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NBCC Visions Newsletter

NBCC Visions is our official newsletter. It is published electronically every month and delivered to all NCCs via email.

Stay up to date on NBCC and Affiliates’ latest activities. If you did not receive the latest issue, please log in to your Credentialing Gateway account to update your contact information.


NBCC Foundation Now Accepting Fellowship Applications

Published: 9/20/2023

The NBCC Minority Fellowship Program will award up to 90 fellowships of up to $20,000. Applications are now open for master’s- and doctoral-level counseling students.

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Gaining a Better Understanding of Suicidal Ideation Among Older Adults

Published: 9/20/2023

Anna Lieber, NCC, CCMHC, LCMHC, discusses the crisis of suicidal ideation among older adults and important considerations for counselors when working with this population.

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LGBTQ Population Faces a Mental Health Crisis

Published: 9/20/2023

Research has consistently found that the LGBTQ population experiences greater rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality than the general population. Recent surveys reveal additional details about this crisis. We spoke with Dr. Clark Ausloos about the implications for professional counselors.

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Suicidality in the Military

Published: 9/20/2023

Suicide rates among active military members, veterans, and family members have increased significantly in the past two decades. Avery Rosser, MS, NCC, LPC, CPCS, shares his insights on prevention techniques.

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Suicide Bereavement: Helping Clients Cope with the Loss of a Loved One to Suicide

Published: 9/20/2023

Clinical supervisors play an important role in supporting supervisees who may have experienced the loss of a client to suicide. Dr. Camila Pulgar Guzman shares advice counselors and supervisors can implement when faced with the suicide of a client.

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Register for the Mental Health Connections: Advancing Global Health Equity Conference

Published: 9/20/2023

NBCC and the NBCC Foundation will host their annual international virtual conference from Nov. 29–Dec. 1, 2023, and NCCs are eligible for a 20% registration discount.

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Understanding Proper Documentation of Supervision

Published: 8/23/2023

Proper documentation of supervision is necessary for counselors and their supervisors to uphold the highest ethical standards. We spoke with Anthony P. Onorato, MA, LPC, ALPS, AADC, to gain insights into successful documentation of supervision.

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Organization Highlight: ACES

Published: 8/23/2023

The Association for Counselor Education and Supervision has been supporting counselors since 1952. ACES President Margaret Lamar shared with us about recent and upcoming offerings and opportunities, as well as a renewed emphasis on supervisor support.

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Preparing for Vicarious Trauma in Supervision

Published: 8/23/2023

Counselors may experience vicarious trauma at any point in their careers. Supervisors must be alert to the signs in both themselves and their supervisees. In this article, researchers Samara Richmond, Amber Samuels, and Elizabeth Crunk share advice about this danger.

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Coping With the Loss of a Client to Suicide

Published: 8/23/2023

The loss of a client to suicide is devastating for a counselor. Supervisors can help their supervisees cope with these postvention techniques.

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Supporting Counselors Through Social Justice Discrepancies Within a Session

Published: 8/23/2023

Strong counselor–client relationships are built on a foundation of honesty and trust. However, differing social values can challenge these relationships. Devona M. Stalnaker-Shofner, EdD, NCC, LPC, helps us explore how supervisors can assist in navigating these tough conversations.

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ACS Spotlight: Sherritta Hughes

Published: 8/23/2023

Sherritta Hughes, PhD, ACS, LPC, is an Approved Clinical Supervisor in New Jersey. She started her own small business, Counselor Education, Supervision, and Development (CESD), LLC and nonprofit organization, Hughes Integrative Wellness, Inc., and continues to be an innovator in the counseling profession.

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Mental Health Academy’s Virtual Suicide Prevention Summit

Published: 8/23/2023

Mental Health Academy’s Virtual Suicide Prevention Summit will take place Aug. 26–27. The summit is brought to you by MHA through collaboration and cooperation with NBCC and Affiliates, the American Counseling Association, the American Association of Suicidology, and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

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TPC Confers 2023 Annual Scholarship Awards

Published: 8/23/2023

The Professional Counselor (TPC) recently recognized the winners of its annual awards, the Dissertation Excellence Awards and the Outstanding Scholar Awards.

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NBCC, TPC Win Eight APEX Awards for Publication Excellence

Published: 8/23/2023

NBCC and Affiliates celebrate the outstanding work of the NBCC Communications Department and the editorial staff of The Professional Counselor (TPC), who recently won eight 2023 APEX Awards for Publication Excellence.

