American Counseling Association

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is a non-profit, professional organization that is dedicated to the counseling profession. ACA is the world's largest association exclusively representing professional counselors.

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Mission

The mission of the American Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in 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 and diversity.

History

ACA was founded in 1952 as the American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA). It was a merger of the National Vocational Guidance Association (NVGA), the National Association of Guidance and Counselor Trainers (NAGCT), the Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education (SPATE), and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). The American Personnel and Guidance Association changed its name in 1983 to the American Association of Counseling and Development (AACD). On July 1, 1992, the association changed its name to the American Counseling Association.

Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, just outside Washington, DC, the American Counseling Association promotes public confidence and trust in the counseling profession so that professionals can further assist their clients and students in dealing with the challenges life presents. The American Counseling Association services professional counselors in the U.S. and in 50 other countries including Europe, Latin America, the Philippines and the Virgin Islands. In addition, the American Counseling Association is associated with a comprehensive network of 19 divisions and 56 branches. The American Counseling Association also collaborates with several corporate and related organizations to enhance member services.

Divisions

There are 19 chartered divisions within the American Counseling Association. These divisions provide leadership, resources and information unique to specialized areas and/or principles of counseling. Divisions chartered by ACA elect division officers who govern their activities independently and carry a voice in national ACA governance. Enhance your professional identity and practice by joining one or more divisions.

• Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education (AACE)
• Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA)
• Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC)
• American College Counseling Association (ACCA)
• Association for Counselors and Educators in Government (ACEG)
• Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
• Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC)
• Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD)
• American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
• American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA)
• American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
• Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC)
• Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW)
• Counseling Association for Humanistic Education and Development (C-AHEAD)
• Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ)
• International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC)
• International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC)
• National Career Development Association (NCDA)
• National Employment Counseling Association (NECA)

Regions

• Midwest
• North Atlantic
• Southern
• Western

Branches

ACA has 56 chartered branches in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
• Europe