02/11/2026

PCA News

Now Is the Time. Make Your Voice Heard.

The Department of Education is opening its public comment period today, Friday, Jan. 30, about changes to federal student loans and proposed narrow definition of professional programs. These changes could have significant implications for counseling students and programs.

Under this proposed rule, counseling programs would be considered graduate programs (rather than professional programs), subjecting them to lower federal loan limits. While professional programs can borrow $50,000 a year ($200,000 in aggregate), graduate programs can only borrow $20,500 a year ($100,000 in aggregate).

We are calling on the counseling community to let the Department of Education know that counselors are professionals and deserve equal access to federal student loans.

Help advocate for the counseling community:

• Submit your own comment about the importance of counselor access to federal student loans.
  • Take action through an upcoming ACA campaign that will allow advocates to actively support ACA’s public comment to the Department of Education.
• Share how student loans supported your journey to becoming counselor.
• Support the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act.
• Contact your legislators and asking them to act now.

Support counselors today and ensure counseling students have equal access to federal student loans!

PACES Pre-Conference

We will be hosting a PACES Pre-Conference on Friday, March 27, 2026 from 9 AM - 2 PM at Thomas Jefferson University (East Falls Campus) in Downs Hall. We are seeking presentation proposals surrounding the topic of counselor education and supervision for the pre-conference. Proposals with a specific focus on trauma are encouraged, but all proposals are welcomed! Please submit a proposal using this brief form PACES Call for Proposals – Fill out form by February 20, 2026. Presenters of accepted proposals will be notified by February 27, 2026.

If you are interested in attending the pre-conference, registration is now open! You can earn up to 4 CE's for attending (breakfast and lunch are included). PACES is a recognized division of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA). Please register using this link: https://pacescsi2026.sched.com/registration [pacescsi2026.sched.com]

We encourage early bird registration (by March 6 at midnight) at the low rate of $25 (PACES members) and $50 (Non-PACES members). Regular Registration will be open until Noon on Tuesday, March 24 at the rate of $35 (PACES members) and $60 (Non-PACES members).  

Click here for details:   PACES Conference 2026

 Statewide CSI Networking Conference

March 27th, Thomas Jefferson University - East Falls Campus 

Click Here for Details:  CSI Save the Date

GPACA Trauma Symposium - POSTPONED

We are writing to share an update regarding the Greater Philadelphia Area Counseling Association’s Trauma Conference. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s conference. This decision is due to lower-than-anticipated enrollment, a limited number of presenter submissions, and the fact that GPACA continues to have several open leadership positions.

We sincerely apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause. This was not an easy decision, and it was made with thoughtful attention to sustainability, quality, and our responsibility to the counseling community.

At this time, GPACA leadership is also engaging in broader discussions about the long-term viability of the organization. As part of those conversations, we are exploring the possibility that a partnering or hosting institution may assume coordination of the trauma conference in the future. We will share updates as soon as plans are finalized and will notify you when the conference is rescheduled.

In the meantime, we encourage you to stay connected with the Pennsylvania Counseling Association and other professional organizations that continue to offer excellent training, conferences, and opportunities for professional growth and connection.

Most importantly, we hope you will take care of yourselves. The work we do—especially in trauma-informed practice—is meaningful and demanding, and your well-being matters.

We remain hopeful that the GPACA Trauma Conference will move forward in the future in a way that is strong, sustainable, and supportive of our community. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions or would like to talk further.

With appreciation and care,

Lisa Corbin
Greater Philadelphia Area Counseling Association

PCA Journal

The Journal of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association is currently accepting applications for new journal reviews. If you are interested, please send an email with your attached CV or resume to pcajournal@gmail.com.

PASERVIC

PASERVIC hosts a monthly, peer-to-peer Grounding Support Group for PCA members. This group meets on the third Friday of each month at 9:00 am (dates listed below). GSG is free for all members of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association. Please email Frederick Clemens Pratt, LPC, ACS at pca.paservic@gmail.com for more information or to register. 

An email with a Zoom link will be sent to registrants through a Google Calendar invitation.

2026: February 20, March 20, April 17, May 15

PASERVIC is also hosting a webinar on February 27th! 

Click Here for Details:  PASERVIC Webinar Feb 2026