ALCA Chapter I
Serving Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence,
Limestone, Morgan, and Winston Counties
July 13th: Chapter 1 Meeting
Oct. 5th: Executive Council Meeting
Nov. 20th -22nd: ALCA Conference
Nov. 22nd: Chapter 1 Meeting
*More information can be found in the Events tab.
Important Dates
July 14th: Awards Nominations Due
August 1st: Membership Rate Increase
2024 Executive Council
Thank you to everyone who voted for our new Executive Council members! We are happy to announce that we have a full Executive Council!
President
Michelle Bolton, LPC-S
Michelle Bolton has been a counselor in various settings since 2006, and she has worked in private practice since moving to Alabama in 2015. "I'm very excited to serve you as President of Chapter 1!"
Vice President and President-Elect
Courtney McKinnon, ALC
Courtney McKinnon has provided mental health counseling in North Alabama in both non-profit and private practice settings. She specializes in complex trauma; intimate partner violence; and is trained in EMDR.
Past President
Laura Lopez, LPC
Laura Lopez has been in the field of counseling for over 5 years and owns Alchemy Counseling and Consulting in Florence. Laura is trained in EMDR and Theraply. She is also currently enrolled at Troy University’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program.
Secretary
Keli Brothers, PhD
Dr. Keli Brothers is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health at UNA and Adjunct Instructor of Psychology at Heritage Christian University. She also owns Directed Paths, LLC, a private practice in Killen, AL.
Treasurer
Tonya Brogden, MA, CCS
Tonya Brogden has been a school counselor in Alabama for over six years and is currently serving students at Oak Park Elementary School in Decatur.
Letter From the President
Dear Fellow Chapter I Members,
I am honored to serve as your President this year and extremely excited to make this a fun and special year for you all! We have amazing officers and committee chairs that are working hard to keep everyone informed, celebrate YOU and our profession, build our membership and engagement, and make our shared events memorable and enjoyable.
I hope to have a big turnout for our Summer Meeting on July 13th. (Click here for more info.) We will have breakfast, some fun surprises, door prizes, and a drawing for (1) FREE REGISTRATION for our ALCA Conference in November! I look forward to meeting/seeing you in person or virtually. The virtual link will be available for networking during breakfast as well as the meeting in the hopes of making this an interactive experience for everyone. Your input is important in making decisions for our chapter, especially as we make plans for the upcoming year. We have a lot of ideas for a Membership Drive in August, our annual conference in November, our Winter event in January/February, and our Spring Workshop in March. We want this to be a wonderful year for you, so please get involved and let us know what you’d like!
I know our free time as counselors is often limited. I’ve been there!! There are many types of opportunities to get involved, even if briefly, whether nominating an esteemed colleague for an award, contributing to our newsletter (VERY excited to have our newsletter back!!), attending a meeting/event, or joining a committee to help with a specific event. You might even consider running for an office in the spring!
We want all of our counselors from all over our Chapter I area to feel included. We cover a wide area over EIGHT counties, so I welcome ideas for engagement at a location near YOU! I hope you will all spread the word and engage your colleagues who are not yet ALCA members so they can get in on the fun, too!
Excitedly,
Michelle Bolton, LPC-S
ALCA Chapter I President
Counselor Spotlight
Dr. Quinn Pearson
In May of this year, Dr. Quinn Pearson retired from the University of North Alabama Counselor Education Department, where she served as Faculty and Chair of the Department.
Dr. Pearson has spent 28 years contributing to the counseling profession in many ways. In addition to her roles as Professor and Chair, Dr. Pearson served as Faculty Advisor for Chi Sigma Iota, assisted the Counseling program in achieving CACREP accreditation, and served on the Graduate Advisory Committee for the Faculty Senate. Dr. Pearson has also worked to advance the counseling profession as Co-Chair of the Professional Standards Committee of the Alabama Counseling Association and as Editor of the Journal of Mental Health Counseling.
Dr. Pearson attributes her career path to her own journey in counseling and in asking herself, "what do I like to do?" Dr. Pearson identifies as "a strength finder" and dedicated her career to supporting, educating, and encouraging students and colleagues in the counseling profession. She credits her bond with other Counseling Department faculty as the impetus for spending 28 years at UNA.
Though she is humble in spirit, Dr. Pearson has been recognized by her peers for her exemplary work. She has received the Jean H. Cecil Distinguished Counselor Educator Award from the Alabama Counseling Association, the Phi Kappa Phi Eleanor P. Gaunder Teaching Excellence Award, and the COEHS Lifetime Achievement Award.
As for life in retirement, Dr. Pearson intends to "be in the moment" and "not over plan it." She is currently enjoying reading, creative writing, going for walks and workout, connecting with friends and family, and embracing each day "like a kid without adult supervision."
This playful, optimistic demeanor is one of many strengths this "strength finder" has and we in Chapter I are so very grateful to have worked alongside Dr. Pearson. Whether she returns to clinical work or spends her retirement leisurely, we certainly wish her the best!
We have Lanyards!
You can order one for $5 HERE
or you can get one for FREE at the Chapter 1 Meeting on July 13th!
Call for Nominations!
Do you know a Chapter I counselor deserving of recognition? (It may even be you!!)
Do you know a counselor who has published or engaged in research? Do you know a counselor who provides outstanding service and stimulates future service in the counseling profession?
Do you know an counselor who is outstanding?
Do you know a counselor who deserves recognition for their works to promote professional development?
Do you know an exemplary mentor?
Do you know a counselor who gives without fanfare?
Do you know a deceased or retired counselor deserving of recognition for their contribution to the counseling profession?
Nominate them today!!