOur vision is to position clinical mental health counselors to meet the healthcare needs of those we serve while advancing the profession.
Our mission is to advance the profession of clinical mental health counseling by setting the standard for:
Collaboration
Advocacy
Research
Ethical Practice
Education, Training, and Professional Development
American School Counselors AssociationThe American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors' efforts to help students focus on academic, career, and social/emotional development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. ASCA provides professional development, publications, and other resources, research, and advocacy to school counselors around the globe. Learn more or join today!
International Association for Resilience and Trauma CounselingMission: To enhance the quality of life for people and communities worldwide by promoting the development of professional counselors; by advancing the ideals of the American Counseling Association, the counseling profession, and the ethical practice of counseling through trauma-informed practices; and, by nurturing respect for human dignity, cultural inclusivity, and resilience.
West Virginia Counseling AssociationMission: To Enhance the quality of individual life in our society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity.
The West Virginia Counseling Association, our state's branch of the American Counseling Association, is committed to the promotion and growth of the counseling profession within the state of West Virginia.
Members enjoy a variety of benefits and are served in the following ways:
Annual State Conference
Continuing Education
Advises Political Leaders on Counseling Issues
Free legal advice from LegalCare America
Opportunity for Networking
Job and Affinity Message Boards
Knowledge Base and Virtual Library
West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors AssociationWVLPCA consists of members of the counseling profession working to promote Licensed Professional Counselors in the state. Our mission is to promote licensure and professional development for counselors in West Virginia through systems advocacy, networking, and capacity building.
National Board for Certified CounselorsThe National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates (NBCC) is the premier credentialing body for counselors, ensuring that counselors who become nationally certified have achieved the highest standard of practice through education, examination, supervision, experience, and ethical guidelines.
Established as a not-for-profit, independent certification organization in 1982, NBCC’s original and primary purposes have broadened, and its divisions and affiliates have taken on additional responsibilities to advance the counseling profession and enhance mental health worldwide.
National Institute of Mental HealthThe National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
