ABSTRACT
It would be nice to relate that the counseling profession has a long and storied history. Alas, such is not the case. In fact, developments that have had the most significance in regard to enhancing the competence of professional counselors in general and extending the recognition and acceptance of counseling as a true profession have occurred within approximately the last two decades. Nonetheless, some understanding of the history of the counseling profession is necessary if its current status and future are to be understood effectively. The question is, how can the history of an entire profession be explained? One possibility, and the one of choice here, is to review the history of an organization that has long served as a representative of a profession. In the current context, the American Counseling Association (ACA), formerly known as the American Association for Counseling and Development (AACD) prior to 1992, and known even earlier as the American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA) prior to 1983, is such an organization.
