Who We Are

Directory of Counseling Acronyms

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Acronym Meaning
AA Alcoholics Anonymous
AAA Area Agency on Aging (Governmental)
AAAA Association of Area Agencies on Aging
AAAPP American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology
AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science
AABT Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy
AAC Association for Assessment in Counseling
AAC Association of American Colleges
AACD American Association for Counseling and Development
AACG American Association of Grief Counselors
AACJC American Association of Community and Junior Colleges
AACRAO American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
AACTE American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
AADA Association for Adult Development and Aging (Division of AACD)
AAFCM American Association of Family Counselors and Mediators
AAHA American Association of Homes for the Aging
AAHCPA American Academy of Health Care Providers in Addictive Disorders
AAJC American Association of Junior Colleges
AAMA American Association of Medical Assistants
AAMC American Association of Medical Clinics
AAMC Association of American Medical Colleges
AAMD American Association of Mental Deficiencies
AAMFT American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
AAN American Academy of Neurology
AANS American Academy of Neurological Surgery
AAO American Association of Ophthalmology
AAOG American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
AAP American Academy of Psychotherapists
AAP Association for Advancement of Psychology
AAP Association of American Publishers
AAPC American Association of Pastoral Counselors
AAPM American Academy of Pain Management
AAPMR American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
AAPPO American Association of Preferred Providers Organizations
AAPS Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
AARP American Association of Retired Persons
AASA American Association of School Administrators
AASCB American Association of State Counseling Boards
AASCU American Association of State Colleges and Universities
AASECT American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
AASPB American Association of State Psychology Boards
AATA American Art Therapy Association
AATA-EPAB American Art Therapy Assoc - Educational Program Approval Board
AAUP American Association of University Professors
AAUW American Association of University Women
ABPP American Board of Professional Psychology
ABVE American Board of Vocational Experts
ACA American Counseling Association
ACA American Chiropractic Association
ACAC Association of College Admissions Counselors
ACCA American Christian Counseling Association
ACCA American College Counselors Association
ACD Adjourned in Contemplation of Dismissal
ACE Assisted Competitive Employment
ACE American Council on Education
ACEG Association for Counselors and Educators in Government (formerly MECA)
ACES Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
ACHS Association of College Honor Societies
ACL Association for Community Living
ACLD Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
ACLS American Council of Learned Societies
ACLU American Civil Liberties Union
ACME Association of Couples for Marriage Enrichment
ACMHC Academy of Clinical Mental Health Counselors
ACMRDD Accreditation Council for Services for Mentally Retarded and other Developmental Disabilities
ACOA Adult Child(ren) of Alcoholics
ACP American College of Physicians
ACPA American College Personnel Association
ACPE Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
ACS American Cancer Society
ACS Approved Clinical Supervisor
ACSH American Council on Science and Health
ACSW Accredited Certified Social Worker
ACSW Academy of Certified Social Workers
ACT Assertive Community Treatment (Teams)
ADA American Dental Association
ADA American Dermatological Association
ADA American Diabetes Association
ADA American Dietetic Association
ADA Americans With Disabilities Act
ADAMHA Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration
ADAS Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services
ADC Aid to Dependent Children
ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADRDA Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association
ADS Administrative Directives System
AERA American Educational Research Association
AF Arthritis Foundation
AFB American Foundation for the Blind
AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children
AFT American Federation of Teachers
AFTA American Family Therapy Association
AGPA American Group Psychotherapy Association
AGS American Guidance Services
AHA American Hospital Association
AHA American Humanist Association
AHA American Heart Association
AHE Association for Humanistic Education
AHE Association for Higher Education
AHEAD Association for Humanistic Education and Development
AHP Association for Humanistic Psychology
AHS American Hearing Society
AHSA Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
AHSSPPE Association for Handicapped Student Services Programs in Post-Secondary Education
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
ALA American Lung Association
ALC Alternative Learning Center
AMA American Medical Association
AMBHCA American Managed Behavioral Health Care Association
