The American Counseling Association (ACA) is a professional membership organization dedicated to advancing the counseling profession and supporting professional counselors across diverse practice settings. Its mission is to promote the development of professional counselors, advocate for the profession, and ensure ethical, culturally inclusive, and evidence-based counseling services that enhance human development and well-being.
ACA typically advocates for legislation related to mental health access, licensure portability and professional standards for counselors, reimbursement and insurance parity for behavioral health services, school counseling resources, telehealth expansion, workforce development, and policies that promote equity, inclusion, and client confidentiality in mental health care.
Primarily funded through membership dues, conference and professional development fees, publications, and related program revenues.
Includes numerous state counseling associations and divisions such as the American School Counselor Association and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
Non-profit professional association
