Dirk Rohr - Counselling in Europe

4. Enhancing our Infrastructure:We will optimise IAC’s structures and systems to ensure equal and inclusive representation from all world regions and cultures. As an Executive Council, our committee, sub-committees, and personnel will professionally deliver our services and aims.

5. Enhancing the Profile of counselling:Internationally, we will raise the profile of counselling by utilising our global connections, technology and relationships. IAC aims to serve as a strong and uniting global voice for counselling.

6. Connecting our Members:We will serve as a platform for counsellors worldwide to connect and share ideas on counselling, education and research with individuals, experts and organisations.

Our People: Our Executive Council (Governing Board) in 2021 are:

• President: Bill Borgen

• Treasurer: Blythe Shepard

• Secretary: Nate Perron

• Past President: Dione Mifsud

• Chief Executive: Naoise Kelly

• Membership Secretary: Ruth Falzon

• Regional Representative (Africa): Dominic Nsona

• Regional Representative (Asia): Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan

• Regional Representative (Caribbean): Anna Maria Mora

• Regional Representative (Oceania): Di Stow

• Regional Representative (Latin America): Desiree Carlson

• Regional Representative (Europe): Vacant

• Regional Representative (North America): Matt Lyons

• Regional Representative (Middle-East): Kabeer N.V.

• Member-at-Large: Amalia Madihie

• Member-at-Large: Kristen Dickins

• Member-at-Large: Dirk Rohr

• Consultant to the IAC Executive Council: Tommaso Valleri

The IAC Executive Council has regional representation from every world region.

The IAC vision is of "A world where counselling is available to all". counselling changes lives for the better and reduces suffering. IAC’s humanitarian movement advocates for more access to counselling worldwide. IAC lobbies and influences governments and international organisations to have counselling better recognised as a profession. In some countries there is no counselling at all. IAC helps to establish counselling structures, (e. g. National Associations or Education Programmes) in those countries. Technology is moving the global circle of counsellors ever closer.

Figure 2: IAC Activity Framework (2021)

IAC embraces the modernisation of our profession and proudly serves at the forefront of connecting counsellors worldwide. Here are some of our main areas of work:

IAC is currently engaged in a major global counselling project entitled the 'World Mapping of the counselling Profession' (see chapter 4). The aim of the project is to compile data and information about the scale, standards and contexts of counselling activity in each of the world’s 196 countries. Generating detailed knowledge about the counselling profession for each country will significantly raise public and professional awareness of counselling, enable enhanced advocacy (both national and international), and improve information sharing for individual counsellors and the wider profession. The World Health Organisation (WHO) views the IAC mapping activity as a positive development in gaining an accurate assessment of the numbers of mental health professionals worldwide. We have received financial and in-kind support from the American Counselling Association, the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, Taylor’s University, Malaysia, and the University of Cologne, Germany. The mapping information will enable IAC to better utilise its consultative status with the aforementioned United Nations (UN) organizations. These inter-governmental (UN) organisations make important high-level policy decisions on mental health, education, work, and social issues. These decisions have a strong and direct influence on the approaches that national governments take to these matters. In turn, the national policies directly affect counsellors and the counselling profession in all countries. The information will also increase the ability of those involved in counselling worldwide to connect with, inform and support each other in advocating for counselling, and enhancing counsellor education and counselling practice.

IAC membership is available for individuals and groups and we invite you to consider joining IAC as a member. In doing so, you will be supporting the development of counselling worldwide. IAC membership creates an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to inclusion, and communicates your values to clients, colleagues and others. IAC membership is open to groups (Associations, Education Institutes, and Services), and Individuals (e. g. IAC Professional Members, Students, Retired members) and carries with it multiple benefits including:

• IAC’s Journal (International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling) – Quarterly journal and access to all back-issues since 1978.

• A Certificate of Membership

• A Free Webinar each year.

• IAC Newsletters: News, updates, articles, and events.

• An IAC Logo for use on your materials.

• Significant conference discounts and reports.

Becoming an IAC member supports our work and brings with it multiple professional benefits. Find all joining details on our website. We look forward to welcoming you to IAC, and to the global community of counsellors.

In 2017 the IAC Executive Council (IAC EC) approved the establishment of a global network of IAC Country Ambassadors to represent and promote the Association. An IAC Country Ambassador is an IAC Member who represents IAC at country level and serves as a direct link to counselling in that country. There may be more than one Ambassador in any one country. This network helps deliver IAC’s strategic and humanitarian aims for the development of counselling and the global promotion of the profession. It helps IAC to both broaden and deepen our connection to countries and regional networks.

The role of an IAC Ambassador is to increase awareness of IAC and its work, to promote membership, to act as a mentor to new and prospective members, and to help meet IAC’s developmental aims for the profession worldwide. The IAC Ambassador will have an excellent understanding of IAC and its role within the global counselling community. The IAC Ambassador exerts influence in the country to promote IAC’s work and ideals. IAC Ambassadors serve as official representatives of IAC in an enhanced volunteer capacity for a three-year term (with the potential to renew).

IAC offers easy access to core counselling knowledge and instruction in a variety of online formats – from interactive, on-demand, and curated courses to live online education such as webinars. As an example, our prominent current (Spring, 2021) offering is 'Transcultural counselling' – a unique opportunity to learn online from world-renowned counselling experts. This 20-hour course is self-paced and creates the opportunity to increase your cross-cultural responsiveness in a flexible and supported learning environment. Participants receive a Certificate of Completion and fulfil 20 Continuing Education (CEU) Hours / Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Hours. The course has been priced with a view to increasing global accessibility and is suitable for counsellor educators who would like to strengthen this aspect of their programs, and for counsellors who wish to expand their practice and customize their approach, either internationally or when serving diverse clients locally.