AMCD Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
AMECD Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development
AMHCA American Mental Health Counselors Association
AMI Alliance for the Mentally Ill
AMMD American Association on Mental Deficiencies
AMP Applied Measurement Professionals
ANA American Neurological Association
ANA American Nurses Association
ANAD Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
ANCC American Nurses Credentialing Center
ANHA American Nursing Home Association
AOA Administration on Aging
AOA American Orthopsychiatric Association
AOA American Osteopathic Association
AOS American Ophthalmological Society
AOTA American Occupational Therapy Association
APA American Psychoanalytic Association
APA American Psychological Association
APA American Physiotherapy Association
APA American Psychiatric Association
APASD American Psychological Association Science Directorate
APBHN Associated Practices Behavioral Health Network
APGA American Personnel and Guidance Association
APT Association for Psychological Type
APTA American Physical Therapy Association
APWA American Public Welfare Association
ARC American Red Cross
ARC Association for Retarded Citizens
ARC Association for Rehabilitation Centers
ARCA American Rehabilitation Counselors Association
ARCS AIDS Related Community Services, Inc
ARF American Rehabilitation Foundation
ARVIC Association for Religious Values Issues in Counseling
ASAALH Association for Study of Afro-American Life and History
ASAE American Society of Association Executives
ASCA American School Counselor Association
ASCD Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
ASCU Association of State Colleges and Universities
ASCUS Association for School, College and University Staffing
ASERVIC Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Value Issues in Counseling
ASGP&P American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama
ASGW Association for Specialists in Group Work
ASHA American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASPA American Society for Personnel Administration
ASTD American Society for Training & Development
ASVAB Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
ATCB Art Therapy Credentials Board
ATI Alternatives to Incarceration
ATP Association of Test Publishers
ATR Registered Art Therapist
ATR-BC Registered Art Therapist - Board Certified
AVA American Vocational Association
AWDC Association of Women Deans and Counselors
BA Bachelor of Arts degree
BAA Bachelor of Applied Arts
BAEd Bachelor of Arts in Education
BAS Bachelor of Applied Science/Bachelor of Arts and Science
BCW Bureau of Child Welfare
BDI Bureau of Disability Insurance
BFS Bureau of Family Services (US Department of Health & Human Services)
BIMM Buros Institute of Mental Measurements
BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics (US Department of Labor)
BOCES Board of Cooperative Educational Services
BPA Board of Professional Affairs of American Psychological Association
BPD Borderline Personality Disorder
BPRS Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
BS Bachelor of Science degree
BSA Biofeedback Society of America
BSEd Bachelor of Science in Education
BSW Bachelor of Social Work degree
CA Cocaine Anonymous
CAA Community Action Agency
CAADA Counselors Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
CAC Certified Alcoholism (Addictions) Counselor
CACREP Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
CADC Certified Alcoholic and Dependency Counselor
CAFSC Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc.
CAMI Chemically Abusing/Mentally Ill
CAMPP Council of Applied Masters' Programs in Psychology
CAN Children and Adolescent Network
CARF Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
CAS Council for the Advancement of Standards for Student Services
CASA Court Appointed Special Advocate
CBO Community Based Organization
CBP California Board of Psychology
CCDP Certified Chemical Dependency Professional
CCE Center for Credentialing & Education, Inc. (Affiliate of NBCC)
CCE Cornell Cooperative Extension
CCL Center for Creative Leadership
CCMC Commission for Case Manager Certification
CCMHC Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor
CCMHC Council of Community Mental Health Centers
CCRS Child Care Review Services
CD Conditional Discharge
CDA Child Development Association
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDF Career Development Facilitator
CDMSC Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
CDT(P) Continuing Day Treatment (Program)
CEC Council for Exceptional Children
CEU Continuing Education Unit
CEWE Council on Social Work Education
CF Correctional Facility
CFF Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
CFS Coordinated Family Services
CGC Certified Gerontological Counselor (NBCC)
CGI Clinical Global Impression
CHAMPUS Civilian Health and Medical Programs for Uniformed Services
CHCA Community Health Care Association
CHCF Counseling and Human Development Foundation
CIA Coalition of Institutionalized Aged
CID Case Initiation Date
CIN Case Identification Number
CIRC Career Information Resource Center
CIRS Career Information Review Service (a unit of NCDA)
CIRS Certified Insurance Rehabilitation Specialist
CLEAR Council on Licensure Enforcement and Regulation
CLMHD Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors, Inc.
