California Counseling Association News

June Spinner Promotion

Sat, 27 May 2017 01:27:34 GMT

California Counseling Association is proud to announce an exciting opportunity for the month of June. In partnership with Therapysites, we are spinning into June with a brand new promotion and one of the biggest offers of the year. Starting June 1^st through June 30^th, we are rolling out an interactive wheel that spins to reveal discounts on website hosting for only $39 per month for 12 months (a $240 value)!

855-835-2162

Summer Website SALE

Spin the Wheel

Spin the wheel and save on hosting for up to 12 months!

Why TherapySites?

"TherapySites helped with the whole package. The advice, education and support I received from the TherapySites team has been priceless."

- Gale Denning-Mailloux

Unlimited Support. From design changes to online marketing strategy, you'll have unlimited access to a team of experts who want to help your practice succeed.

Social Media. We can help you build a Facebook and Twitter presence that will earn you more referrals and increase your reach organically. Ask about which options will be best for you.

Search Engine Optimization. Start climbing the Google ladder and earning more clients! Our experts use every trick in the book to help push your practice toward the top of the ranks.

3010 Highland Parkway | Suite 200 | Downers Grove, IL | 60515

SFSU hosts their 6th annual Counseling Symposium

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 22:55:20 GMT

San Francisco State University's Counseling Student Association (CSA) is proud to present our 6th Annual Symposium:

Social Change Warriors:

Counselors on the Front Lines of Community Healing

Saturday, April 1st, 2017

Location: San Francisco State University

Register Here

Join us for a day of workshops, networking, and special presentations. This event is geared towards developing counseling professionals and community members into individuals who fiercely seek to improve the world around them through social justice and advocacy. Our symposium aims to empower individuals to unite their authentic self with the counseling skills necessary to become an effective social change agent.

We encourage and welcome community allies and advocates outside of the counseling field to join our event as our workshops will be beneficial to anyone looking to build their expertise in promoting social change.

Workshops will cover topics including: multidimensional aspects of self-care, disability activism, therapeutic responses to the Syrian crisis, generational trauma, building community through arts and much more!
*Lunch will be provided

Please go here to register.

The Counseling Student Association welcomes persons with disabilities and can make reasonable accommodations upon request if received by Friday, March 18th, 2017.

Please contact: CSASFSU@mail.sfsu.edu

April Educational Webinar Series

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 03:17:42 GMT

Kicking off the new month, TherapySites is hosting 3 free webinar series on April 12th-April 26th. Over the course of 3 weeks you will be hearing from:

Dr. Kate Campbell and Katie Lemieux: "4 Secrets to Building Your Dream Private Practice (That Noboby Else is Talking About)"

Howard Baumgarten: "Better for Business, Better for Clients: Practical Practice Improvement"

Dr. Jessica Dolgan: "The Top Business Development Tool You're Not Using- Referral Cards"

Below you will find this month's free educational article titled, "Cybersecurity: Three Basic Steps to Secure Your Business."

For more information visit us on facebook.

FREE Webinar Series
Starting April 12th - April 26th

4 Secrets to Building Your Dream Private Practice (That Nobody Else is Talking About)

Wednesday | April 12th | 2pm EST

Want to know the 4 secrets to building and growing your dream private practice that NO ONE ELSE is talking about? Do you currently have your dream practice? If not, this webinar is for you!

Better for Business, Better for Clients: Practical Practice Improvement

Wednesday | April 19th | 2pm EST

While there are many ways to grow your practice, national trainer and author Howard Baumgarten shares two distinct methods for practice change and growth that will stabilize and improve your business outcomes, while benefitting your clients!

The Top Business Development Tool You’re Not Using - Referral Cards

Wednesday | April 26th | 2pm EST

Cultivate optimal clients and referral sources with this simple marketing tool. Increase revenue 20%, love your patients, love your referral sources and love your practice. We’ve touched on referral cards in past education, and you’ve asked for more!

If you have any questions please reach out to Denise at:
webinar@therapysites.com

3010 Highland Parkway | Suite 625 | Downers Grove, Illinois | 60515

CCA 2017 Conference: Call for Proposal!

