Oakland Counseling Association
May 2023 Newsletter
The Oakland Counseling Association is a non-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession.
Mission
The mission of the Oakland Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in
Oakland County by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the
counseling profession and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.
Welcome Message - Ups and Downs
For much of our membership, we're coming to the final month or so of the school year. I'm sure many of you would describe this year as a whirlwind filled with challenges, many familiar and some new. It's also likely been a year where you excelled in some areas of your practice and may have returned to routines more akin to that from before the COVID-19 pandemic.
So too has OCA experienced highs and lows in our efforts to deliver valuable services and experiences to our membership:
- This year saw the return of several in-person professional learning experiences in addition to some virtual events. For those events we've processed 1094 SCECHs for free for members (that's with three more events still to come in May!).
- We awarded $2,000 in mini-grants to members to support a variety of programs and activities.
- We recognized two outstanding counselors for their achievements and impact through our end of year awards program.
- The OCA board operated with 31% fewer board members in 2022-2023 (went from 13 down to 9).
- Much like you, volunteer board members had to balance professional, personal, family, and well-being needs to be able to give time and energy freely to this organization.
Every year is a mix of challenges and successes. As this school year comes to a close, we hope you share in our gratitude for the opportunites to grow and learn among friends and colleagues and an appreciation for the the public service each of you provides to students, families, and clients in our communities.
~ OCA Board
Two Implicit Bias Virtual Training Options - May 18 and May 23
Event Details
Dates/Times: Attend either date. Content is the same for both sessions.
· May 18, 2023 12:00-2:00pm, or
· May 23, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Cost: Free!
SCECHs: 2 General
Description:
Presented by the Oakland Counseling Association and Oakland Community College: Participants will receive implicit bias training required by Michigan Public Health Code General Rules (R338.7004) for licensed counselors.
This training is designed to engage the participant in exploring and understanding biases that exist in our thoughts, interactions, and behaviors. Participants will explore how biases impact our workplace and personal lives. Cultural barriers that contribute to bias and miscommunication will be examined as well as strategies to reduce and eliminate these barriers in every day life.
Other Notes:
- If you participated in either of the previous OCC implicit bias trainings offered last school year, this training is different and intended as a follow up. So, individuals may register whether or not they've taken previous implicit bias training with OCC.
- OCC will provide a certificate of attendance to all participants who attend for the full two-hour training.
Supervision in Counseling Event - May 24
Register by May 12th!
Event Details
Date: May 24, 2023
Time: 10:00am-4:00pm
Location: Oakland University
SCECHs: 5 SCECHs
Cost: Free for OCA members and students! $20 for non-members
Description:
Presented by the Oakland Counseling Association and Chi Sigma Iota: Participants with engage with information and discussion focusing on counseling supervision. Two learning tracks are offered:
- Supervisee learning track is ideal for counseling students or counselors seeking independent licensure who will require supervision.
- Supervisor learning track is ideal for independently licensed counselors who are interested in supervising provisionally licensed counselors or interns in the future.
Counselor of the Year - Christina Belsky!
The Counselor of the Year award is intended to celebrate one of our exemplary counselors who has made a positive impact in their community.
See the 2022-2023 OCA Award Winners Announcement for more details on what make Christina so deserving of this year's award!
Terry Hood Lifetime Achievement - Stacey Rosol!
The Terry Hood Lifetime Achievement award is intended to celebrate a retiring or recently retired counselor who has contributed to their community and the counseling profession.
See the 2022-2023 OCA Award Winners Announcement for more details on what make Stacey so deserving of this year's award!
2023-2024 Mini-Grant Program Application Open!
The OCA mini-grant program is back for 2023-2024 and the application is now open! OCA will award 8 total $250 mini-grants in this cycle with 6 awards geared toward school counseling programs and 2 awards geared toward community counseling programs.
Supporting Graduate Transition to College
Written by Kelly Messing-Mirabito, OCA Board Member and School Counselor at Rochester High School.
As the school year winds down and we begin to say farewell to our seniors, we might want to find a moment to let those students heading off to Oakland Community College (OCC) know that registration for Fall classes is now open.