CM Case Management
CMCM Comprehensive Medicaid Case Management
CMHC Community Mental Health Center
CMHS Center for Mental Health Services
CMI Chronically Mentally Ill
CMT Case Management Team
CO Corrections Officer
COFCCA Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies
COPA Council on Post Secondary-Accreditation
COPS Comprehensive Outpatient Services
COPS Committee on Professional Standards
CORE Council on Rehabilitation Education (Rehabilitation Counseling)
CORPA Commission on Recognition of Post Secondary Accreditation
CORPA (formerly COPA Commission on Post Secondary Accreditation)
CPC College Placement Council
CPEP Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program
CPL Criminal Procedure Law
CPP Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc.
CPS Counseling & Psychological Services
CPS Child Protective Services
CPSE Committee on Pre-school Special Education
CPSTI CPS Training Institute, Cornell University
CPTA Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessment of American Psychological Association
CQC Commission on Quality Care
CR Community Residence
CRC Career Resource Center
CRC Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
CRCC Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
CRE Council on Rehabilitation Education
CRISP Community Residence Information Service Program
CSB Community Services Board
CSB Community Services Advisory Board
CSBSMH Community Services Board Subcommittee for Mental Health
CSC (1) Certified School Counselor (2) Certified Sex Counselor (AASECT)
CSE Committee on Special Education
CSI Chi Sigma Iota
CSPA California State Psychological Association
CSS Community Support Services
CST Certified Sex Therapist (AASECT)
CSW Certified Social Worker
CSWE Council on Social Work Education
CVIB Crime Victims Impact Board
CVMH Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health
CWLA Child Welfare League of America
CWRA Child Welfare Reform Act of 1979 (Federal Title IV-E)
CYS Children and Youth Services
DAC Disability Advisory Council
DARE Drug Abuse Resistance Education
DAS (1) Designated Assessment Service, (2) Doctor Assisted Suicide
DAV Disabled American Veterans
DC Doctor of Chiropractic
DCJS Division of Criminal Justice Services
DCS Department of Community Services
DD Doctor of Divinity
DD Developmental Disability
DDPC Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
DDS Disability Determination Services (Federal Gov't)
DDS Doctor of Dental Science/Doctor of Dental Surgery
DDSO Developmental Disability Services Organization
DDTC Drug Dependence Treatment Center
DEA Drug Enforcement Agency
DFY Division For Youth
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services (US Govt. Agency)
DMD Doctor of Dental Medicine
DMin Doctor of Ministry
DO Doctor of Osteopathy
DO Disbursing Order (American Red Cross)
DOB (1) Date of Birth (2) Division of the Budget
DOL Department of Labor
DOR Date of Report
DP Doctor of Pharmacy
DPh Doctor of Philosophy
DPH Diploma in Public Health
DPM Diploma in Psychological Medicine
DPsy Doctor of Psychology
DPW Department of Public Works
DRL Domestic Relations Law
DRS Departments of Rehabilitation Services
DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
DSS Department of Social Services
DSW Doctor of Social Work degree
DVAA Delaware Valley Arts Alliance
DVJCC Delaware Valley Job Core Center
DWAI Driving While Ability Impaired
DWI Driving While Intoxicated
E&T Employment & Training
EAP Employee Assistance Program
ECT Electroconvulsive Therapy
EdD Doctor of Education
EdS Specialist in Education
EMS Emergency Medical Services
EPS Extra-Pyramidal Syndrome
ER Emergency Room
ERIC Educational Resource and Information Center
ERIC/CASS Educational Resource and Information Center/Counseling and Student Services
ERIC/CASS (formerly Counseling and Personnel Services - CAPS)
ETS Educational Testing Service
Ex Com Executive Committee
FARB Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards
FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation
FCA Family Court Act
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHAA Fair Housing Amendments Act (1988)
FMSF False Memory Syndrome Foundation
GBMI Guilty But Mentally Ill
GCDF Global Career Development Facilitator
GMHC Gay Men's Health Crisis, Inc.
