history.

Founded in April 1999, the Counselors for Social Justice formed to push the importance of promoting social justice within ACA and the broader counseling profession. CSJ continues to serve as the "Social Conscience of ACA" and takes action to publish strong position statements, newsletters, journals, and research. 

CSJ accomplishments

Since its conception, CSJ has been a consistent voice for counselors involved in social justice work. CSJ members have successfully advocated on a number of issues including: healthcare for women, equal access for disabled, issues of discrimination against the LGBTQ community, racism, classism, and immigration to name a few. CSJ has had an active voice within ACA, taking positions and issuing a number of statements such as one criticizing the use of reparative therapy, promoting the Multicultural Competencies, developing and instituting the Social Justice Advocacy competencies and most recently ushering the multiracial competencies through the Governing Council. 

Our History

Founding members believed in fostering increased levels of empowerment, psychological liberation, critical thinking, and the importance of having a social justice voice within ACA and the counseling profession. CSJ began through discussions between individuals from groups such as the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW), and the National Career Development Association (NCDA), who wanted to discuss the multicultural competency movement and the opportunity for ACA to better commit to multiculturalism. We remain committed to these founding ideals.​
​Read more about the history of CSJ here.

Notable accomplishments include:

• 2003: Social Justice Advocacy Competencies developed by Judy Lewis, Mary Smith Arnold, Reese House, and Rebecca Toporek, Officially Endorsed by ACA
• 2005: ACA endorsed a number of resolutions promoting a socially responsible approach to counseling
• 2007: CSJ has partnered with Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) to publish The Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology (JSACP)
• 2010: Manivong Ratts, Rebecca Toporek, and Judy Lewis published a book on the Social Justice Advocacy Competencies.
• 2020: In response to ongoing undue police violence, CSJ led numerous interdivisional programs during the summer of 2020. These events were co-sponsored by ACA, all ACA divisions, ACA regions, and ACA Foundation.

CSJ ​LOGOS

Former Logo 1999-2019

Design by Kate Madden

Past Presidents

2019-2020 Lauren Shure
2018-2019 Anna Flores Locke
2017-2018 Rachael D. Goodman
2016-2017 Jane Goodman
2015-2016 Rita Chi-Ying Chung
2014-2015 Fred Bemak
2013-2014 Selma Yznaga
2012-2013 Rhonda Bryant
2011-2012 Manivong Ratts
​2010-2011 Judy Daniels

2009-2010 Michael D’Andrea
​​​2008-2009 Eric Green
​2007-2008 Hugh Crethar
2006-2007 Edil Torres-Rivera
2005-2006 Vivien McCullough
2004-2005 Stuart Chen-Hayes
2003-2004 Farah Ibrahim
2002-2003 Sandra Lopez-Baez
​2001-2002 Azara Santiago-Rivera
1999-2001 A. Michael Hutchins

ELDERS AND FOUNDERS

Still got questions? Email Info@counseling-csj.org