Counseling Webinars & Trainings
North Carolina Counseling Association Annual Conference – Call for Volunteers
NCCA is looking for enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to help make this year’s conference a success!
Volunteer roles may include:
- Registration and Information Desk
- Session Support
- General Event Support
Ready to make a difference and save on your registration?
Scan below to complete the volunteer interest form for the North Carolina Counseling Association Annual Conference February 19-21, 2026 in Asheville, NC.
Volunteers will receive discounted registration. Currently there is up to $50 off of registration during Early Bird registration (Ends Nov 30) for students.
They will receive an additional discount for volunteering.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Protecting the Professional Degree Status for Counselors
The Situation:
Under the terms of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1), the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing loan repayment programs, including the Grad PLUS Program and much of the Parent PLUS program. Under RAP, annual federal loans for new borrowers will be capped at $20,500 ($100,000) for graduate students and $50,000 ($200,000) for professional students. The Department of Education identified 11 degrees, including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and law, that would be considered professional degrees. Counseling and Therapy programs were not included on this list, meaning students in these fields would not qualify for the higher funding cap.
Affected Master’s Degrees:
- Accounting
- Architecture
- Audiology
- Business Masters
- Counseling and Therapy
- Education
- Engineering Masters
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Speech and Language Pathology
Why This Matters:
Reducing federal financial aid for counseling and therapy students will restrict entry into mental health professions at a time when shortages are already severe. Fewer students may be able to afford these degrees, which will shrink the future behavioral health workforce. Excluding counseling and therapy from professional status undermines efforts to meet rising mental health needs across the United States. With more than one-third of Americans living in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, any new barrier to entering the mental health field will further harm public well-being.
Take Action Today:
I. Contact your congressional representatives using our VoterVoice system.
II. Share your personal experience receiving federal student aid and how this support allowed you to complete your education and succeed in your profession.
III. Spread awareness ahead of the 2026 public comment period for higher education rule making.
Learn more: Negotiating Rulemaking for Higher Education 2025 | U.S. Department of Education
Praxis II Fee Waiver Request for School Counseling Students
Professional School Counseling Students can visit ETS Fee Waiver Information to learn more about the eligibility requirements and application process to request a fee waiver. It is crucial that students read through all the information provided, as there are several requirements for eligibility.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Students must be receiving financial aid.
- They should be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and able to provide a current Enrollment Verification Certificate (note that those with a master’s or doctoral degree are ineligible).
- Students need to provide the 2025-2026 FAFSA Submission Summary showing an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $3,000 or less.
- They must be required to take a Praxis test by an authorized score recipient.
How to Apply for a Fee Waiver:
- Complete the Fee Waiver Request Form (PDF) (see the attached flyer).
- Obtain a current Enrollment Verification Certificate (contact the UNCP registrar’s office). It must include a school seal, National Student Clearinghouse watermark, or the signature of the registrar.
- Obtain the 2025-2026 FAFSA Submission Summary.
- Submit your request by email: scan all documents, attach them to your email, and send to PraxisFeeWaiver@ets.org.
Students are eligible for a fee waiver only once during a testing year, and there are a limited number of waivers available per test date and institution. All requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis
Thrive at Wake Forest
Thrive At Wake Forest is our shared vision for the health and wellbeing of our community. Thrive uses a Collective Impact Model to bring this vision to life. The Collective Impact Model is when a group(s) comes together to pool their talent, energies, and resources to address complex social issues by learning, thinking, and working together. Again this year, we are hosting information sessions to learn how to get involved in our campus-wide coalitions that focus on topics including mental health, substance use and misuse, hazing prevention, interpersonal violence prevention, basic needs and access, physical wellness and peer education. We invite the entire campus community to join us at one of the Coalition Informational Sessions. Coalition co-chairs will share the mission and goal of each group and provide opportunities for engagement.
For more information, visit Our Shared Vision web page.
Mindful Wake Classes
MindfulWake classes are FREE and open to all Wake Forest University students, faculty, and staff. Attendance at all four sessions is required. Classes are limited to 12 students and registration is on a first-come, first served basis. Note that in-person and virtual classes are available. Once you register, expect an email one or two days before class begins with further instructions and room location. MindfulWake classes are taught by instructors certified by the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults, using their MIEA/Koru curriculum.
Please see the class schedule and additional information here!
Association for Play Therapy (APT) E-Student Membership
Did you know that students are eligible for a complimentary Association for Play Therapy (APT) E-Student membership?
Go to www.a4pt.org to learn more about it.
As an E-Student member, you’ll enjoyed the following benefits:
- the Play Therapy™ Magazine in digital format
- our weekly member e-newsletter, PlayToday
- the Play Therapy Connection online forum
Adolescent Gambling and Gaming Series – Online, Self-paced Training
| Course Description: This course will take behavioral health clinicians through seven modules providing psychoeducation, evidence-based treatment modalities, screening tools, and evidence-based prevention tools and strategies. The modules will also explore how the brain is impacted by both substance misuse and behavioral addictions and provide an understanding of how the power of advanced technology, marketing, advertising, and persuasive design coupled with commercial interests have made an impact on our lives in both positive and negative ways. Behavioral health clinicians will learn to discuss the online world by incorporating language in media literacy and the importance of a healthy media diet, and be left with a feeling of hope found in research, evidence-based practices, and community partnerships. Modality: This is an online self-paced training located at https://bhs.unc.edu |
Modality: This is an online self-paced training located at https://bhs.unc.edu
Time: 8 hours total
Target Audience: This intermediate level training is behavioral health clinicians seeking ways to incorporate psychoeducation, screening, and treatment modalities into their work in problematic behaviors in gambling, gaming, and digital media.
