<img aria-descriptionby = "caption-attachment-21606" data-attachment-id = "21606" data-permalink = "https://ct.counseling.org/2019/07/from-the-president-what-is -Your mission / Paul-Sakuma-photographer-www-paulsakuma-com / "data-orig-file =" https://ct.counseling.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/big-heathertrepal_headshot.jpg "data-orig-size =" 427,640 "data-comment-opens =" 1 "data-image-meta =" {"aperture": "0", "credit": "Paul Sakuma Photography", "camera" : "Canon EOS 7D", "Caption": "Paul Sakuma Photographer www.paulsakuma.com", "created_timestamp": "1553690719", "copyright": "", "focal_length": "110", "iso": " 400 "," shutter_speed ":" 0.005 "," title ":" Paul Sakuma Photographer www.paulsakuma.com "," Orientation ":" 0 "}" data-image-title = "Trepal" data-image-description = "
Heather Trepal, the 68th President of the American Counseling Association
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Heather Trepal, the 68th President of the American Counseling Association
A Pril is #CounselingAwarenessMonth! This is definitely a month when we have the opportunity to use our advocacy skills and demonstrate our amazing profession. We have a unique opportunity to use our collective voice to publicize all the ways that consultants can make a difference in the world.
Although advocacy is our shared responsibility, it is also personal. I don't know which professional problem or concern you most often address in your heart, but we can all work for you professionally. I hope that every member of the American Counseling Association will find something about our profession that they can highlight and present during Counseling Awareness Month. We need to promote the search for help by continuously raising awareness of mental health and well-being and the important work of counselors. Please visit the Counseling Awareness Month page on the ACA website for some ideas on how to get involved in this important month.
Professional athletes form a very public group of people who raise awareness of mental health and work for it. For example, the National Basketball Association's (NBA) San Antonio Spurs held a night audition for mental health awareness in February. In addition, professional basketball players such as Kevin Love from Cleveland Cavaliers and DeMar DeRozan from Spurs have recently spoken publicly about their personal psychological problems. The NBA even passed a rule that hires dedicated mental health personnel for each team. The National Football League has a similar policy.
Professional sports leagues and athletes have a wide audience. As they continue to work to raise awareness, I am confident that their efforts will lead to an increased search for help and continued destigmatization of mental health.
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Follow Heather on Twitter @HeatherTrepal