Fall registration opened on March 27th and continues through August 27th. First-time students in any college need to complete pre-registration steps. For OCC, these include an online new student orientation/Title IX training, English placement, Mathematics placement, and a mandatory counseling session to discuss the student's program and plan their courses for the Fall semester. Once these steps are complete, students can register for classes at OCC. It could be helpful to share this information with our students, so they will be able to have their first pick in the classes they want to attend and the times and dates that work for their schedule. I have contacted OCC and they are willing to visit our high school and are meeting with these students.
I have also spoken to Oakland University and they offer their services to help bridge the gap from high school to college. They are willing, just like OCC, to visit your high school and meet with students that plan on attending their institution in the fall. Having colleges meet with our matriculating seniors is one event that we are going to try this school year. I have found that I have more students who are feeling anxious about their future. They have concerns about being ready academically for college, concerns about being academically successful while in college, how they leave their friends and family, and a general concern about the unknown that lies ahead.
It is my hope, that by having these colleges meet with interested students, maybe the anxiety will be lessened by 10%. I am planning on providing general information about transitioning to college and how to put their best foot forward with the hopes that having these discussions will help students understand they are not alone and that with some preparation and planning, they can easily transition to their college.
4/28 Trauma-Informed and Resiliency Event Resources
We had 20 counselors on hand for the April 28th in-person event at the Walled Lake Board Office. It was a great day spent learning with colleagues and getting to reconnect with familiar faces.
In the morning we heard from Haven on a range of topics including stragulation, their Safe Therapuetic Assualt Response Team (START), prevention education, criminal court advocacy, and more.
During lunch our end of year awards were presented. Stacey Rosol was on hand, along with several Farmington counselors, to receive her Terry Hood Lifetime Achievement award. For the Counselor of the Year award, we watched the Zoom recording of the presentation made to Christina Berkley and her Berkley team from the previous week.
In the afternoon we heard from Jeffrey Lusko, a clinical psychologist at Orchards Children's Services. His content covered all things resiliency with a health dose of brain science. He was gracious enough to share his slides. If you weren't able to attend, please see the information that was delivered: 4/28 Hardwiring Happiness & Resilience: Creating our Best Well-Being
New OCA Board Members Needed for 2023-2024
We are accepting applications to become an OCA Board Member. If you're interested, please visit this document for more information and complete the interest form:
- Elementary School Counselor Representative
- Middle School Counselor Representative
- High School Counselor Representative
- Private School Counselor Representative
- Member-at-Large
2023-2024 OCA Membership Information
Current OCA membership runs through August 31st each year. 2023-2024 OCA membership information will come out at the end of the summer.
Please share with any counselor colleagues who may not be an OCA member yet!
Step 1: Complete the Membership Google Form [Every individual must complete this form, even if a group payment is made]
Step 2: Pay for Membership through PayPal (credit card accepted) or by mail
COST
- Individual counselor - $25
- Graduate school student - $10
- Retired counselor - $10
**Please note that we no longer have department membership pricing. Only individual memberships. However, group payments for an entire department can be accepted by contacting Randy Maddock, OCA Treasurer.**
BENEFITS OF OCA MEMBERSHIP
- FREE or reduced price professional learning opportunities
- All online professional learning events are FREE for members
- FREE SCECH processing for all events
- Identify as a professional counselor (solidarity)
- Opportunities to network and connect with other mental health professionals
- Advocacy and support for counselors
- Eligible for mini-grant opportunities
- Monthly prize drawings
OTHER NOTES
- Membership is valid from September 1 through August 31 each school year
- Membership is open to all school and private practice counselors
- Membership is welcome for counselors outside of Oakland County
Each month the OCA conducts drawings for giveaways for current members as a small token of our appreciation for the important and challenging work you do as counselors. You must be a current OCA member in order to be eligible.
Latest Winners!
Congratulations to the following winners!!
February Newsletter Winner: Shannon Donnellon (Stoney Creek High School, Rochester)
March Membership Winner: Nancy Tedder (Scripps Middle School, Lake Orion)
April Membership Winner: Mara Elwart (South Lyon East High School, South Lyon)
May Membership Winner: Shanna Frendt (Troy High School, Troy)
Please keep an eye out for an Amazon Gift Card email coming to whichever email address you submitted for your OCA membership.
Oakland Counseling Association
Email: oaklandcounselingassociation@gmail.com
Website: www.oaklandcounselors.org
Phone: ------------------------
Twitter: @OCACounseling
