Counseling Awareness Month

As the world becomes more aware of what it means to be mentally and emotionally healthy, a significant increase can be seen in the number of people seeing counselors and therapists.

In fact, the number of Americans seeking mental health treatment is almost double what it was just two decades ago. So many lives have been helped and changed through access to counseling or other mental health professionals.

Counseling Awareness Month is celebrated each year to continue improving the public understanding of what counseling is – so that even more people can benefit and start living happier and healthier lives!

History of Counseling Awareness Month

Counseling Awareness Month has been celebrated for more than two decades, since it was founded in 2002.

The event was established through the efforts of the American Counseling Association (ACA) to acknowledge counseling professionals and the important role they play to establish mental health and well-being in the lives of families, individuals and communities.

Each year, the organizers of Counseling Awareness Month choose a theme to promote a particular aspect related to counseling to help focus the celebrations. Some of the themes in past years have included:

• Train Your Brain with Counseling (2017)
• The Future is Self-Care, Advocacy and Inclusion (2021)
• Burn Bright Not Out (2022)
• Get Fit for Your Future (2023)

How to Celebrate Counseling Awareness Month

Join in on this important event by getting involved in a range of ways all throughout Counseling Awareness Month. Check out a few of these ideas to get started:

Thank a Counselor

An excellent way to get involved with Counseling Awareness Month is to show appreciation and gratitude to a counselor.

Whether a person has a professional relationship with a counselor or they have a friend or family member who works as a counselor, this is a great time to say thanks for the hard work they do.

Advocate for Counseling Awareness Month

Interested individuals as well as advocacy groups can participate by connecting their local school boards, city councils and other influential bodies with Counseling Awareness Month.

The ACA website offers a sample proclamation supporting the cause that can be tailored to individual needs when promoting the event.

Understand More About Counseling

A goal of Counseling Awareness Month is to improve public knowledge and understanding about what counseling is and how it can be beneficial.

Take some time during this event to brush up on some of the basics about counseling, including a few of these facts:

• Counseling isn’t just for people with mental health issues or huge problems – almost anyone can benefit from talking to a counselor for life transitions, grief, relationship problems, career goals and more
• Counseling is not a quick fix for any problem – it is a process of growth and development that happens through emotional work over time
• Counselors don’t necessarily give advice – they help their clients discover what would be best to meet their own needs and desires
• Licensed counselors much abide by the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics