West Central Illinois Professional Counseling Association

By President Marsha Dace

West Central Illinois Professional Counseling Association is open to all professional counselors (agency, school, private, etc.) with at least a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a closely related field and to graduate students enrolled in the WIU counselor education or psychology program. WCIPCA meets on the first Wednesday of each month in the boardroom at the North Central Behavioral Health Services in Macomb.

Dr. Melanie Rawlins continues to represent us at the ICA Governing Council Meetings, and shares her information about legislative issues with the group. Also, there is sharing about job opportunities in the community and /or surrounding area. There is one graduate student who has been attending our meetings this year. WCIPCA is looking into organizing a half day or full day training in the upcoming year. We also have plans for programming for November, 2008 through May, 2009.

The following were the topics that WCIPCA members received CEUs:

May 21, 2009 Red Cross Disaster Training-5 hours- Pam Helms, LCPC

April 1, 2009 Counselor & Psychologist Licensure: Violations and Penalties-

Michael Illovsky, LCPC

March 4, 2009 Roundtable Discussion on Self-Esteem-Marsha Dace, LCPC

February 4, 2009 Motivated Stereotyping of Women: Sources of Justification

For Derogating Female Therapists-Amy Miller, PhD

December 3, 2008 Combat Stress and Trauma in Returning War Vets-Jim DiTulio,

LCPC

November 5, 2008 Psychotropic Medications Update-Julie Auger, RN, LCPC

October 1, 2008 Happiness-A Discussion of Research-Michael Illovsky, LCPC

September 3, 2008 Historical Trauma and Unresolved Grief- Burt Sorkey, Psy.D

August 6, 2008 Planning meeting for upcoming programs

June 4, 2008 Social & Emotional Learning Mandates for Schools- Tessa Hobbs Curley, LCPC

May 7, 2008 Preventing Counselor Burnout- Estela Pledge, LCPC, & Ellie Sivill, NCC

April 2, 2008 Ethics and Counseling- Dr. Bill McFarland

March 5, 2008 Love and Logic in Parenting- Janet Hall, LCPC

February 6, 2008 Using Therapeutic Metaphors In Counseling- Estela Pledge, LCPC

Our group adheres to the mission of the ICA to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.

Kim Laird, MSEd, LCPC will be serving as our president for the next year beginning August 1, 2008.

Submitted by: Marsha Dace, MSEd, LCPC, NCC

WCIPCA President