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:41:12 GMT

The 2017 California Counseling Association (CCA) “BUILDING BRIDGES, Creating Community Today for Tomorrow” Conference intends to bring together counseling professionals statewide to highlight and share best practices for working with unique and most vulnerable populations of people in their communities throughout California. In the spirit of our conference theme we have partnered up with the School-Based Family Counseling Program at Cal State Los Angeles to start this collaboration to build a stronger, more united, and well informed community of helping professionals across all counseling specializations. We welcome proposals that showcase creativity and innovation to strengthen our professional scope of practice within counseling specializations to support diverse communities impacted by fear, uncertainty and instability.

All proposals must be submitted online.

Accepting programs in all areas of specialization.
Sessions are 75 minutes in length and formats include:

Educational/Research: presented in a lecture format
Panel discussion: two or more panelists to lead a discussion on a shared topic
Interactive workshop: an in depth discussion and activity
Round Table: group discussion that includes the exchange of best practices

Submit a proposal today!

April Educational Webinar Series

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 05:16:52 GMT

TherapySites is hosting 3 free webinars with 4 special guest speakers which go through April 12th through April 26th. All three webinars are free to attend and are full of education. Over the course of 3 weeks, we will be hearing from:

Dr. Kate Campbell and Katie Lemieux:"4 Secrets to Building Your Dream Private Practice (That Nobody Else is Talking About)"

Howard Baumgarten:"Better for Business, Better for Clients: Practical Practice Improvement"

Dr. Jessica Dolgan:"The Top Business Development Tool You're Not Using - Referral Cards"

4 Secrets to Building Your Dream Private Practice (That Nobody Else is Talking About)

Wednesday | April 12th | 2pm EST

Want to know the 4 secrets to building and growing your dream private practice that NO ONE ELSE is talking about? Do you currently have your dream practice? If not, this webinar is for you!

Better for Business, Better for Clients: Practical Practice Improvement

Wednesday | April 19th | 2pm EST

The Top Business Development Tool You’re Not Using - Referral Cards

Wednesday | April 26th | 2pm EST

If you have any questions please reach out to Denise at:
webinar@therapysites.com

3010 Highland Parkway | Suite 625 | Downers Grove, Illinois | 60515

APPLICATION FOR THE H.B. MCDANIEL FOUNDATION AWARDS

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 18:09:46 GMT

APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR THE H.B. MCDANIEL FOUNDATION AWARDS 2017

Two special counseling and guidance awards will be awarded to the outstanding group or team for 2017. These awards are established in honor of the late H.B. McDaniel, considered to be the “Father of counseling and guidance in California”.One award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of counseling and guidance. The second award recognizes a group or team who has developed and implemented an exemplary program in counseling and guidance.

H.B. MCDANIEL GROUP AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COUNSELOR

Nominate an Individual if he/she has:
- Demonstrated exceptional leadership.
- Made significant contribution to the field of counseling and guidance.
- Provided a unique professional counseling service or has developed or -directed a guidance program that has proven to be effective and serves as a model for others.
- Contributed to the profession of counseling for a minimum of five years.
- Provided leadership in counselor education.Completed outstanding research in counseling and guidance.

H.B. MCDANIEL GROUP AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP

Nominate a Group if they have:
- Developed and are conducting a comprehensive model program or project.
- Completed significant research resulting in a major impact in the field.
- Proven program effectiveness (research-based).

WHAT TO SUBMIT BY MARCH 10, 2017

1. Resume(s)
2. One Letter of Recommendation
3. A Program Description of the significant contributions from the nominee(s) which includes:

a. Target population(s) served
b. Length of time of involvement in the program or activity
c. Impact on targeted population or activity.
d. Evidence and results data for each area of impact.

APPLICANT INSTRUCTIONS
Please complete the Awards Application that follows. Save your completed application packet as a .doc or .docx file in Microsoft Word. Be sure to include your last name in the file name. Email completed application materials to:

Yolanda Juarez: yobella@comcast.net
Deadline for application: Friday, March 10, 2017

Note: Each applicant may apply for one award. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to consider which of these awards best represents their interests.