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BCC Spotlight: Autrese Thornton Discusses the Importance of Advocacy

Published: 8/23/2023

Autrese Thornton, BCC, shares her thoughts on advocacy and what she’s learned working in the human services field for more than 25 years

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2023: The Year of Federal Mental Health Policy Implementation and Investments

Published: 7/26/2023

This year marks a historic degree of federal investment in mental health. A combination of legislation and executive actions will provide funding for programs and grants across numerous government agencies.

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Join Us for the Upcoming Medicare 401 Webinar

Published: 7/26/2023

Now that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, NBCC and the Medicare Mental Health Workforce Coalition are here to answer your questions about enrollment. Join us on Aug. 17 at noon EDT for our Medicare 401 webinar.

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Federal Occupational Series Established for Counselors, but Implementation Work Remains

Published: 7/26/2023

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs finalized Occupational Series 0183 and began hiring mental health counselors under their own designation for the first time in history. Though significant progress has been made, work to have the series adopted by the entire federal government remains.

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NBCC Connects With Jim Laughman of ABHW

Published: 7/26/2023

Dr. Kylie Dotson-Blake, the President and Chief Executive Officer of NBCC and Affiliates, recently spoke with James Laughman, President and CEO of PerformCare, a member company of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, about issues affecting counseling and managed care behavioral health plans.

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Counseling Compact Update: Number of Member States Continues to Rise

Published: 7/26/2023

The Interstate Counseling Compact now includes 29 member states, with several more states still considering compact legislation. To support the compact’s progress, NBCC has committed $150,000 per year for 3 years toward its operating costs.

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Advocate Spotlight: Carlos P. Zalaquett

Published: 7/26/2023

Counselor educator Carlos P. Zalaquett, PhD, Lic, LMHC, shares how being an engaged advocate for the counseling profession is necessary to ensure that future clinicians are representative of underserved communities who may not have traditionally had access to mental health services.

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NCC Spotlight: Alonzo Turner

Published: 7/26/2023

Alonzo Turner, MS, EdS, NCC, LCMHC, QS, is a doctoral student at Syracuse University pursuing a PhD in counseling and counselor education. We spoke to him recently about his unique path into the counseling profession and his hopes for prioritizing spirituality in its curriculum.

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CACREP Releases 2024 Standards

Published: 7/26/2023

CACREP has released its 2024 Standards for program approval, which will take effect July 1, 2024. The effective date will begin a 2-year transition period.

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Medicare Mental Health Workforce Coalition and NBCC Hold Third Medicare Webinar

Published: 7/26/2023

The Medicare 301 webinar provided expert presentations on the Medicare provider enrollment process and the annual Physician Fee Schedule. This is part of a series of events to help prepare counselors and marriage and family therapists to receive Medicare reimbursement beginning in 2024

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Incorporating Multiculturalism in Clinical Supervision

Published: 6/29/2023

Multiculturalism is a valuable and necessary component of effective clinical supervision. We spoke with Holly Sawyer, PhD, NCC, LPC, CAADC, SAP, about the importance of culturally sensitive supervision and advice for incorporating multiculturalism.

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NCC Spotlight: Ellie Potts

Published: 6/29/2023

Ellie Potts, MS, NCC, is a counselor education and supervision doctoral student at the University of Georgia. We spoke to her recently about her unique journey and the importance of accessibility in counseling.

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"A Dream Decided" Giving Circle Strives to Help Undocumented Counselors-in-Training

Published: 6/29/2023

Three MFP fellows leveraged their passion for helping others to create the “A Dream Decided” giving circle and help provide scholarships to undocumented counselors-in-training.

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Join Us June 29 at Noon for the Medicare 301 Webinar

Published: 6/29/2023

NBCC and the Medicare Mental Health Workforce Coalition will present a free Medicare 301 webinar on June 29 at noon EDT. One hour of continuing education credit is available to those who attend the live event.

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NBCC Board Director Receives ACA Presidential Citation

Published: 6/29/2023

Michael Brooks, PhD, NCC, LMHC, LPC-S, an NBCC board director, was recently awarded a presidential citation by Dr. Kimberly Frazier, 2023 President of the American Counseling Association (ACA).

