08/19/2026

PCA August Member Announcements

August Office Hours: PCA President x Emerging Leaders Committee

Members of the NEW Leadership Committee from the Emerging Leaders Program will be joining me to discuss this exciting program that is preparing to welcome their second cohort of leaders this fall. Whether you're interested in leadership development, becoming a mentor, or supporting the program as a committee member, we would love to hear from you! General PCA interest is also welcome! Please note that the application period for cohort 2 of the PCA Emerging Leaders Program has closed for this year. 

Sign up here for August!

PASERVIC Grounding Groups

PASERVIC's Grounding Support Group will resume next month (September) and run through May on the 3rd Friday of each month. Specific dates are: 9/18/26, 10/16/26, 11/20/26, 12/18/26, 1/15/27, 2/19/27, 3/19/27, 4/16/27, 5/21/27. Email pca.paservic@gmail.com to notify Frederick Pratt, LPC, ACS, that you would like to attend any or all of these dates.

CARIA Survey and Scholarship

CARIA invites you to provide feedback about your experiences within PCA, specific to anti-racism, inclusion, and access. Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey using this link: https://forms.gle/xD9UqLt6byBCkmgn8

PCA Membership Scholarship - Breaking Barriers: Voices for Change.

Presented by PCA’s Committee for Anti-Racism and Inclusive Access (CARIA) and co-sponsored by PCA, PS-SAIGE, and PASERVIC.

Our Mission: CARIA is committed to promoting anti-racist, inclusive, and equitable practices within the Pennsylvania Counseling Association. Our mission is to increase representation of marginalized individuals within PCA in efforts to continue to diversify the organization. With that in mind, we recognize the importance of decreasing barriers and increasing access to membership in professional organizations. Please visit PCA’s Membership Page to explore the benefits of becoming a PCA member.

Additionally, this scholarship reflects the Pennsylvania Counseling Association’s commitment to:

• Represent all professional counselors of the Commonwealth in the continued development of professional identity through advocacy, legislative action, and servant leadership.
• Recruit and train a diverse membership, which includes all professional counselors in Pennsylvania, and to involve each of them in carrying out our mission and realizing our vision.
• Recruit as members, Pennsylvania graduate students of professional counseling, to involve each of them in carrying out our mission and in realizing our vision, to mentor each of them through the transition from graduate student to professional, and to develop each of them as future leaders of our profession.

Criteria to Apply:

1. Self-identify as Black, Brown, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color (BBIPOC); BBIPOC+Queer individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.
2. Identify as a member of the counseling profession (all levels of education are welcomed and licensure is not required)

How to Apply:

Write a statement (1 page max) expressing why representation matters to you, and your hopes for how a PCA membership can support you in advancing your educational/career goals. 

Please submit your application to Cariapca2026@gmail.com. 
Deadline to Apply: September 30th, 2026.

The PCA Government Relations Committee (GRC) is bringing advocacy into action at this year’s PCA Conference! Join us November 6–7 for opportunities to learn, connect, and make your voice heard:

• 🏛️Friday, Nov. 6 | 3:30–5:00 PM — Advocacy in Action: Join the GRC and invited Pennsylvania legislators for an interactive session focused on PCA members’ legislative priorities, including insurance access, funding for counseling students, protections for marginalized communities, and guardrails for AI in mental health. Hear directly from legislators, then participate in small-group conversations where you can educate lawmakers about what counselors and clients are experiencing firsthand.
• ✍️Friday evening & Saturday — Take Legislative Action: Stop by the GRC table to learn about current advocacy priorities and complete a postcard asking lawmakers to advance legislation related to Any Willing Provider protections and AI guardrails.
• 🎟️Advocate & Enter to Win: Visit the GRC table, take action, connect with committee members, and enter our gift basket raffle!
• 😤Legislative Fury: Look for an opportunity to channel your political and legislative frustrations—and turn some of that energy toward advocacy.

The timing matters: Pennsylvania’s new legislative session begins in January, making this an ideal moment for counselors to build relationships with lawmakers and help shape the issues they prioritize. Come learn how to advocate—and then practice doing it alongside us.

Joseph Charette II, PhD, LPC, NCC
Pronouns: He/Him/His (Why Pronouns Matter)
58th President of PCA
Pennsylvania Counseling Association