Application
Brochure

Graduate Students: Volunteer at ACA 2017!!

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 22:37:58 GMT

ICA 2017 Call for Proposals

Fri, 09 Sep 2016 20:00:00 GMT

ACA 2017 Conference & Expo Will Be Held in San Francisco!

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 21:32:47 GMT

[Credit: Originally written by Shahab Shokouhi-Behnam | Jun 13, 2016]

After withdrawing from Nashville due to the passage of Tennessee HB1840/SB1556, which is a discriminatory law that clearly targets the LGBTQ community, the American Counseling Association (ACA) has decided to relocate its 2017 Conference & Expo to San Francisco, CA.

HB1840/SB1556 denies services to those most in need, targets the counseling profession, and is a violation of ACA’s Code of Ethics. In light of its passage, ACA members vocalized their opinions about the location of the conference, and after much discussion and consideration, it was determined that it would not be held in Tennessee.

The ACA leadership team received 13 bids from cities across the country and determined that San Francisco was the best option. The 2017 Conference & Expo will take place March 16-19, 2017 at the Moscone West Convention Center. (Pre-conference Learning Institutes: March 15-16).

“This is a historic time for ACA as we have never had to make a decision like this before. We believe that San Francisco will be an enjoyable and active city for our conference,” says Richard Yep, CEO of ACA. “This change signals that we are committed to serving our diverse members and helping them provide the support their clients need.”

For more information, visit the ACA 2017 Conference & Expo website here.

Summer rates have been extended through midnight ET on September 30, 2016.

Find out more online!

H.B. MCDANIEL FOUNDATION/CASC NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE AND BANQUET 2016

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 17:39:24 GMT

School Counselors, Graduate Counseling Students and Counselor Educators ALL Invited to Attend

The H.B. McDaniel & California Association of School Counseling Northern California Conference & Banquet will be held on

April 30th, 2016 at Stanford University.

The H.B. McDaniel Foundation and the California Association of School Counselors have once again partnered to provide a day of professional development opportunities at Stanford University. Please save the date for April 30 and spend a day on the spectacular campus of famed Stanford University in Palo Alto where presenters will provide information on topics such as:

Student Mental Health
Best Practices in School Counseling
Research Trends
Professional Development
Special Populations

Implementing the Three Domains of Academic, Career and Social/Emotional Development into Your Practice

And More!

Complete your day by attending the 43rd Annual H.B. McDaniel banquet which honors professionals for their contributions to the field of school counseling.

Conference fee — $69
Graduate Students — $39
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Join us for the banquet — $65
5:30 p.m. — social; 6:00 p.m. — dinner

To register, visit: http://www.schoolcounselor-ca.org/ev_calendar_day.asp?date=4/30/2016%209:00:00%20AM&eventid=7

Event Flyer

Support the SFSU Counseling Student Association!

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:37:03 GMT

CSA's 5th Annual Counseling Symposium is set for Saturday April 2nd, 2016. Please mark your calendars! Our agenda and program is forthcoming.

Two Symposium 2016 Updates include 1) the Symposium theme and 2) the Formal Call for Proposals.

Our theme for this year's symposium is: Exploring Counselor Identity in the Context of Community.

This year's theme encourages us to define what makes us uniquely ourselves, both personally and professionally, while considering how our connections to colleagues, clients, and the larger community shape our counselor identity.

Call for Proposals:

CSA is still accepting program/workshop proposals in all counseling areas of specialization. If you previously completed our earlier survey indicating interest to lead a workshop, please also complete this formal survey as well.

Survey Link

Sessions will be 50 minutes in length and formats include:

Educational/Research Session: Present educational topics in a lecture format.

Panel Discussion: two or more panelists to lead a discussion and answer questions on a shared topic.

Workshop: an interactive session in which to engage in an in depth topical discussion and activity.

