American Academy of Counseling Psychology

Membership Information Center MISSION The mission of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology is to serve the needs of its' members and Fellows and to promote the highest standards of professional practice and conduct within the specialization of Counseling Psychology for the protection and well-being of the public, the profession, and the Academy. The American Academy of Counseling Psychology is the association of psychologists who identify themselves through their education, training,and experience as counseling psychologists. It is composed of Fellows of the Academy who are Diplomates in Counseling Psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), members of the Academy who belong to Division 17 of the American Psychological Association and/or are licensed psychologists practicing counseling psychology, and student members who are in formal training programs to develop the skills of the counseling psychologist. The American Board of Professional Psychology established in 1947 as the premier credentialing agency for psychology practitioners, has been dedicated to promoting the highest standards of professional training and ethics for those engaged in the delivery of psychological services. Diplomates in the specialty of counseling psychology have been recognized as pioneers and leaders in the delivery of clinical services in mental health, and, in vocational and life skills development and counseling, as well as in research. The Academy looks to further ABPP's tradition of leadership in the examination and recognition of excellence in the practice of counseling psychology and the specialty's continuing development as a significant force within the psychology profession. HISTORY The American Academy of Counseling Psychology was established in 1992 by the American Board of Counseling Psychology/American Board of Professional Psychology. Its founding was in response to a need for the professional advocacy arm of the Board which could promote the interests of the Diplomate in Counseling Psychology. This representation was expanded in 1994 by the Academy to advocacy for the specialty of counseling psychology as a whole. The Academy was charged with the identification of the needs of counseling psychology specialists in the changing market for mental health care, university counseling centers, and other sources of employment and funding. PURPOSE The Academy has defined its purpose as: Promotion of board certification in the field of professional psychology and the specialty of counseling psychology especially Promoting the most effective preventative, diagnostic, and intervention services. Promoting accessibility to these services by all segments of society. Providing a vehicle through which the specialty of counseling psychology can be heard. ACADEMY PLANS FOR ACTION To make the specialty in counseling psychology and board certification in professional psychology more meaningful to psychologists and the public by: • Providing a cohesive and meaningful board certification process through reasonable and well defined credentials review for Diplomate application, work sample requirements, and examination procedures • Sponsoring a program of regional workshops, overseen by a national chair, intended to communicate state of the art standards for the effective delivery of developmental, diagnostic, and intervention services • Sponsoring public relations activities emphasizing the significance of the specialty of counseling psychology and Board certification • Promoting public education on prevention programs • Providing forums for Counseling Psychology specialists to advocate and to have impact in the shaping of mental health policy, the development of life skills, career planing and achievement, university programming and other relevant settings WHO ARE THE FELLOWS AND MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY? Fellows of the Academy are Diplomates in Counseling Psychology of the American Board of Psychology. Each has passed a rigorous examination process that included a review oftheir education, training and experience, as well as presentation of a work sample that demonstrated competency in the specialty of counseling psychology and successfully passed their examinations. They are leaders in the profession in a wide variety of settings, including university counseling centers, academic departments of psychology, medical schools, mental health centers, hospitals, clinics and correctional centers where they serve as clinicians, administrator, educators, researchers, et cetera. Members in the Academy are psychologists who have identified themselves as counseling psychologists by virtue of their education, training, experience and practice. They are typically members of Division 17 of the American Psychological Association (APA). They are licensed to independently practice psychology in their state. Student members are psychologists in training at programs accredited by the APA or equivalent or are engaged in internship programs in counseling psychology. The Academy and the American Board of Professional Psychology have defined counseling psychologists as: [those psychologists who specialize]"in making individual, group, and community intervention for emotional, behavioral, vocational, and mental health problems using preventive,developmental, and remedial approaches, and in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychopathology." WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE ACADEMY? ACADEMY PROGRAMS Continuing Education • Sponsors programs, workshops, symposia, invited lectures. • Co-sponsors and participates in joint programs with the other specialty academies • Review courses Licensing • Typically Fellows are recognized as eligible for reciprocity by more than forty licensing boards at any one time • Advocacy by the Academy for senior counseling psychologists who may experience difficulty with psychology boards that have failed to regard the APA guidelines for psychologists trained before revision and new standards in the field for training were approved Newsletter • Designed to keep members abreast of issues of interest, committee reports and summaries of recent noteworthy scientific and practice events Public Information • As the sole organization composed of Diplomates of the American Board of Counseling Psychology and other practitioners of counseling psychology, the Academy will provide literature, pamphlets and news items on the standards of practice in counseling psychology and the quality of health care Career Advancement • The military and Veterans Administration provide a bonus for psychologists board certified in counseling psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology Hospitals, health administration, insurance carriers, managed care companies understand board certification and seek board certified psychologists as providers and staff members This page last updated March 21, 1998.