At this year鈥檚 American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference in Columbus, Ohio, 51视频 was well represented, with counseling faculty taking on leadership roles throughout the four-day event.
Awa Jangha, PhD, assistant professor of counselor education, co-led a workshop titled 鈥淲ays of Being, Understanding, and Intervening: Applying the ASERVIC 2025 Best Practices.鈥� The session introduced the 2025 ASERVIC Best Practices鈥攆ormerly known as the ASERVIC Spiritual and Religious Competencies鈥攈ighlighting significant updates since their original 2009 publication and the ethical foundations that informed the revision process. The workshop also featured John Harrichand of Montclair State University, Craig S. Cashwell of Clemson University, and Zobaida Laota of University of Cincinnati.
“It was an honor to attend and co-present at the 2026 annual American Counseling Association (ACA) conference,鈥� shared Dr. Jangha. 鈥淚 had the pleasure of working with phenomenal colleagues in a task force that revised the Association for Spiritual Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling’s (ASERVIC) 2009 Competencies for Addressing Spiritual and Religious Issues in Counseling into what is now ASERVIC’s . This conference presentation consisted of a panel moderated by the current ASERVIC president, Dr. John Harrichand, and featured a few members of the task force who worked on the revision including myself, Dr. Craig Cashwell, and Dr. Zobaida Laota. It was a joy to discuss the revision work and have conversation about practical ways to implement the S/R Best Practices across settings (counseling, supervision, and counselor education).”聽
During the session, panelists examined the revision process and explored core ethical themes essential to competent counseling practice, including cultivating self-awareness (ways of being), deepening knowledge and understanding (ways of understanding), and applying competence in practice (ways of intervening). The discussion also emphasized honoring diversity and client autonomy, alongside a commitment to ongoing professional development and advocacy. Participants were invited to reflect on their own spiritual, religious, or non-belief perspectives, consider ethical strategies for integrating diverse worldviews into counseling assessment and interventions with client consent, and explore how cultural humility, supervision, and lifelong learning support ethical and responsible practice. Attendees also received practical resources,聽
A more extensive review of the S/R Best Practices was recorded as a free continuing education offering for ACA members and made available this month (found ) along with a new podcast series that ASERVIC released in April that featured Dr. Jangha, Dr. Cashwell, and Dr. Daniel Gutierrez (found ).
Also in attendance was Marlon Johnson, PhD, who serves as President-Elect of the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE), a division of the American Counseling Association. SAIGE鈥檚 mission is to advocate for equity, inclusion, and professional development that ensures culturally responsive and affirming services for LGBTGEQIAP+ individuals. The organization also hosts its own annual conference, with the next gathering scheduled for October 2026.
The American Counseling Association Conference is widely recognized as the premier professional development and networking event for counselors across the United States.