There are local, state, and national organizations for both school and agency counselors. This page offers some links to the web sites of these organizations so that you can peruse what they have to offer. Professional organizations play a major role in the political lobbying that is essential to any profession in a free-market democracy. They also provide services like liability insurance and enhance professional development through conferences and opportunities for continuing education. As you become more involved in the profession, there are more reasons to consider joining professional organizations. Just as there are many "factions" of therapeutic professionals, there are many "factions" of professional organizations. Some organizations represent only small groups of counselors in certain specialties, while others are more global in scope. Sampling from the following links can give you an idea of what organizations are out there.
- American Counseling Association
- American School Counselor Association
- American Mental Health Counselors Association
- Ohio Counseling Association
- NAADAC: The Association for Addiction Professionals
See also...CHI SIGMA IOTA LINK TO CSU CHAPTER (Chi Sigma Upsilon)