Roundtable: small group discussion and exchange about best practices.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 12 2016 at 5:00pm pacific time.

Please forward this information to your networks and encourage workshop proposal submissions from students, professionals, professors and educators!

If you have any questions re: The 5th Annual Counseling Symposium, please email csasfsu@mail.sfsu.edu, Attention: CSA Counseling Symposium.

Thank you!

Symposium Planning Committee

Counseling Student Association

San Francisco State University
www.s fsucsa.com

https://www.facebook.com/sfsu.csa

AMCD-CSJ DAY OF SERVICE 2016 CALL FOR COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS

Tue, 19 Jan 2016 18:53:35 GMT

AMCD-CSJ DAY OF SERVICE 2016 CALL FOR COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS

AMCD and CSJ are excited to announce the 2016 AMCD/CSJ Day of Service during the 2016 American Counseling Association (ACA) National Conference in Montreal, CA. Presidents Dr. Catharina Chang (AMCD) and Dr. Rita Chi-Ying Chung (CSJ) have asked that we partner counseling professionals/leaders with emerging professionals/graduate students to use their skills in advocacy efforts to enhance professional development while in Montreal. In this spirit, AMCD and CSJ are hoping to recruit 10-15 Counseling Professionals to participate in activities that promote professional identity and advocacy through mentorship and service.

The theme of the 2016 Day of Service is “Heal Thyself,” and will be structured in alignment with the ACA Presidential Initiatives of Bullying and Interpersonal Violence and the role that counselors play in advocating for diverse populations. The 2016 Day of Service will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2016. Counseling professionals will be assigned a graduate student mentee for a term of one year. Counseling professionals will also support workshop development on various topics, including queer youth of color, African American women in the professoriate, and graduate student mentoring. Professional counseling volunteers should arrive in Montreal on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, for a Day of Service orientation meeting. The purpose of the March 30th meeting will be to meet each other and finalize logistics for the Day of Service. The March 30th event will be held from 5pm to 7pm. More specifics will be provided at a later date.

If you are a Counseling Professional (both professors and practitioners are welcome) who would like to volunteer, please send a 1-2 paragraph statement about your research interests, as well as ways you advocate for and within the counseling profession with a resume/vita to Kim Lee Hughes, Ph.D. (kimlee.hughes@utsa.edu) or Gloria Aquino Sosa (gas6@stmarys-ca.edu) by Friday, February 5, 2016. If you know of someone that may be interested in this opportunity please share this call for volunteers.

Last year’s AMCD/CSJ Day of Service Projects were held in Orlando, FL. The one-day service projects included:

•    Facilitating in-service and training for parents at Grand Avenue Primary Learning Center
•    Training for counselors and helping professionals at The Victim Service Center/ Orange County Child Advocacy Center
•    Advocacy and training for Head Start Orlando / 4C-Florida

On behalf of the 2016 AMCD/CSJ Central Planning Committee, we look forward to hearing from you.

Kim Lee Hughes, Ph.D. – AMCD Day of Service Chair

Gloria Aquino Sosa, Ph.D. – CSJ President-Elect, CSJ Day of Service Chair

Webinar Series: TherapySites

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 17:27:42 GMT

ADVANCE YOUR PRACTICE...
LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS

Elliott Connie

Rachel Brusstar

Kevin
Briggs

Gina
Ross

Michael
Saad

Dr. Keely Kolmes

Reserve Your Seat Now!

Limited Seating

DR. KEELY KOLMES EXPLAINS THE ESSENTIALS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ETHICS FOR PSYCHOTHERAPISTS

PRESENTED BY: DR. KEELY KOLMES
OCTOBER 7TH | 2PM EST

3 MARKETING TIPS THERAPIST ARE USING TO GROW THEIR PRACTICE - ARE YOU?

PRESENTED BY: MICHAEL SAAD
OCTOBER 14TH | 2PM EST

DISCOVERING CLIENT RESOURCES IN SESSION, AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM

PRESENTED BY: ELLIOTT CONNIE
SEPTEMBER 9TH | 2PM EST

WEBINAR CLOSED

PROTECT YOUR PRACTICE: UNDERSTAND YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

