The American Counseling Association is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. Founded in 1952, ACA is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings.

By providing leadership training, publications, continuing education opportunities, and advocacy services to nearly 55,000 members, ACA helps counseling professionals develop their skills and expand their knowledge base.

ACA has been instrumental in setting professional and ethical standards for the counseling profession. The association has made considerable strides in accreditation, licensure, and national certification. It also represents the interests of the profession before congress and federal agencies, and strives to promote recognition of professional counselors to the public and the media.

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“Power Based Professionals Initiating Change” is an appropriate description for who we are and where we will be in the next millenium. The Wisconsin Counseling Association believes in the strength of its members and the values that govern us.

WCA is a branch of the American Counseling Association. It serves as an umbrella organization for several chapters and divisions of counseling organizations around the State of Wisconsin.

Membership in WCA offers a professional network of counselors, information through newsletters, an annual journal, and an annual conference. The Wisconsin Counseling Association operates by the strength of its membership and the values that govern our organization. These values are: 1) We believe in the worth and dignity of the individual, and we value caring and respect for self and others. 2) We believe that positive change in people, organizations, and societies can be facilitated. 3) We believe that we need to be aware of current and evolving knowledge, including alternative ways of knowing that can assist in facilitating positive change. 4) We believe in the kind of leadership which requires a willingness to take risks, a readiness to take stands, and a responsibility to act on vital issues. 5) We believe in fostering an integrative quality, interdependence, and connectedness among people, organizations, and societies.

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The American School Counselor Association is the national organization with a membership of more than 12,000 school counseling professionals that represents the profession of school counseling. ASCA focuses on providing professional development, enhancing school counseling programs, and researching effective school counseling practices. Their mission is to promote excellence in professional school counseling and the development of all students.

Through a strong government relations program, thoughtful documents have been articulated such as the Role Statement: The School Counselor, Ethical Standards for School Counselors, Position Statements, the recent release of The National Standards for School Counseling Programs, and many other publications and services. ASCA advocates for the school counseling profession.

Since its founding in 1952, ASCA has provided publications, educational programs and conferences, professional development workshops, and other programs for school counselors in public and private pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle/junior high, secondary, and post secondary schools.

ASCA has been instrumental in developing and recommending strong professional and ethical standards for the school counseling profession. ASCA assists counselors in delivering more effective services by providing the means and information to enhance skills, to support self-evaluation, and research to measure counselor effectiveness. ASCA speaks for school counselors at the national level through strong government relations programs and activities.

ASCA publishes The Professional School Counseling Journal five times during the school year. It also provides its members with a newspaper, The ASCA Counselor, published five times each year.

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To advance the profession of school counseling in preschool through post secondary in order to maximize the educational, academic, vocational, and personal-social growth of each student.

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Based in Washington, DC, the American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. With more than 159,000 members, APA is also the largest association of psychologists worldwide. Student memberships are available and encouraged.

The object of the American Psychological Association is to advance psychology as a science and profession and as a means of promoting human welfare by the encouragement of psychology in all its branches in the broadest and most liberal manner in the following manner: 1) by the promotion of research in psychology, and the improvement of research methods and conditions; 2) through the improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of psychologists through high standards of ethics, conduct, education, and achievement; 3) by the establishment and maintenance of the highest standards of professional ethics and conduct of the members of the association; 4) finally, by the increase and diffusion of psychological knowledge through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions, and publications to advance scientific interests and inquiry, and the application of research findings to the promotion of the public welfare.

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The Division of School Psychology is composed of scientific-practitioner psychologists whose major professional interests lie with children, families, and the schooling process. The Division represents the interests of psychologists engaged in the delivery of comprehensive psychological services to children, adolescents, and families in schools and other applied settings. The Division is dedicated to facilitating the professional practice of school psychology and actively advocates in domains such as education and health care reform, which have significant implications for the practice of psychology with children. Members receive the journal School Psychology Quarterly and the quarterly newsletter The School Psychologist. The Division welcomes student members. Specialist level school psychologists and practitioners are welcome to join the Division as Professional Affiliates.

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Counseling Psychology was founded in 1946 to promote personal, educational, vocational, and group adjustment in a variety of settings.

Presently, Division 17 brings together psychologists, students, and professional affiliates who are dedicated to promoting education, training, scientific investigation, practice, diversity, and public interest in professional psychology. Division 17 advocates for Counseling Psychology within the field of psychology and in the public sector. Division 17 also supports, encourages, and promotes its members, and celebrates their diversity.

Division 17 strives to meet the particular interests and needs of its members. This is accomplished through the formation of sections which are formal organizations designed to promote issues in interest areas, and special interest groups which are informal and represent a variety of interest areas.

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See Dr. Kim Tuescher for details.