HCBS Home and Community Based Services
HCFA Health Care Financing Administration
HEAP Home Energy Assistance Program
HELP Healthcare for Every Low Income Person
HFA Home for Adults
HFHI Habitat for Humanity International
HHS Health and Human Services
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HMO Health Maintenance Organization
HSE Health Services Education (American Red Cross)
HSIS Health Services Instructional System (American Red Cross)
HSPP Health Service Provider in Psychology
HUD US Office of Housing and Urban Development
IAAOC International Association for Addictions and Offender Counselors
IAC International Association for Counselling
IACS International Association of Counseling Services
IAEVG International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance
IAMFC International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors
IAPSRS International Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services
IBT International Brotherhood of Teamsters
ICAA International Council on Alcohol and Addiction
ICD International Classification of Diseases
ICM Intensive Case Management
ICRC International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
IDT Intensive Day Treatment
IESP Interim Emergency Services Plan
IETF Internet Engineering Task Force
IL Independent Living
IMU Income Maintenance Unit
IOCC Inter-Office Coordinating Council
IPRT Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Treatment (Training)
IRB Institutional Review Board
IRTAC International Round Table for the Advancement of Counseling
ISLAP Intensive Supportive Living Apartment Program
ISP (1) Individual Service Plan (2) Intensive Supervision Probation
JCD Journal of Counseling and Development
JCP Journal of Counseling Psychology
JCTS Joint Committee on Test Standards
JD Juvenile Delinquent
JINS Juvenile in Need of Supervision
JO Juvenile Offender
JTPA Job Training Partnership Act 
LAB Legal Aid Bureau
LAS Legal Aid Society
LCM Local Commissioners Memorandum
LCW Leadership Certification Workshop
LDC Leadership Development Conference
LDSS Local Department of Social Services
LGP Local Government Plan
LGU Local Government Unit
LIP Local Initiative Program
LMHC Licensed Mental Health Counselor
LPC Licensed Professional Counselor
LPCC Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
MA (1) Master of Arts degree, (2) Medical Assistance
MAC Master Addictions Counselor
MAO(I) Monoamine Oxidase (Inhibitors)
MCS Mobile Crisis Service
MD Medical Doctor degree
MDU Multiple Disabilities Unit
MECA Military Educators and Counselors Association (now ACEG)
MH/MR Mental Health/Mental Retardation
MHA Mental Health Association
MHIS Mental Health Information System
MHL Mental Hygiene Law
MHU Mental Health Unit
MICA Mentally Ill Chemical Abuser
MMPI Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
MOW Meals on Wheels
MR/DD Mental Retardation/Developmental Disability
MS Master of Science degree
MSSW Master of Science of Social Work degree
MSW Master of Social Work degree
NA Narcotics Anonymous
NAACP National Association for Advancement of Colored People
NAADAC National Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors
NAATP National Association for Alcohol Treatment Programs
NACAC National Association of College Admissions Counselors
NACCMHC National Academy of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (closed in 1993)
NAMH National Association of Mental Health
NAMI National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
NAMP Northamerican Association of Masters in Psychology
NAPSO National Alliance of Pupil Services Organization
NASP National Association of School Psychologists
NASW National Association of Social Workers
NBCC National Board for Certified Counselors
NBCCF National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation (formerly RACC)
NBCCH National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists
NBD Neurobiological Disorder
NBPTS National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
NCATA National Coalition of Arts Therapies Associations
NCC National Certified Counselor
NCCA National Commission on Certifying Agencies
NCCC National Certified Career Counselor
NCCCC National Council for Credentialing Career Counselors (now NCCC)
NCCD National Coalition for Career Development
NCDA National Career Development Association