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NBCCF Hosts the 2023 Bridging the Gap Symposium

Published: 6/29/2023

Earlier this month, the NBCC Foundation hosted its annual Bridging the Gap Symposium with the theme of From Awareness to Action. Highlights of the event included a presentation by African American counseling legends and the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the NBCCF Minority Fellowship Program.

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Q&A: Kylie Madhav, Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at SAGE

Published: 5/24/2023

Kylie Madhav, MBA, LMSW, the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at SAGE, shares her insights on how counselors can gain a better understanding of the experiences and profound challenges faced by many transgender and gender nonbinary elders and how to better support these marginalized and underserved clients. SAGE is the world’s oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) older people.

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Serving Transgender Students: A School Counseling Perspective

Published: 5/24/2023

Transgender youth face unique challenges in and outside of school. They also bear disproportionate mental health burdens. We spoke with Dr. Clark D. Ausloos, who shared tips and advice for school counselors working with transgender students.

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Counseling Clients Exploring the Realm of Gender Transitioning

Published: 5/24/2023

Angela Brooks-Livingston, MA, NCC, LCMHCS, LCAS, CCS, who works with adolescents, adults, and couples who identify as LGBTQIA+, offers readers special considerations for counseling clients who are transitioning and how to support their personal journeys.

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NBCC Launches 2023 Code of Ethics

Published: 5/24/2023

The National Board for Certified Counselors is excited to announce that the updated NBCC Code of Ethics officially launched on May 15, 2023.

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Register Now for the NBCC Foundation's 2023 Bridging the Gap Symposium

Published: 5/24/2023

Join us for the 2023 NBCC Foundation Bridging the Gap Symposium: Eliminating Mental Health Disparities, held June 2–4, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia! View attendee details and additional exhibitor and partnership opportunities on our event website. The deadline to register is June 2, 2023, at 11:45pm.

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Medicare Webinars Provide Answers for Counselors

Published: 5/24/2023

The Medicare Mental Health Workforce Coalition recently sponsored two informative webinars about the Medicare program and the inclusion of counselors and marriage and family therapists, hosted by NBCC.

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Building Trust Within Relationships After Trauma

Published: 4/20/2023

Whether trauma is within an individual or shared, it can have a major impact on our relationships. Craig Cashwell, PhD, NCC, ACS, CSAT-S, LPC, LCMHC, discusses how counselors can help clients build trust after traumatic experiences.

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Special Considerations When Working With LGBTQIA Clients

Published: 4/20/2023

Members of the LGBTQIA population face unique challenges in many aspects of their lives. Elizabeth Johnson, NCC, BC-TMH, LPC, LCPC, discusses the importance of understanding their experiences and how counselors can improve their skills and knowledge when working with these clients.

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Navigating the Challenges of Counseling Blended Families

Published: 4/20/2023

When parents begin a new romantic relationship and their families become blended, it can have a major impact on the mental health and well-being of both the children and the adults. Leslie H. Petruk, MA, NCC, BCC, LCMHCS, discusses what counselors need to know when working with members of these newly formed families.

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Counseling Families to Facilitate a Healthier Divorce

Published: 4/20/2023

Although divorce is oftentimes a difficult transition for everyone involved, couples and family therapists can help divorcing clients and their families to foster a healthier outcome. Jenn Birch, EdS, NCC, ACS, RPT, LCMHC, shares her thoughts on working with these clients and how counselors can help to ease the transition and the experience moving forward.

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ACES Grant Awards Recognize Social Justice in Student Research

Published: 4/20/2023

In February, ACES awarded $15,000 in research funding to student members conducting research on the topic of counselor education or supervision, specifically focusing on areas of advocacy, social justice, diversity and inclusion, and anti-racist counseling practices in counselor education and clinical practice. ACES President Natoya Haskins and Graduate Student Representative Fatma Salem tell us more about this program.

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Using Telehealth With Families

Published: 4/20/2023

Telemental health care is a unique modality that offers opportunities and challenges for working with families. Two NCCs experienced with the process offer tips and advice for getting the most out of telehealth sessions.

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Understanding Sport Counseling

Published: 3/22/2023

Robert W.H. Price, NCC, LCPC, LPC, is a mental performance coach for athletes in action. He and his team at Elite Minds have worked with individuals of all ages, including members of the U.S. Army, the NFL, the PGA Tour, and other sports organizations.