PRESENTED BY: RACHEL BRUSSTAR
SEPTEMBER 16TH | 2PM EST

WEBINAR CLOSED

PIVOTAL POINTS IN A CRISIS, LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND

PRESENTED BY: KEVIN BRIGGS
SEPTEMBER 23RD | 2PM EST

WEBINAR CLOSED

TRAUMA AND HEALING: THE ROLE OF THE BODY/MIND IN THERAPY

PRESENTED BY: GINA ROSS
SEPTEMBER 30TH | 2PM EST

WEBINAR CLOSED

6
WEBINARS

40
MINUTES

Leave your wallet behind and join us for these FREE webinars this fall!

At TherapySites, we want to help grow your practice and so we are preparing you with 40 minutes of education and are even throwing in some bonus time with live Q&A.

Let us help you turn a new leaf this season and Reserve Your Seat today!

3100 Highland Parkway, Suite 625
Downers Grove, IL 60515

866.288.2771

CCA 2015 Conference Snapshot

Thu, 10 Sep 2015 22:35:02 GMT

Volunteer at the 2015 CCA Regional Conference

Tue, 11 Aug 2015 18:37:40 GMT

Getting Adjusted Academically

Wed, 13 May 2015 05:25:31 GMT

Written by: Kimberly Galbraith

Can you get me into (Preferred College)?

What should I major in?

Who is the easiest instructor?

And other misguided questions I’m asked as a Community College Counselor

For the past three years I have had the pleasure of working as a California Community College Counselor at several schools from Sonoma County to Los Angeles County. I interact with students every day, offering them counseling on academics and career choices. Understandably, new students are sometimes misguided in deciding their college path.

As a counselor, I work tirelessly to direct students on the proper path and advise them on resources that will prepare them to complete their individual academic goals.

Often my advice is mistaken as law! Transitioning from the K-12 system to the college system is a daunting task for most. It’s easy for students to fall back on what they know: “follow the teachers orders”, but it’s my task to teach them how to become advocates, change agents, and leaders of their own lives. Students come in expecting to be told what to do. It is my responsibility to show them how to discover their best options. Instead of promising students that I can get them into their preferred transfer college, I educate them on the transfer process, and together we select the courses they will need to take to complete their requirements and increase their chances of transferring. Instead of telling students what to major in, I counsel them on exploring their interests, skills, and abilities, and we work together to identify a major that best matches their individual preferences. Instead of identifying the “easiest” teacher, I discuss learning styles with students and we determine what their preferred learning style is. We then work together to identify courses, class times, and instructors to best accommodate their preferred style.

Often, new students come in with many misconceptions. As counselors who work with college students, the most interesting parts of our job is assisting students with transitioning to a new independent stage in life, counseling them through obstacles they may face as they achieve their educational goals, and educating them on identifying and accessing resources.

Kimberly Galbraith is an experienced college counselor. She received her B.S. degree in Psychology from Spelman College. She then went on to pursue her master’s in counseling with a specialization in college and emphasis in rehabilitation counseling, at San Francisco State Univeristy. She has worked in several California Community Colleges in Contra Costa County, Sonoma County, and Los Angeles County. She currently works at Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, CA as a Counselor with the Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) center.

TherapySites: How to be Found Online With “More Than Just A Website”

Wed, 13 May 2015 05:23:24 GMT

Since the Internet’s inception in 1992, over 40 percent of the world’s population is currently connected to the Internet. With Google now processing around 40,000 searches every second, it’s more important than ever to maintain an active online presence. With the billions of searches occurring every day, therapists need to understand the importance of having an effective website that others will find among the thousands of other established sites.

Even if you’ve spent time and money on getting your website functional, new visitors are only going to give you about five seconds or less to impress them before they move on. If you take a look at your website, is it engaging and attractive? Will it pique interest? It is clear what services you are offering? Can they easily contact you? Is it updated regularly? Just as you would prepare to sell your home, you want to have a trusted realtor who will help make your home valuable to your prospective buyers. Take this same stance when creating your site. Make sure it’s created for the mental health industry and includes your own personal flare with easy navigation. After all, this is your first impression.

