Author: zcarrer1

Immigration Rights & Community Care Workshop – Thursday, January 22 from 4-5:30pm on Zoom

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As we continue to focus on ways to support our diverse College of Education (COE) community, let’s take the time to learn about the latest information regarding community care and immigration rights. The College of Education is proud to partner with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) to host a workshop on Immigration Rights and Community Care.

Please see the attached flyer (Immigration Rights and Community Care Workshop) for more details and click the link below in order to register.

Immigration Rights & Community Care

Thursday, January 22 from 4-5:30pm on Zoom

https://depaul.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eFMhP8FAbKfPnN4

 

CMHC Internship Opportunity- Chicago Counseling Associates

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Chicago Counseling Associates (CCA) is currently accepting applications for the 26-27 year. Applications are accepted through January 30th, 2026 for an early fall 2026 start date, but they have said they can be somewhat flexible with this date- please reach out to them directly for more details. Interested students should submit a cover letter, a resume or c.v., and two letters of recommendation from someone able to speak to your readiness for clinical work. References can be included in your application or sent directly to CCA. Please address all materials to Carolyn Schneider at: cschneider@cca-cct.com

More information about the Graduate Internship Program at Chicago Counseling Associates can be found here: https://www.cca-cct.com/professionals#grad

Courageous Conversations: Confronting Antisemitism – January 21

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Join Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center for an interactive workshop designed for participants from all backgrounds and levels of knowledge on the topic. The workshop engages participants in scenario-based problem-solving to recognize and respond to antisemitism in their communities.

What to expect:

  • Through videos, images, and discussions, participants will learn about the diversity of Jewish identities and the variety of forms antisemitism has taken, both historically and contemporary.
  • The workshop guides participants through self-reflective activities on identity and implicit/explicit bias, deconstructs antisemitic images that illustrate larger antisemitic tropes, and engages participants in scenario-based problem-solving to recognize and respond to antisemitism in their communities.

To register for this event, please use the following link: Courageous Conversations: Confronting Antisemitism

Participate in a Study on Self-Compassion in Counselor Development

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Phileta Valavanis, a student at The American College of Greece, is currently conducting a study focused on self-compassion in counselors in training. Participation is entirely voluntary, and the study has been approved by the American College of Greece IRB.

Attached is a brief flyer with more details about the study, including eligibility criteria, participation requirements, and contact information.

If interested, please reach out to pmrvalavanis@gmail.com

 

CMHC Internship Opportunity – DePaul Family and Community Services (DFCS)

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DePaul Family and Community Services (DFCS) is currently accepting applications for the 26-27 year. Interested students can apply through this this link. DePaul Family and Community Services (DFCS) is located on the first floor of the College of Education, on the right hand side when you enter the building. Please read the description in the PDF attached to see more details.

Attached PDF: Master’s of Counseling description

 

CMHC Internship Opportunity – Light on Anxiety

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Light on Anxiety Treatment Centers is currently accepting applications for the 26-27 year. Interested students can see more details and apply through this internship application link. Light on Anxiety has locations in Lakeview, Ravenswood, River North, Highland Park, Naperville, Wilmette, and Arlington Heights, however the internship experience may be limited to one or more than one location. Please read the description in the application link above and apply to learn more.

More information about Light on Anxiety can be found here: https://lightonanxiety.com/

2025 Counseling Advocacy Update

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American Counseling Association, Advocacy in Action
View Web Version

2025 was a year full of incredible advocacy wins thanks to your hard work. Read on to see the achievements at the federal and state levels as a result of your dedication to advocating for the counseling profession!

Federal Updates

Proposed Changes to Federal Student Loan Caps

The Department of Education (ED) is considering significant reductions to federal student loan limits. This proposed change would be particularly challenging for students in programs not considered “professional” by ED, which includes master’s level counseling programs. This change could push many students toward expensive private lending and discourage future counselors from entering the profession. Learn more.

We will submit comments about these proposed changes to ED during the public comment period, which is anticipated to begin in early 2026.

You can act now — share how student loans supported your journey to becoming a licensed professional counselor and how the proposed loan limits would negatively impact future students’ educational and professional trajectories.

Medicare Providers — Counselors are Eligible!

