Welcome to the website of the Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP), Division 17 of the American Psychological Association! If you are a member of the society, then I hope our website will answer questions, provide information, and foster your involvement in the Society. If you are a visitor, I hope to stimulate your interest in becoming a member of SCP. We are a very friendly Division and welcome new members!

A brief description of our philosophy is that we bring developmental, strength-based, multicultural, and social justice principles and positive psychology and international perspectives to leadership and participation in psychology’s science, practice, diversity and public interest, education and training. Our philosophy is apparent in our nationally ranked applied journal, The Counseling Psychologist, and, our Society Newsletter, which is available electronically.

SCP actively mentors students, who serve as voting members of SCP committees; the Student Affiliates of Seventeen (SAS) welcomes inquiries from graduate and undergraduate students. Early career professionals are active in SCP and APA governance and are encouraged to bring new perspectives to counseling psychology through participation in or development of Special Interest Groups and Special Sections.

SCP leaders are valuable contributors who have been very involved in APA and have helped address a variety of public interest issues, which include development of guidelines for diverse populations and policy statements on evidence-based practice. We encourage you to help us recognize SCP members who have made unusual contributions through our discipline by nominating your colleagues or yourself for Society or APA award or Fellow status.

The Society is a social justice division, which means, in part, that we attempt to remove barriers to positive development.

 My  presidential initiative during my presidential year will be “Suicide Prevention”.  If you  have ideas about this initiative, please contact me.

Also, please check the SCP website regularly for new information and links that will enhance your professional development. Thank you for visiting SCP and thank you for your interest in Counseling Psychology!!

Sincerely,

John S. Westefeld, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.
President, SCP, August, 2009-August, 2010
Professor, Counseling Psychology Program, University of Iowa

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