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Counseling Athletes of All Levels and Life Stages

Published: 3/22/2023

Four NCCs share their experience counseling athletes from youth level to professionals, and the special considerations of sports-related counseling.

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Eating Disorders in Athletes

Published: 3/22/2023

Athletes experience unique demands that can have an impact on their well-being. Kathrine Patterson, PsyD, NCC, LPC, also a former athlete, discusses special considerations when counseling these clients.

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NBCC and ACA Join Forces to Talk Ethics

Published: 3/22/2023

NBCC Director of Ethics Brenden Hargett and ACA Ethics Program Manager Aprille Woodson recently co-presented at the 2023 Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference, hosted by University of Holy Cross in New Orleans. This joint presentation explored recent national trends in ethical issues, as well as the similarities and differences between the two organizations’ ethical codes.

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Engage With NBCC at the 2023 ACA Conference & Expo

Published: 3/22/2023

NBCC is a proud sponsor of the 2023 ACA Conference & Expo. Visit our booths in the Expo Hall to learn more about the NBCC’s latest initiatives, the value of credentials, and how you can shape the future of the profession.

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TeleMental Health Job Analysis Helps to Define Practice

Published: 3/22/2023

The ongoing TeleMental Health Examination job analysis is a key step in updating the examination to keep pace with this fast-moving field. Working professionals’ experience is vital to guide examination development and the future of telemental health practice.

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NBCC and Affiliates Awards Grants for CACREP Accreditation

Published: 3/22/2023

Congratulations to the four master’s-level counseling programs that were recently awarded grants to assist with the costs of obtaining first-time accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)!

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Considerations When Searching for Professional Liability Insurance

Published: 3/22/2023

It can be overwhelming to find the best professional liability policy for your practice. We can help! Begin your search with requirements in mind, such as these suggestions from Lockton Affinity Health, an NBCC partner.

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The Effects of Forced Career Transition

Published: 2/15/2023

Losing a job can bring on a whirlwind of emotions, particularly when the decision to leave is outside of the individual’s control. Counselors are poised to help individuals navigate these unplanned transitions and the potential impact on their mental health and well-being.

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A New Direction: Changing Careers to Become a Counselor

Published: 2/15/2023

Vicki Conner, MS, NCC, LCMHC, toured the world as a travel agent. She later worked for a video production company and a construction consulting firm, and by 2009, she was ready for a change, so she returned to college to become a professional counselor.

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NCC Spotlight: Sharon Givens

Published: 2/15/2023

In college, Sharon Givens, PhD, NCC, ACS, BCC, BC-TMH, GCDF, HS-BCP, CCC, CCSP, LPC/S, LCMHC, didn’t set out to become a career counselor, but today she maintains a thriving private practice where she helps others to map their own career paths.

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Overcoming Negative Biases in Career Counseling

Published: 2/15/2023

Career counselor Natalie Kauffman, MS, NCC, NCCC, FCD-I, GCDF-I, CCC, discusses the importance of recognizing the conscious and unconscious biases that have shaped our perception, memory, and other aspects of our thoughts and behaviors.

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NBCC Foundation to Host Online Career Fair

Published: 2/15/2023

Registration is open for Counseling Foundations: Your Path to Career Success, to be held March 9, 2023, from 11 am to 5 pm EST. This online event brings together employers and counselors from across the country.

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What Counselors Need from Their Professional Liability Insurance

Published: 2/15/2023

With seemingly endless insurance options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to find the best professional liability policy for your profession. Begin your search with requirements in mind, such as these suggestions from Lockton Affinity Health, an NBCC partner.

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Medicare Recognition for Counselors Becomes Law

Published: 1/19/2023

After years of advocacy, Medicare eligibility for counselors is now the law! This comes with the signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which included NBCC’s language from the Mental Health Access Improvement Act.

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Navigating Grief and Loss Can Provide Valuable Lessons for Counselors

Published: 1/19/2023

Debi Jenkins Frankle, MS, LMFT, is a grief therapy specialist in Calabasas, California, where she trains mental health professionals to work with grieving clients. She recently provided us with an overview of grief and loss and shared some insights on helping clients who are struggling to cope.

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NCC Spotlight: Adam Carter

Published: 1/19/2023

Adam Carter, PhD, NCC, CCMHC, FT, LCPC, is the National Clinical Director of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. We recently spoke with him about his work and the importance of self-care for counselors.

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Counseling Clients With Maladaptive Responses to Grief

Published: 1/19/2023

Grief and loss are a part of life, and for some individuals these experiences may have a long-term, disruptive impact. Lisa A. Rainwater, MA, PhD, NCC, CT, LCMHCA, discusses the challenges of counseling clients who present maladaptive responses—sometimes called complicated grief, and sometimes can be diagnosed as Prolonged Grief Disorder.

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Grief Resources Throughout the Life Span

Published: 1/19/2023

People of all ages experience grief, but they don’t all deal with it the same way. This article explores a number of resources appropriate for dealing with grief at different life stages.

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The Challenge of Children’s Grief

Published: 1/19/2023

We spoke with Bereavement Counselor Kirsten Goard of Kids Path about how parents and caregivers can best comfort a grieving child.

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Counseling Students Raise Awareness to Keep Montana School Counselor Ratio

Published: 12/14/2022

Montana recently considered eliminating the required school counselor ratio. Hana Meshesha, MA, NCC, PCLC, and Sabina Sabyrkulova, MA, NCC, LCPC, two doctoral students committed to youth mental health, share their experiences with raising awareness and supporting school counselors and students.

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Dasaeb Lopez Named MFPCC Fellow of the Month by SAMHSA

Published: 12/14/2022

Dasaeb Lopez, a 2022–2023 NBCC Foundation Minority Fellowship Program Addictions Counseling Master’s Fellow (MFP-AC), was recently named MFPCC Fellow of the Month for December by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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Mental Health Connections Conference a Success!

Published: 12/14/2022

NBCC and the NBCC Foundation recently hosted their third international virtual conference, Mental Health Connections: Building a Global Counseling Community. Presenters shared their perspective on the state of mental health around the globe and challenges faced by helping professionals and their communities.

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Considerations When Counseling Immigrants and Refugees

Published: 12/14/2022

Immigrants and refugees face many challenges as they resettle in a new country, some of which can impact their well-being. Two counselors who work primarily with these populations share helpful information for other providers who are serving these clients.

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Overcoming the Challenges of Virtual Counseling With Multicultural Clients

Published: 12/14/2022

Though telemental health continues to make counseling more accessible, it is important to recognize the differing needs amongst a variety of cultures and communities. Two counselors recently shared with us their best practices for counseling these clients online.

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Counseling During the Holidays

Published: 12/14/2022

The winter months bring a multitude of difficulties for many people and can be particularly challenging for counselors working with clients during the season. Jessica Hendrix, MA, NCC, LPC, of Iron City Counseling in Alabama recently shared her considerations when counseling during the winter holidays.

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Navigating the Effects of Trauma

Published: 12/14/2022

The effects of trauma can ripple far past an individual. It may cause feelings of fear and helplessness in those who witness it, entire communities, and the counselors who serve them. Jamal Boudion, MA, NCC, PLPC, of Westwego, Louisiana, offers some guidance on how to best serve those dealing with the impact.

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Special Considerations for Counseling Military and Veteran Populations

Published: 11/9/2022

W. Bryce Hagedorn, PhD, NCC, MAC, LMHC, QCS, decided to become a counselor for military-connected populations after his combat experience during the Gulf War.

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Counseling Military Families: A Q&A With Rebekah Cole

Published: 11/9/2022

Rebekah Cole, PhD, NCC, LPC, is an active-duty military spouse who understands the challenges faced by military families. She’s dedicated her career to helping the counseling community understand its potential to serve military members and their families.

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NBCC Needs Your Expertise!

Published: 11/9/2022

Make an impact as a subject matter expert for the continuing development of NBCC’s examinations. Put your experience and expertise to work ensuring effective and fair examinations for counselors across the country.

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Career Development Counseling for Military and Veteran Populations

Published: 11/9/2022

Transitioning from military service to civilian life comes with many challenges, including deciding on a new career and knowing the proper pathway for success. We connect with Seth C. W. Hayden, PhD, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, LPC, CCCE, on his work with service members, veterans, and their families.

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Invisible Wounds of War: Veterans and Mental Health

Published: 11/9/2022

The trauma that many veterans experience during combat, deployment, and military service has increased rates of depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, and other mental health concerns, creating an urgent need for counselors and access to care.

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Register for the Mental Health Connections Virtual Conference

Published: 11/9/2022

NBCC and the NBCC Foundation will host their third international virtual conference, Mental Health Connections: Building a Global Counseling Community, from Nov. 30–Dec. 2, and NBCC credential holders and students are eligible for a 20% registration discount on the registration fee.