Counselors can now apply to be a Medicare provider. Learn more.
FEDERAL WINS

  • Created 37 new articles and resources for members to enhance engagement and provide timely policy guidance.
  • Engaged in more than 100 congressional meetings to advocate for our key legislative priorities.
  • Endorsed 11 pieces of legislation and signed seven national coalition letters.
  • More than 100 counselor advocates traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend Hill Day, where we advanced our federal advocacy efforts. Attendees met with 95 Members of Congress or their staff, spanning over 17% of all Congressional offices and around 35% of the Senate.
  • Filed two amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court in the cases of Mahmoud v. Taylor and Chiles v. Salazar.
GRASSROOTS WINS
Federal Action Alert Participation by State as of Dec. 1.
  • Revamped the Take Action Center to better serve our members.
  • ACA Advocates wrote more than 8,500 letters to legislators, made over 175 phone calls, submitted more than 150 comments on regulations and submitted over 210 advocacy stories, which is a 310% increase in engagement compared to 2024.
  • The most active states were New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Virginia.
  • The most popular campaigns urged Congress to support Medicaid, to restore counselor access to grant funding, to support the LGBTQ+ youth mental health lifeline and to oppose conversion therapy.
State Updates

Counseling Compact

Did you know you can follow the work of the Counseling Compact Commission (CCC), such as their meetings and updates on the Compact? All CCC meetings and minutes are open to the public. Learn more about the Compact rollout for your state.

You can also find information on fees, jurisprudence exams and state-specific contact information.

COUNSELING COMPACT WINS

  • Nevada became the 38th state and 39th jurisdiction to join the Counseling Compact when Governor Joe Lombardo signed Assembly Bill 163 in June.
  • Arizona and Minnesota became the first states to start issuing privileges to practice across state lines in September.
  • Counseling Compact legislation was introduced in nine states.

Connect with Other Advocates at Advocacy Power Hour

Advocacy Power Hour (APH) connects advocacy leaders and interested members with our team to discuss state policy updates, advocacy strategies at the state level and our national policy agenda.

The next APH is Thursday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. ET.

Register for the next APH.

STATE WINS

  • Hosted the second annual Spotlight on States event during Advocates in Action Month, providing an overview of state legislation and advocacy throughout the year. This event featured 18 speakers and attracted over 110 registrants interested in state-level advocacy and legislative engagement.
  • APH continues to grow. Since implementing a new registration system, APH registration has jumped to as high as 81 registrants per meeting.

Get Involved

Are you ready to advocate for the counseling profession? Here are steps to kickstart your advocacy journey:

Please note that trainings are an exclusive benefit for ACA members only.
ACA actively works on legislative and public policy issues that matter to our members. Priorities include Medicare reimbursement for counselors, the Counseling Compact and increased funding for mental health care.

Protecting the Professional Degree Status for Counselors

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PROTECTING THE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE STATUS FOR COUNSELORS

The Situation:

Under the terms of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill  (H.R. 1), the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing loan repayment programs, including the Grad PLUS Program and much of the Parent PLUS program. Under RAP, annual federal loans for new borrowers will be capped at $20,500 for graduate students and $50,000 for professional students per academic year. The Department of Education identified 11 degrees, including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and law, that would be considered professional degrees. Counseling and Therapy programs were not included on this list, meaning students in these fields would not qualify for the higher funding cap.

Affected Master’s Degrees:

Accounting

Architecture

Audiology

Business Masters

Counseling and Therapy 

Education

Engineering Masters

Nursing

Occupational Therapy

Physical Therapy

Physician Assistant

Public Health

Social Work

Speech and Language Pathology

Why This Matters:

Reducing federal financial aid for counseling and therapy students will restrict entry into mental health professions at a time when shortages are already severe. Fewer students may be able to afford these degrees, which will shrink the future behavioral health workforce. Excluding counseling and therapy from professional status undermines efforts to meet rising mental health needs across the United States. With more than one-third of Americans living in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, any new barrier to entering the mental health field will further harm public well-being.

Take Action Today:

I. Contact your congressional representatives using our VoterVoice system.   https://www.votervoice.net/NBCCGrassroots/Campaigns/131783/Respond

II. Share your personal experience receiving federal student aid and how this support allowed you to complete your education and succeed in your profession.

III. Spread awareness ahead of the 2026 public comment period for higher education rulemaking.

Internship Opportunity – University of St. Francis Student Assistance Program (USAP) Counseling Internship

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The University of St. Francis in Joliet is currently taking internship applications for its Student Assistance Program (USAP) Counseling Internship for the 2026-2027 year. Interested students can reach out to Linda Espinosa at linda.espinosa@aah.org with any questions.

In order to apply, students must email:

  • a cover letter
  • transcript
  • curriculum vitae
  • three letters of recommendation (at least one letter of recommendation must come from a supervisor who is familiar with and can speak about your clinical work and experience)