However, this all won’t mean much if your site isn’t bringing in a regular flow of traffic. You can’t leave your website alone and expect the proper return. Instead, the foundation of your website lies in the variety of features you offer. If competitors’ sites allow clients to pay bills and schedule appointments online, stay up-to-date with online resources and reach online newsletters but your website does not, then chances are good that this client won’t even stumble upon your site. Ultimately, the more your site has to offer, the more attractive it will be.

When it comes to increasing the amount of traffic to your site, search engine optimization (SEO) offers the best results. SEO makes it easier for search engines (e.g. Google) to understand the purpose of your website and how it can be useful to those searching for related information. Furthermore, optimized content is one major way for your website to attract more traffic from both search engines and site visitors. Besides having content that is well written and interesting, your site must also contain keywords that naturally drive traffic.

By utilizing optimized content, you can also share this information through social media networks and reach an even larger audience. From blogs to posting on social media, staying connected is just another way to target other potential clients. In fact, about 54 percent of doctors turn to social media to promote their business. Why aren’t you?

Running a successful SEO campaign involves using key marketing strategies while also offering optimized content. However, knowing where to start when it comes to creating your online presence can feel daunting. That’s why TherapySites, the leading provider of web design and online solutions for mental health professionals, is offering California Counseling Association members a special offer of One (1) Month Free – with no set up fees and no contracts. The TherapySites team wants to help you succeed and stand apart from your competitors with a website that is created for your industry and includes the necessary tools for an effective online presence. Save $59 and get 30 days free by visiting http://www.therapysites.com?a_aid=8127&a_bid=3dd8338e and entering promo code PromoCCA.

TherapySites Business Development Team

Denise Marshall: 303.990.1331 | denise@therapysites.com

Tracy Wasinski: 630.230.2394 | tracy@therapysites.com

3010 Highland Parkway, STE 625 | Downers Grove,

IL 60515

Reviewing & Rethinking Traditional Student Development Theories for the Students of Today

Wed, 13 May 2015 05:14:59 GMT

A summary from a presentation at the UC Advising Conference,

hosted by UC Merced, Los Angeles CA

Friday May 1^st, 2015

Written by: Danielle Mello

Most counseling professionals have probably experienced this before… you have a great idea for a program, project, or presentation, but then you remember- your workload is ridiculous and there is no time for anything extra! That was certainly the case for my colleague, Ethan Hutchinson (Lead Preceptor for Cowell College at UCSC), and I, but we submitted a proposal for the system wide UC Advising Conference to light a fire under our feet. The abstract began: “Chickering, Perry, Holland, Sanford… Oh my! Remember all the intricate student development theory you learned about at some point in your career? In graduate school perhaps? Ever wonder how those theories apply to the changing student body you advise today?...”

Having put together a “student development theory 101” presentation for our own campus a few months ago, we felt like something was missing. That missing piece, and thus the driving force to execute this project, was the vulnerability of many marginalized populations we see every day in our work. We conducted a literature review to explore the stages and developmental tasks found in various alternate identity development theories, extracted main ideas in direct conflict with traditional student development theory, and identified specific advising strategies for advisers and counselors to apply when working with vulnerable student populations.

In counseling and student affairs, we talk an awful lot about theory, but we don’t talk enough about the fact that most of these models were developed from research on white, affluent males attending college in the mid 1900’s. The stages, vectors, and positions in these theories look very different when applied to historically marginalized student populations and must be applied with caution. This is not to discount these theories altogether; we know they have value. However, when Chickering (1969) created Vector 2: “Developing social/interpersonal competence”, he probably didn’t consider what this task might look like from the perspective of a member of an oppressed group for whom many social interactions are tainted by a lack recognition of power privilege and oppression from members of a dominant group. So we must retool our advising strategies with marginalized students to account for the missing pieces.