NCGC National Certified Gerontological Counselor
NCHCA National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies (now NCCA)
NCSAPCB North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Certification Board
NCSC National Certified School Counselor
NECA National Employment Counselors Association
NFSCSW National Federation of Societies of Clinical Social Work
NGRI Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
NIAAA National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse
NIMH National Institute of Mental Health
NMHA National Mental Health Association
NMS Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
NOCA National Organization for Competency Assurance
NOICC National Occupational Information Coordination Committee
NORML National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
NOW National Organization for Women
NPC(O) Non-Profit Corporation (Organization)
NPCL Not-For-Profit Corporation Law
NRCA National Rehabilitation Counseling Association
O&Cs Order and Conditions of Probation
OA Overeaters Anonymous
OASAS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OFA Office for the Aging
OMB Office of Management and Budget
OMH Office of Mental Health
OMRDD Office of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders
OVR Office for Vocational Rehabilitation
PA Public Assistance
PACT Program for Assertive Community Treatment
PAIMI Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness
PANSS Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
PAS Preliminary Assessment of Safety
PASS Plans for Achieving Self-Support
PDI Pre-Dispositional Investigation (juvenile probation)
PET (1) Position Emission Tomography, (2) Parent Effectiveness Training
PHA US Public Housing Authority
PHD Doctor of Philosophy degree
PHN Public Health Nursing
PHSP Prepaid Health Services Plans
PINS Person in Need of Supervision
PL Penal Law
PO (1) Probation Officer, (2) Police Officer, (3) Parol Officer
POS Purchase of Services
PPG Permanency Planning Goal
PPHA Private Proprietary Home for Adults
PSA Protective Services for Adults
PSI Pre-Sentence Investigation (adult probation)
PSRB Psychiatric Security Review Board
PYD Doctor of Psychology degree
QA Quality Assurance
QMHP Qualified Mental Health Professional
RACC Research & Assessment Corporation for Counseling, Inc. (Affilliate of NBCC - now NBCC Foundation)
RCBF Regional Cerebral Blood Flow
RCCA Residential Care Center for Adults
RET Rational Emotive Therapy
RFP Request for Proposal
RICO Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act
RISE Rape Intervention Services and Education (Planned Parenthood)
RN Registered Nurse
RPAC Regional Planning Advisory Council (Committee)
RSS Rehabilitation Support Services
RTF Residential Treatment Facility
SA Salvation Army
SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SANS Scale for Assessing Negative Symptoms
SDOH State Department of Health
SDSS State Department of Social Services
SED (1) Seriously Emotionally Disturbed, (2) State Educational Department
SETRC Special Education Teacher's Resource Center
SHRM Society for Human Resources Management
SIOP Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
SLAP Supervised Living Apartment Program
SLAPP Strategic Lawsuits Against Political Participants
SPECT Single Photon Emission Tomography
SPMI Seriously and Persistently Mentally Ill
SRO Single Room Occupancy
SSA Social Security Administration
SSAB Social Services Advisory Board
SSD Social Security Disability
SSI Supplemental Security Income
SSL Social Services Law
SSRI Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
SSRR Social Services Reporting Requirements
TA Transactional Analysis
TASA Teenage Services Act
TCAs Tricyclic Antidepressants
TEP Transitional Employment Program
UCP United Cerebral Palsy Association
UCR Uniform Case Recording / Uniform Case Record
UCS University Counseling Service
UR Utilization Review
USPHS United States Public Health Service
UW United Way
VESID Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals With Disabilities
VIS Victim Impact Statement (probation)
WHO World Health Organization
WIC Women, Infants and Children
WMS Welfare Management System
WSI Water Safety Instructor (American Red Cross) 
YAP Youth Advocacy Programs, Inc. (aka SCAP)
YAR-CPP Youth at Risk Community Partnership Program
YO Youthful Offender