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Tips to File a Claim from Lockton Affinity Health

Published: 11/9/2022

Claims happen, and when they do, it can be stressful. Being aware of the process required to report a claim can help reduce stress and improve your claim success. Learn the best way to report a claim with tips from Lockton Affinity Health, an NBCC partner.

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NBCC Signs Memorandum of Understanding With the African Union Southern Africa Regional Office

Published: 10/19/2022

NBCC was honored to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union Southern Africa Regional Office. With this MOU, both parties commit to improving the availability of mental health services in the region.

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Making a Difference in the Intergenerational Substance Use Crisis

Published: 10/19/2022

The opioid crisis in the United States has resulted in hundreds of thousands of lives lost and others suffering from addiction. Counselors can help to address the epidemic through systemic initiatives and on professional and personal levels.

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Q&A: NAADAC President Mita Johnson

Published: 10/19/2022

We recently spoke with the president of NAADAC, Mita M. Johnson, EdD, NCC, MAC, ACS, LPC, LMFT, LAC, SAP, MFT-S, BCTHP-II. Dr. Johnson shared her thoughts with us on addiction and the state of addictions counseling today.

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NCC Spotlight: Kervins Clement

Published: 10/19/2022

Kervins Clement, NCC, CFLE, CRT-IT, LCMHCA, LCASA, is a doctoral student and a 2021 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program Fellow. We spoke to him recently about counseling clients with love and sex addictions

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Examination Sensitivity and Bias Review Committee Works to Ensure Fairness and Representation

Published: 10/19/2022

NBCC’s Examination Sensitivity and Bias Review Committee was established to review assessments and ensure that our examinations and assessment processes are fair and representative of candidates despite differences in ethnicity, gender, native language, and other characteristics.

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Motivational Interviewing: Helping Clients Make Positive Changes

Published: 10/19/2022

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a helpful technique for addictions counselors, using open questions and reflective listening. Todd Lewis, PhD, NCC, LPC, has taught MI throughout his career and helps us understand its benefits.

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NBCC Minority Fellowship Program Provides Training and Community

Published: 10/19/2022

NBCC’s federally funded Minority Fellowship Program provides financial support to master’s and doctoral counseling students who commit to serving underserved communities. The program is much more than just a monetary award, however. Throughout the year, fellows receive numerous support services from the NBCC Foundation, including training opportunities and mentoring.

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NBCC, TPC Win Six APEX Awards for Publication Excellence

Published: 9/23/2022

Congratulations to NBCC’s Communications Department and the editorial staff of The Professional Counselor, who recently won six APEX Awards for Publication Excellence.

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NBCC Announces Expansion of the Credentialing Gateway

Published: 9/23/2022

The Credentialing Gateway has expanded to include access to NBCC certifications! The Credentialing Gateway will replace ProCounselor as the credential management portal for counselors. The new and improved portal makes it easier for counselors to apply for and maintain both NBCC and CCE credentials, organize important documents, update contact information, and more.

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SHORES Acronym Can Help School Counselors Address Suicide Prevention

Published: 9/23/2022

SHORES is a mnemonic device created by Jenny Cureton, PhD, LPC, and Matthew Fink, MA, to help school counselors address protective factors against suicide. We spoke with Dr. Cureton and Diane Stutey, PhD, NCC, LPC, RPT-S, to find out how counselors are using this tool.

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Trevor Project Releases Report Examining Multiracial and LGBTQ Youth Suicide Rates and Mental Health

Published: 9/23/2022

A new report by The Trevor Project shows that stressors experienced by young people with a multiracial and LGBTQ identity may make them more susceptible to poorer mental health.

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NBCC Promotes Equity and Inclusion with Sponsorship of ACES Regional Fall Conferences

Published: 9/23/2022

The ACES Regional Conferences are powerful incubators of counselor education policy, and NBCC is pleased to provide funding support to advance equity, inclusion, and engagement at these events!

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Q&A with Eric Sparks, Deputy Executive Director of ASCA

Published: 8/24/2022

As the new school year begins, we spoke with the Deputy Executive Director of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), Eric Sparks, EdD, CAE, who shared his thoughts on the importance of school counseling, the challenges within the field, and how the role continues to evolve.