Learn more about this opportunity at their website.
Spring 2026 NHC Fellows Program Application Now Open Through December 1, 2025
The application cycle for Cohort 5 of the New Hanover County Fellows Program is now open for the Spring 2026 semester! This program offers an incredible opportunity for graduate-level students who are passionate about supporting mental and behavioral health in our community.
The Mental Health Provider Fellows Program and the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Fellows Program were created to help increase the number of qualified professionals serving New Hanover County and to expand access to critical services for residents. Through forgivable financial assistance, our goal is to support aspiring providers in their academic journey and build long-term capacity in the local behavioral health workforce.
The online application portal is open now through December 1, 2025, and we kindly ask that you share this opportunity and the attached flyer with students, colleagues, and partners who may be interested.
To learn more and access the application, please visit the NHC Fellows Program.
The Herbal Medicine Approach to Mental Wellness – December 5, 2025
You are invited to attend…
The Herbal Medicine Approach to Mental Wellness
LaShanda Y Brown, PhD, GNP
Friday, December 5
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Eastern
Virtual Webinar on Zoom
1CE Hour
Free for Members & $20 for Guests
Click Here to Register
This one-hour experiential class explores how herbal medicine can support emotional resilience and mental wellness in individuals living with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants will learn the foundational principles of working with nervines, adaptogens, and aromatic plants as allies for recovery and regulation. Through an integrative lens that honors both evidence-informed practice and traditional wisdom, this session highlights teas, tinctures, and essential oils that can be safely recommended for at-home use or incorporated into counseling sessions to enhance grounding, focus, and emotional balance.
The workshop is designed to help participants:
- Identify at least three categories of herbs (nervines, adaptogens, and aromatic allies) and describe their role in supporting clients with depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
- Match specific herbal preparations – such as teas, tinctures, and essential oils – to therapeutic goals like calming the nervous system, improving mood regulations, and restoring sleep.
- Integrate simple herbal rituals or sensory-based practices (e.g., grounding tea rituals, aromatic breathing, tincture journaling) into counseling sessions or client self-care plans to build resilience.
- Evaluate safety considerations, contraindications, and scope-of-practice boundaries when discussing or recommending herbal approaches within a counseling or mental health framework.
Unmasking Strength: Breaking Stigma in Men’s Mental Health – December 9 & 11, 2025
| Part One: Didactic Training Date: December 9th, 2025 Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST Part Two: Ask The Expert Date: December 11th, 2025 Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST | Contact Hours: 3.5 Capacity: 150 seats Fee: All webinars are free. However, pre-registration is required. |
The Intersection of
Gambling Disorder and Suicidality – December 18, 2025
Date: December 18, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Contact Hours: 1
Speaker: Jessica Auslander
Training Description:
People affected by addiction-related disorders face a higher co-occurrence of suicidality than those affected by non-addiction mental health issues. However, those with a diagnosis of gambling disorder demonstrate suicidal behaviors that are eleven (11) times higher than the general population. While questions about suicidal ideation may appear on common intake screeners, it is not enough. It is imperative that those working with people affected by gambling disorder understand the intersection of gambling and suicidality and be comfortable with screening and response. This presentation will include an overview of recent research on the intersection of these two phenomena and clinical tools to address the potential for suicidality throughout treatment.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the intersection of gambling disorder and suicidality
- Understand common risk factors and warning signs of suicidal behavior
- Create a plan to address potential suicidal behavior during treatment
Registration Fee: No cost/Free but participants are required to pre-register for each training
NCSCA Graduate Student Scholarships – December 19, 2025 Deadline
Provides funding for future school counseling students or current school counselors-in-training to attend future professional development and towards tuition expenses.
NCSCA Graduate Student Scholarship Application – Applications close December 19, 2025.
Maximum Amount: $375
Applications Are Now Open.
Apply for the Karr Scholarship – February 1, 2026
The Karr Scholarship provides financial assistance up to $500 for Wake Forest Master of Arts in Counseling and Master of Arts in Human Service students interested in attending professional conferences or professional development programs.
Applications must be received by one of the following deadlines: February 1, June 1, or September 1. Applicants may apply for one scholarship per academic year.
To apply, please contact Dr. Forti.
American Counseling Association 2026 Conference and Expo – April 9-11, 2026
Learn, Share and Connect at the ACA Annual Conference
Get ready to be energized and inspired while connecting with leading experts and peers from around the country at the 2026 ACA Conference & Expo.
Mark your calendars to join us April 9-11, in Columbus, Ohio, for the premier professional development and networking event for professional counselors. With thought-provoking presentations, enlightening discussions and meaningful opportunities to connect with your peers and colleagues, you will walk away feeling refreshed, renewed and ready to tackle the challenges facing you, your clients and the counseling community.
Find more information about the conference on their website.