Announcements 

TCA Graduate Student Rep. Opportunity

The Tennessee Counseling Association (TCA) with an exciting leadership opportunity that we are pleased to share with you. TCA is currently seeking a graduate student to serve as its Graduate Student Representative on the Governing Council.

This position offers a unique chance to gain insight into professional organization leadership while representing the perspectives and needs of counseling graduate students across the state. The Graduate Student Representative plays an important role in strengthening connections between counseling programs in Tennessee and supporting graduate student engagement, particularly at the annual TCA conference.

 Responsibilities include:

• Representing graduate student perspectives on the TCA Governing Council

• Supporting communication and collaboration with counseling programs statewide

• Assisting with graduate student involvement at the annual conference

Time commitments include:

• Attendance at the annual TCA Conference (virtual this year in November)

• Participation in the Leadership Development Institute (2 days in July)

• Attendance at virtual Governing Council meetings held every other month

TCA is seeking a student who can begin serving as soon as possible through the remainder of the current fiscal year (ending in June), and continue in the role from July 2026 through June 2027 to provide continuity.

If you are interested in developing your leadership skills, expanding your professional network, and contributing to the counseling profession in Tennessee, we encourage you to consider applying.

Please contact Tiffany P. Brooks, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, NCC and TCA President via email at: brooks@lindsey.edu for more details or to express your interest.

The University of Memphis Counselor Education & Supervision Doctoral Program

The University of Memphis Counselor Education & Supervision Doctoral Program
Now Accepting Applications for the Fall 2026 Cohort!
Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
Virtual Open House: February 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. CST

Application Details

Applicants must submit:

• Completed online application — https://apply.memphis.edu/apply/

• Written statement of goals

• Official transcripts from all institutions attended

• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a doctoral-level professional or faculty member)

• Current résumé or CV

• Doctoral applicant essay

International applicants must submit English-translated transcripts and proof of English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS).

Important Dates

Virtual Open House: February 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. CST

Application Deadline: March 1, 2026

Team’s Link:

 UM Open House | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

Apply Online: University of Memphis Graduate School
Questions? Email the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology & Research at cepr@memphis.edu

Program Highlights

Excellence in Counselor Education and Supervision
The University of Memphis CES Ph.D. program prepares future counselor educators, researchers, and clinical supervisors through a commitment to social justice, culturally responsive practice, and transformative leadership. Our program is nationally recognized for its rigorous curriculum, diverse faculty expertise, and emphasis on integrating research and practice to promote wellness, equity, and innovation in counselor education.

Cutting-Edge Research and Faculty Expertise
Our faculty are nationally recognized leaders who shape the counseling profession through innovative research, advocacy, and service. Their collective work spans topics such as counselor wellness, trauma and burnout prevention, accessibility and inclusion in education, social justice and identity development, addiction recovery, child and adolescent mental health, and veteran and disability-related issues. Doctoral students benefit from close mentorship and numerous opportunities to engage in collaborative research, publications, and national conference presentations.

Faculty hold leadership roles across major professional organizations—including the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES), the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Faculty have served as national and regional presidents, board members, editors, and committee chairs, advancing advocacy, research, and innovation across the profession.

Rigorous Training and Academic Excellence
Our curriculum provides advanced training in supervision, teaching, research, leadership, and advocacy. Doctoral students develop expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, while gaining extensive experience in scholarly writing, supervision, and professional dissemination. Graduates have consistently secured tenure-track faculty and leadership positions nationwide.

Graduate Assistantships and Funding
Competitive graduate assistantships are available for full-time students and include tuition remission and a stipend. Assistantships provide valuable experience in teaching, supervision, and research.

Accreditation and Legacy
The CES Ph.D. program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Research has a long-standing tradition of excellence as part of a Carnegie R1 research institution.

Community, Diversity, and Professional Engagement
Our department houses one of the most diverse counseling programs in Tennessee. Doctoral students are encouraged to engage in professional organizations, serve in leadership roles, and advance advocacy efforts that promote equitable access to mental health care. The program fosters a strong sense of community, mentorship, and professional identity.

Ideal Location
Located in the culturally vibrant city of Memphis, Tennessee, our students benefit from the resources of an urban research university and a supportive, engaged community that values innovation, service, and inclusion.

Northern Illinois U. PHD Open House

The CACREP-accredited PhD program in Counselor Education & Supervision at Northern Illinois University (NIU) is accepting applications for its Fall 2026 cohort. We will be hosting a virtual info session in January 2026 for prospective applicants.