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Understanding Mandated Reporting for School Counselors

Published: 8/24/2022

Mandated reporting for child abuse or neglect is a legal and ethical responsibility for counselors and other professionals, and the laws vary from state to state. Staying up to date on your state’s requirements is essential.

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Counselor Education: Setting Professionals Up for Success

Published: 8/24/2022

Counselor education programs are designed to prepare students to be responsible, ethical, and professional as they serve the public. Each program is unique, but they are all building blocks for a solid foundation. We interviewed counselor educator Todd Whitman, PhD, NCC, ACS, LPC, LCPC, about setting counselors up for success.

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Free Toolkit for Mental Health Professionals Addresses Equitable Access to Care

Published: 8/24/2022

The Multicultural Development Institute has developed a free interactive online resource designed to help mental health professionals and organizations address racial inequities and stigmas that lead to disparities in treatment.

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Winners of the 2022 National Certified School Counselor Awards Announced

Published: 8/24/2022

The National Certified School Counselor Awards were created to recognize the achievements of outstanding school counselors. We are happy to announce this year’s winners, who have all made extraordinary efforts in their school communities.

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Chi Sigma Iota Recognizes Excellence in Counseling Worldwide

Published: 8/24/2022

Many members of Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), the Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International, join as students, but CSI’s wealth of professional development opportunities, awards and grants, and other benefits were also created to help professional counselors and educators to grow and succeed throughout their careers.

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Educating the Public Through Bullying Prevention Programs

Published: 8/24/2022

Bullying has been shown to impact children’s mental health in many ways, including the potential for depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation. It remains widespread in schools, where it has also been linked to lower academic performance and absenteeism. Fortunately, there are many programs and resources available to prevent and respond to it.

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Mervin Brandy’s Research Addresses Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health

Published: 8/24/2022

Mervin Brandy, the director of State Licensure Operations at the Center for Credentialing & Education, recently co-authored an article in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities focused on the social stressors identified among different genders and races.

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MFP Alumnae Share Their Advice on Building a Successful Private Practice

Published: 7/20/2022

Starting a private practice can be an exciting and somewhat daunting experience. This month we interviewed three NCCs who are alumnae of the Minority Fellowship Program with thriving practices about what has worked for them as entrepreneurs to help you maintain and grow your business to the next level.

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Navigating the No Surprises Act: News Counselors Can Use

Published: 7/20/2022

The No Surprises Act was created to protect the public from surprise bills for health care, including mental health services. Though many counselors already implement some of these requirements as best practices, there are some important new regulations to be aware of.

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Marketing Yourself With Credentials: A Q&A With Anne McSorley

Published: 7/20/2022

Helping clients understand your credentials enables them to make better-informed decisions. Executive coach Anne McSorley, a counselor for 35 years, shares her thoughts on how credentials can help take your business to the next level.

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NBCC Visions is a resource for counselors, counselor educators, and counseling students. This monthly newsletter provides up-to-date legislative news about the profession; communicates information on certifications, scholarships, and volunteer opportunities; and shares ideas on successful counseling techniques.

Log in to your Credentialing Gateway account to update your contact information and make sure that you don’t miss out on the latest news!

The Counseling Confab

The Counseling Confab feature is dedicated to National Certified Counselor guest writers with stories of successes; challenges; and advice, tips, and tools for other counselors. Our hope is to pique your interest in a new modality to study, provide practical tools to use in sessions, and strengthen your confidence in working with different populations.

Those interested in contributing should email newsletter@nbcc.org with their article for review. The structure of the articles that we feature is flexible, and we hope that writers are able to highlight their work and construct their stories in their own voice, in a way that speaks to their strengths. We ask that you limit your article to 1,500 words or less. Should your submission be approved, it may be edited for formatting or space reasons.

NCC Spotlight

There is no doubt that counselors do amazing work within their communities. Publishing articles and books; developing presentations, workshops, and training programs; receiving awards and other recognitions—NCCs are truly vital contributors in the mental health profession.

The stories that we hear are incredibly inspiring, and we want to share them! If you are interested in being highlighted in the NCC spotlight, or if there is an NCC that you would like to nominate, please contact us.

If you have had an interesting journey into the profession of counseling, work with underserved populations, advocate for your clients and for the profession, or specialize in a particular modality, we want to share your story! Email newsletter@nbcc.org with information on why you would make a good candidate to highlight.

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