Learn About Counseling
Learn About Counseling

Professional counselors help people gain personal insights, develop strategies and come up with real-life solutions to the problems and challenges they face in every area of life.
What Is Counseling?

Counseling Corner

Counseling Impact

Counselor Stories

Provider Directories

Suicide Prevention Month
Membership
Membership

ACA is a community dedicated to the advancement of the counseling profession, mental health and well-being. More than 60,000 members strong, we are the largest membership organization serving the counseling profession.
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Member Benefits

Membership Savings Program

Membership Tiers

Awards
Government Affairs
Government Affairs

ACA advocates for its members and the counseling profession on a range of issues. We educate policymakers, advocate for policies, support state-level advocacy efforts of ACA branches and elevate member voices.
Legislative Advocacy

Legislative Updates

Federal Issues

Medicare Coverage for Counseling

State Issues

Counseling Compact

Take Action

Resources

Advocates in Action Month
Events & Education
Events & Education

ACA events provide spaces that allow professional counselors to share, learn and connect with their peers and colleagues, no matter their career stage or workplace setting.
ACA Conference & Expo

Continuing Education

Events

ACA 75th Anniversary
Publications & News
Publication & News

ACA publishes research, educational texts, professional development resources, and other works that amplify and elevate the counseling field.
About Our Publications

Books

Book Proposal Process

Product Ordering Information

Upcoming Releases

Counseling Journals

Journal of Counseling & Development

The Career Development Quarterly

Counselor Education and Supervision

Journal of Addictions & Justice-Involved Counseling

Journal of Employment Counseling

The Journal of Humanistic Counseling

The Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development

Counseling Nexus

Counseling Today Magazine

Media Center
Ethics & Resources
Ethics & Resources

ACA offers an array of resources to help counselors in their daily work, including the ACA Code of Ethics; licensure and career resources; and practice briefs.
Ethics

Assessment, Diagnosis & Treatment

Anxiety Disorders

Depression

Disordered Eating & Body Image

Disruptive, Impulse-Control, & Conduct Disorders

Dual Diagnosis / Co-occurring

Gender

Suicide Prevention

Trauma & Stress-Related Disorders

Treatment & Interventions

Substance-Related & Addictive Disorders

Cultural Identities, Multiculturalism & Diversity

Cultural Responsiveness

BIPOC

LGBTQ+

Military & Veterans

Religion & Spirituality

Social Justice

Sexuality

Conversion Therapy

Modalities

DBT

Creative Art Therapies

Creative Complementary

Group Work

Humanistic Counseling

Professional Counseling

Business Administration

Career Development

Counseling Specialties & Workplace Settings

Ethics, Legal, Healthcare Regulation & Compliance

Government Agencies

Licensure

Professional Development

Supervision

Technology & Related Topics

Wellness & Self-Care

Special Considerations

Adoption & Foster Care

Aging Issues

Children & Adolescents

Couples, Marriage, & Family

Grief & Loss

Gun Violence

Intimate Partner Violence

Relationships

Natural Disasters

Competencies & Exemplary Practices

Licensure Requirements

Practice Briefs

Research & Reports
About ACA
About ACA

ACA is the largest professional organization serving counselors and counselors in training in the U.S. Learn more about our history, mission, leadership and ways to partner and work with us.
Who We Are

Meet Our Staff

Strategic Plan

Work at ACA!

Year in Review

Divisions, Regions and Branches

ACA Foundation

Leadership & Governance

Board of Directors

Advisory Council

Media Kit

Partnerships

Values & Statements

Your Home for Professional Counseling

Advancing the counseling profession, mental health and well-being through education, advocacy, community, inclusion and research.

Build Your Counseling Career Become a Member

Find the support, resources and community to move your career forward.

Keep Learning. Keep Growing. Earn CE Credit

Earn continuing education credits, explore professional development opportunities and strengthen your counseling practice.

Find Resources for Your Practice Browse Resources

Explore counseling topics, articles, practice resources and professional insights designed to support counselors at every stage.

Make Your Voice Heard Explore Advocacy

Stay informed, learn how to advocate and take action on issues shaping the counseling profession and mental health care.

Attend an Event Learn More

Learn how ACA advances the counseling profession through education, advocacy, community, inclusion and research.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY NOW

Compass overlayed on government building

Code of Ethics

ACA is responsible for providing access to, and interpretation of, the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.

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Counseling Compact

The Counseling Compact is an agreement among states to legislatively recognize other states’ counseling licenses.

Learn More

Featured Events

2027 ACA Conference & Expo

March 11–13, 2027 | Portland, Oregon

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Suicide Prevention and Intervention Summit

November 4-5 | Virtual

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VIEW ALL EVENTS

Latest News

History Is Made: Tennessee Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines

September 1, 2026

Brokamp v. District of Columbia: What Counselors Should Know

August 31, 2026

History Is Made: Wyoming Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines

August 31, 2026

Advocate Against Proposed Medicare Payment Cuts for Counselors

August 25, 2026

Capturing Counseling Priorities

August 25, 2026

Court Temporarily Blocks Termination of School-Based Mental Health Grants

August 3, 2026

Go To Media Center

FEATURED EVENT

2027 ACA Conference & Expo

Registration is now open for the premier professional development and networking event for counselors. Join us!

LEARN MORE

What I value most is the representation and advocacy work. There are so many things that happen with laws and policy at both the federal and state level that impact my work and being able to reach out to ACA to get support and guidance has been invaluable. For example, they were so helpful in passing the Counseling Compact in my state.
Amanda DeDiego, PhD, LPC, NCC