Wednesday, January 14 @ 6:00 PM U.S. Central Time Register Here<https://niu-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/f9aWGSVYS_aVLwVn1PEn1A>

Some highlights of our program include:

  *   Award-winning excellence: in 2025, we were awarded both the ACES Robert Frank Outstanding Counselor Education Program and NCACES Innovative Counselor Education Program Award (Doctoral Program)! Our doctoral students have also earned numerous prestigious accolades in the past year, including the ACA Glen E. Hubele National Graduate Student Award, NBCC Minority Fellowship, multiple research grants (ACES, AARC Sponsored Scholarship Program, NCACES, Association for Play Therapy), NCACES Emerging Leaders, among others.

  *   Funding: 100% of our doctoral students who request funding have been successful in securing graduate assistantships for the past several years. These are 10-20 hour per week paid positions during the fall and spring, with a tuition waiver that covers summer courses

  *   Expert faculty mentorship: Our faculty are highly productive researchers, averaging 3.5 peer-reviewed publications per faculty member in the last year. Faculty provides hands-on research mentorship for doctoral students through co-authored manuscripts and conference co-presentation. Moreover, many faculty members hold elected leadership positions in national and regional counseling organizations.

  *   Program Structure: Full time doctoral students can complete the program in just three years. Our on-ground format offers vibrant in-person engagement complemented by hybrid online experiences for added flexibility.

  *   Hands-on clinical experience: Our in-house clinic, the Community Counseling Training Center<https://www.cedu.niu.edu/cctc/index.shtml> (CCTC), provides our doctoral students exceptional learning opportunities in providing clinical supervision and opportunities to conduct clinical research.

  *   Long-standing accreditation: Our doctoral program has held continuous CACREP accreditation since 1987.

  *   Vibrant community and resources: We have active student organizations such as the CSI Chapter Rho Alpha Kappa (CSI), NIU Counseling Association, and Black Counselors Association. Doctoral students also have the opportunity to earn a graduate certificate in Trauma-Informed Counseling<https://www.niu.edu/online/certificates/certificate-trauma-counseling.shtml>

  *   Ideal Location: Located in DeKalb, Illinois-just 60 miles west of downtown Chicago-our students can enjoy access to Chicago's world-class cultural, professional, and recreational opportunities while living in a cost-effective, welcoming college town. Our diverse student and faculty body, drawn from urban, suburban, and rural backgrounds, fosters a rich, inclusive learning environment.

Prospective students must apply to our program through the NIU Graduate School, and if invited, attend our program's virtual Pre-Admissions Workshop held in December for group and individual interviews. For admission to the Graduate School, you'll need to apply, submit a written statement of goals, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation (at least one from individuals holding a doctoral degree and/or able to speak to your academic aptitude). If you are an international student, you must also submit official English translations of your academic records and all test scores, including the TOEFL or IELTS. All applicants complete the Ph.D. applicant essay, and submit a résumé or CV.

Apply online<https://www.niu.edu/grad/admissions/apply-now.shtml>

General admissions deadline: February 1, 2026 Virtual Interview (by invitation): Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, 9 a.m.-noon U.S. Central Time

If you have any questions, please contact cahc_admissions@niu.edu<mailto:cahc_admissions@niu.edu>

Peitao Zhu, PhD, LCPC, NCC

Associate Professor & Program Co-Coordinator Department of Counseling and Higher Education

(815)753-9868 | pzhu@niu.edu<mailto:pzhu@niu.edu> Graham 427C, DeKalb, Illinois 60115 https://cahe.niu.edu<https://cahe.niu.edu/>

Associate Editor, The Journal for Specialists in Group Work<https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/usgw20>

Fall 2025 Hooding Ceremony 

The Fall 2025 Hooding Ceremony for the College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences Graduate Programs 

10:00 am on Saturday, December 13 

Watkins Auditorium, located in the Boling University Center. 

The Graduation Commencement Ceremony will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Elam Center. 

