Professional Organizations

• The Pennsylvania Counseling Association represents the professional interests of counselors. It helped spearhead the licensing movement, holds conferences each year to promote professional development, and is qualified to issue continuing education credits for LPCs.
  Web site: www.pacounseling.org
  
  
• The American Counseling Association is the parent organization for all state organizations (i.e., PCA). It provides a national presence and advocates at the national level for counselor interests. Professional liability insurance is offered at very reasonable rates.
  Web site: www.counseling.org
  
  
• The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors comprises members from all three disciplines who are appointed by the governor and approved by the Pennsylvania Senate. The board’s primary function is to protect the public interest. It is responsible for all of the policies and procedures developed to enact the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors Act 136. The board’s Web site contains all of the information needed to pursue licensure as a LPC. The board is also responsible for disciplinary action against LSWs, LCSWs, LMFTs and LPCs.
  Web site: www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/socwkbd.mainpage.htm
  
  
• The Greater Pittsburgh Counseling Association (GPCA) is a regional chapter of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association that represents the professional interests of counselors in the greater Pittsburgh area.
  Web site: www.eca-counseling.com/gpca.htm
  
  
• The American School Counselor Association (ASCS) supports school counselors’ professional interests.
  Web site: www.schoolcounselor.org

• The Association for Women in Psychology (AWP) is a  not-for-profit scientific and educational organization committed to encouraging feminist psychological research, theory, and activism.
  Web site: www.awpsyc.org

Student Organization

The Carlow University Graduate Counseling Student Association is a student organization that primarily functions in support of students. The association provides a means through which students can connect socially, academically, and professionally. As part of a women-centered institution of higher education, the group has adopted feminist principles of collaborative leadership and organization. Membership is free of charge and open to all Carlow University graduate counseling students.