This project served as a reminder of the importance of developing our own multifaceted framework, tapping into many different theories and considering the uniqueness of the student (or client) sitting before us. It was also a reminder that although it’s easy to say “there’s just no time” for endeavors that go beyond the requirements of our demanding workloads- it’s important that we advocate to our supervisors and administrators that there is value in this work, and it behooves us to carve out time for creative projects that promote professional, and personal development. This is the work that guides our counseling and advising strategies in supporting underserved clients and students in infrastructures that enact institutionalized racism. I encourage you to think about a project or program you have always wanted to do and ask yourself- can I make the time for this? How can I ask for the support I need to make room in my work? I’ll bet you’ll be glad you did.

*For a handout from this presentation including an overview of the models and specific advising strategies and/or a video of the entire presentation, please feel free to contact Danielle directly.

Danielle Mello is the Colleges Advising Coordinator at UC Santa Cruz. Having completed her Masters in College and Career Counseling from San Francisco State University, she has over 10 years of experience in counseling, advising, leadership, and program coordination in higher education. At UCSC she has served as an Academic Adviser, Lead Academic Preceptor, and Lead Adviser at the Career Center. Her pre-UCSC work includes career counseling and advising for community college and first generation students.

email: dmello@ucsc.edu

CCA 2015 Regional Conference Call for Proposals

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 05:21:23 GMT

CALIFORNIA COUNSELING ASSOCIATION REGIONAL CONFERENCE

November 6, 2015 | Oakland, CA

Call Opens: May 15, 2015 Submission Deadlines: July 31, 2015

CCA will be hosting its regional conference in fall 2015 and will be opening a Call for Proposals on May 15. We are seeking proposals from all areas of counseling specializations. Proposals from professionals and students are welcome!

Conference registration to open in July 2015.

April is Counseling Awareness Month!

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:38:53 GMT

April is Counseling Awareness Month (CAM) — a time for professional counselors to educate the public about the profession, the work they are doing, and the contributions they make to communities around the world.

In an effort to further educate the public about the depth and breadth of the counseling profession, this year, ACA's Counseling Awareness Month national media outreach will revolve around four strategic areas:

The Mental Health Counselor
The School & College Counselor
The Substance Abuse Counselor
The Career Counselor

For more information, visit ACA!

What is counseling?

What is Counseling Awareness Month?

TherapySites is hosting a free webinar series titled, “Educational Webinar Madness”

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:31:32 GMT

TherapySites is hosting a free webinar series titled, “Educational Webinar Madness” which goes through April 8th at 1pm CST. We are suiting up for 40 minutes of education and are using all our timeout at the end for a live Q & A session. Get your front row seat to these free events now.

Reserve your seat and register now: http://www.therapysites.com/support/eblasts/TS-MM2/ts-prospect-3.10.15.html
All webinars are at 1pm CST

Getting Ahead in the Race: Cost-Effective Tips for a Winning Website

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 21:19:34 GMT

1.1 Trillion. This is the number of searches Google alone processes in a year. Of all these searches, millions are potential clients looking to find mental health professionals. In fact, 80% of Internet users have searched for health related topics online, making it the 3rd most popular online activity behind email and researching a product or service before making a purchase.

If this is where everyone is at, then it is essential that you take control of your web presence and get in front of these clients. Think of getting to the top of Google (and all major search engines) as winning a race. It’s a process that takes time. You have to train, condition your body and prepare to go the distance. Once the race has begun, you are well on your way to the finish line, recording your personal best!

The first step in the race to the top is to start training and getting yourself out there, which is to get a website. Your website is your home, your domain, and an easy way to market your practice to 3 billion internet-using potential clients. You can customize it to promote your services, your books, and your speaking engagements, all in a way that fits your personality.

Now that you’ve started the process with your website, the next step is conditioning. This is done with Search Engine Optimization, also known as SEO. SEO is the collective name for a series of techniques that make search engines deem your site “relevant.” When you achieve relevance, your ranking increases, and the traffic to your website improves. SEO for your website is just as important as a runner’s training regimen and diet plan – without a good one, you’ll quickly fall behind the competition. Just like physical training, your SEO plan can be as intense or as light as you like. But no matter what, two things are absolutely necessary – keywords and content.

