The European Board for Certified Counselors (EBCC), incorporated in 2010, has made great strides in promoting the value of counseling in that region of the world, and increasing mental health awareness and support.

Based in Lisbon, Portugal, EBCC serves as the regional hub for the NBCC International Capacity Building department’s innovative work in Europe. The nonprofit organization’s staff is dedicated to supporting European countries in their efforts to develop the counseling profession by coordinating and fostering counseling certification, training, and professional development.

EBCC acts as the primary channel for any inquiries in European countries related to certification, education, training, and professional standards in counseling. It facilitates and encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing among the national offices in Europe.

“Since 2010, the dedicated EBCC staff has passionately supported the counseling profession in Europe,” says Andreea Szilagyi, Director of the International Capacity Building department. “Our impact has been unprecedented and innovative. The EBCC team's strategic initiatives have resulted in creating a strong network in the European region, raising awareness for counseling services, and reducing the stigma associated with asking for help in the field of mental health.”

The objectives of EBCC are to mentor national leaders, advocate for the profession, and support European countries in their efforts to develop a strong counseling profession.

EBCC provides certifications in career development through the Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) credential and in fundamental clinical supervision through the Certified Supervision Professional (CSP) credential.

GCDFs support people to meet their career goals by providing career development services. They earn the GCDF through NBCC’s affiliate organization, the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE), and learn to provide career development skills to those in need.

Currently, there are more than 14,000 GCDFs credentialed representing 27 countries.

CSPs have expertise in clinical supervision and come from all helping professions (e.g., psychologists and therapists, social workers, counselors, coaches).

They are trained in basic supervision skills and are able to play an important role in maintaining a high level of quality in counseling services, especially in emerging markets.

Each partnership the EBCC team has developed is special and has impacted the European region served.

One success story involves the Romanian Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The goal there was to develop and implement improved career counseling and guidance services for Romanian students. Through the strategic guidance of EBCC, 5,000 Romanian students received training that provided access to the labor market, which was once out of reach. EBCC’s work motivated many of the students to continue with their education.

EBCC will continue to pursue its mission of supporting European countries in the construction of the counseling profession, delivering quality programs that offer professional standards to their practices, working collaboratively with partner organizations, and generating opportunities for educating European communities on professionalism in counseling.