RSVP is required to attend - please complete this form prior to 5 p.m. November 30, 2025.

forms.gle/PDuMHRC6dm1kQNDt9 

Telehealth Services for UTM Online Students

U Will Counseling And Wellness

We are pleased to announce a partnership with Uwill, the leading student mental health and wellness solution. Uwill is available exclusively to fully online students enrolled in an online degree program and all regional center students. This support provides free immediate access to teletherapy, a direct crisis connection, and wellness programming through its easy-to-use online platform. For more information, please visit: [Uwill for Regional Centers and Online Programs.] (https://liveutk.sharepoint.com/sites/UTMRegionalCentersOnlinePrograms/SitePages/Uwill-Teletherapy.aspx) To schedule teletherapy:  * [Create a profile] (http://app.uwill.com/) with Uwill  * Choose a therapist based on your preferences, including availability, issue, gender, language, ethnicity.  * Choose a time that fits your schedule with day, night and weekend availability.  Uwill also provides students with free access to on-demand wellness programming through its easy-to-use online platform. Select “Wellness” from the left navigation and relax and recharge your mind and body with a wide range of wellness options such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and more! Allow Uwill to help you discover greater focus and balance as you navigate the semester.  If you need any assistance, reach out directly to Uwill at [support@uwill.com] (mailto:support@uwill.com). [Bottom Border.png] (https://utm.instructure.com/courses/56093/files/7862491/preview 

Project Raise: Paid Internship Opportunities for School Counselors

Counseling Compact Update

The Counseling Compact will officially go live on September 30, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET in Arizona and Minnesota, marking a major milestone in improving access to licensed professional counseling services across state lines.

Arizona and Minnesota are the first two states to complete the technical and regulatory steps necessary for implementation, including secure data sharing and system testing.

Across the country, 37 additional states and the District of Columbia are actively completing the steps needed to begin issuing and receiving privileges under the Counseling Compact. Readiness efforts may include:

• Adopting rules and establishing fees

• Implementing federal criminal background checks with FBI authorization

• Preparing IT systems to provide data in the required format

• Assigning and training staff for system use and customer support

• Conducting full testing of data upload and validation processes

• Creating an application process to convert a privilege to a home state license

The Counseling Compact Commission will add states and the District of Columbia to the Compact as they meet all requirements. Licensees with questions about participation are encouraged to contact their jurisdictional licensing board directly.

The Counseling Compact recognizes that the timeline for compliance may vary, and some states may require additional time to complete all steps. Throughout the process, the Compact remains committed to providing guidance, resources, and support to help states successfully prepare for participation.

UTM AI Policy

AI is a powerful tool available for use by both students and faculty. Ethical, responsible use of AI can enhance teaching and learning. However, there is also the potential for misuse of AI.  UTM administrators, faculty and staff have explored the benefits and dangers of AI in higher education.  As a result, there is new policy adopted by UTM concerning the use of AI by students and instructors.  Note that this information will be included in course syllabi. If you have questions about the use of AI in a specific course, refer to the syllabus, and communicate with the course instructor.  We want to help and encourage all students to use AI appropriately, in accordance with this new policy.

You can find the policy by using the following links:

AI Policy for UTM Students and Faculty 

UTM Policies and Procedures Concerning the Use of AI 

SACES 2025 Spring Newsletter

 Hello SACES Members! The Spring 2025 Issue of the SACES Newsletter is now available!

Thank you to all those who expressed interest in this edition, and special thanks to our contributors who made this issue on Advocacy a success.
Please consider contributing to our Summer 2025 SACES Newsletter, which will focus on the topic of Community: Promote connection, leadership, and service within the profession.

Email your submissions to the editorial team at newsletter@saces.org.
Newsletter submission guidelines are on page 3 of the 2025 Spring Newsletter.
Submissions for the Summer 2025 Issue are due by June 30, 2025.

Thank you,
John Harrichand, Katherine McVay, & Rebecca Gill
SACES Newsletter Team

ACT Matrix Coffee with Counselors

It was great seeing everyone at the Coffee with Counselors.  For those who were unable to attend, here is a link to the video recording of the webinar:

ACT Matrix Coffee with Counselors 

Congratulations

UTM Counseling Program Graduate

Amanda Gienow 

has been accepted into the 

Lindsey Wilson College's 

Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision program 

https://www.lindsey.edu/academics/majors-and-programs/Doctorate-of-Philosophy/index.cfm

Congratulations

Current CMH Student Adam Diaz

Published Article 

National Career Development Association

Career Convergence 

Professional Development Opportunities

American School Counselor Association 

ASCA has several webinars that are free to ASCA members.   Members who are unable to attend a webinar live can view it on-demand on ASCA On Air after the scheduled date.  A link to the webinars is found below.  We encourage to attend and grow your professional school counselor identity.  

ASCA Webinars