Identifying your industry related keywords is very important. A keyword is a particular word or phrase that describes the contents of a website or webpage. Your keywords sum up an entire page. For example, if you are a therapist specializing in anxiety, you want people with anxiety to be finding you, so your keywords would include “anxiety”. You need to know your audience and tailor your keywords to them. Keywords should include your specialty, location, age group focus of your practice, anything you want people to know about you and your practice. Second, you need to implement those keywords into unique, fresh content. Content includes any information on your website or page (information, links, etc.) and should easily identify what you do and say a little about who you are. The more original you are the more likely you are to be differentiated in the world of Google. And of course your content should be updated regularly as well. You want Google to visit you often so that you are on their radar and being ranked. The more often you update the more Google comes to visit. Updating can be as easy as adding a link to an article or new finding in the field.

Now that you have a website and it is prepared to go up against the competition, the last big step is to use your water, snacks, and crowd energy to go the distance and cross the finish line. In terms of Internet marketing this would be taking your optimized site and utilizing social media to network and draw attention to it. Social media gives you that big boost to carry you to the finish line. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are some of the easiest ways to spread the word about you and your practice. And the best part? They’re all free, and they all provide backlinks. Post new information (articles, fun facts, new developments) on social media, update your website, and keep people informed, and you’ll have the crowd on your side.

Just like running a race, optimizing your website takes time, research, and dedication. To help you kick off the process smoothly and achieve your personal best, California Counseling Association has partnered with TherapySites, who can help you start the race on the right foot with a special opportunity for One Month Free by entering Promo Code: PromoCCA Start building an online presence today at http://www.therapysites.com?a_aid=8127&a_bid=3dd8338e

About TherapySites: TherapySites specializes in websites designed specifically for mental health professionals. They provide the necessary resources for an effective online presence including basic search engine optimization, online scheduling, an eNewsletter feature, credit card processing, and more.

Denise Marshall

Business Development Coordinator

TherapySites.com | Denise@therapysites.com

Direct: 303.990.1331 | Fax: 720.549.9799 | 3010 Highland Parkway, Suite 625 | Downers Grove, IL 60515

New Partnership between CCA and Therapy Sites!

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:23:35 GMT

The new partnership aims to provide all mental health professionals with the necessary resources for an effective online presence.

TherapySites, the leading website and online marketing company for mental health professionals, announced today its affiliation with the California Counseling Association (CCA). This new relationship allows TherapySites to continue to extend their online marketing solutions to CCA members, adding exclusive benefits and promotional offers.

“As more people turn to the Internet to find goods and services, it is essential for practice owners to have an effective online presence,” said Denise Marshall, Business Development Coordinator at TherapySites. “Since 2007, we have been working with mental health professionals helping them get the most out of their website and we are excited to partner with the California Counseling Association to continue to offer resources to their members.”

About California Counseling Association

The California Counseling Association (CCA) is a nonprofit tax-exempt professional association incorporated in 1967 as a state branch of The American Counseling Association (ACA). They support their members as leaders and innovators in counseling and provide leadership through an organized program of professional development, professional advocacy in local communities, and an active presence in the California state legislature.

About TherapySites: Websites for Therapists

TherapySites specializes in creating websites that are engaging, professional, cost-effective, and extremely simple to maintain, helping mental health professionals successfully market and manage their practice online. The TherapySites package includes everything necessary for a professional online presence, including basic search engine optimization (SEO), integrated email & editing tools, credit card processing, and online appointment notifications, all with no contracts or setup fees and unlimited technical and customer support.

As an added benefit, the CCA members will receive their first month free with TherapySites by entering promo code "PromoCCA". For more information about how to start building an online presence, visit http://www.TherapySites.com.

If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the company listed in the press release.

Contact Information

Denise Marshall

TherapySites

http://www.therapysites.com

303-990-1331

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