I’ve mentioned in the past how important it is to be involved with and connected to professional associations. Here’s a list of professional associations to support you in your work and in your personal interests in mental health.
- American Art Therapy Association
- American Association for Marriage and Family TherapistsAmerican Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
- American Association of Christian Counselors
- American College Counseling Association
- American Counseling Association
- American Medical Association
- American Mental Health Counselors Association
- American Music Therapy Association
- American Psychiatric Association
- American Psychological Association
- American Rehabilitation Counseling Association
- American School Counselor Association
- Association for Adult Development and Aging
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
- Association for Counselors and Educators in Government
- Association for Creativity in Counseling
- Association for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling
- Association for Humanistic Counseling
- Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
- Association for Women in Pyschology
- British Association for Counselling
- Chi Sigma Iota
- European Branch of the American Counseling Association
- National (USA) Association for Poetry Therapy
- National (USA) Association of Science Writers
- National (USA) Association of Social Workers
- National (USA)Association for Drama Therapy
- National Association for Addiction Professionals
- National Association of School Psychologists
If you know of others that you would like included, feel free to add them below!
American Society of Group Psychotherapy & Psychodrama at http://www.asgpp.org. Annual conference is next year in Clearwater, Fla.
Yes, yes! Thanks, Karen! I’m not sure how I could have overlooked ASGPP!
American Association of Christian Counselors http://www.aacc.net
Association for Play Therapy http://www.a4pt.org
Excellent, Jill! Thanks so much for adding these!
One of the first tasks I performed as a MS Mental Health Counseling student was to become a member of the ACA. It is through association membership that I keep abreast of the evolution of the field, and establish an “esprit de corps.” Being a member assists me in feeling a part of something larger than myself – that I am on this journey together with other like minded individuals who believe in certain core values. I work in an environment that focuses on the cognitive process, and I often feel alienated due to my focus on the affective response to stimuli and its impact on behavior. When I begin to feel isolated, I go to the ACA website and rejoice in the fact that there are others who share this focus and I feel connected.
Hi, Sue! I’m so glad to see your voice here! Thanks for chiming in!
I’m always amazed to meet counselors who choose not to become a member of the American Counseling Association. I usually chalk it up to a lack of experience. ACA is out there 365 days a year looking out for counselors and our clients. The liability insurance alone that you can get through ACA as a member is well worth the annual fee. And, like you, I feel as if ACA is what keeps me grounded and informed as a counselor in private practice.
I was trained psychodynamically (Adlerian) first and it is the road map that I fall back on most naturally, Sue, so I can understand your comments in this narrowly defined evidence-based world of today. You are not alone.
Thanks so much for dropping in! I always enjoy your thoughts on our duscussion list and look forward to you sharing your thoughts here, too.
Here’s one for the United Kingdom – The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy.
I’m happy to have you guys share counseling resources from around the globe. We now have have visitors from 115 different countries! YIPEEE!
Here’s one more – the International Society of Mental Health Online.
AMHCA (American Mental Health Counselors Association) is a affiliated with ACA but a separate association.
They are clinically oriented and focus on the professional needs of licensed counselors.
Oh, my gosh, yes! How could I forget AMHCA?! Thanks for the reminder!