Mission
To enhance the quality of life for people and communities worldwide by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing ACA, the counseling profession, and the ethical practice of counseling through trauma-informed practices, respect for human dignity, cultural inclusivity, and resilience.
Diversity Statement
ARTC is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Understanding, and Empathy. We work to promote ethnic and racial empathy and understanding. IARTC continues to advocate, advance, and improve educational, professional, and leadership opportunities for members from diverse cultural backgrounds. IARTC denounces all forms of racism.
A Word from the President, Matthew J. Walsh, PhD, LPC, NCC
No Ordinary Time
I have written many drafts of this opening letter for our new Newsletter, but each version does not seem to convey an authentic tone to the current lived reality each of us is living in now. This is not “business as usual” for us in the helping professions. We are witnessing the dramatic dismantling of mental health resources (e.g., USAID, cuts to SAMHSA, and proposed cuts to Medicaid), limiting or freezing critical funding for research, and Whitewashing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across all sectors of our society.
The IARTC Board will be meeting Thursday March 25, at the ACA annual conference, to discuss how we as an organization want to respond to the current executive orders. In addition, IARTC has begun collaborating with other ACA divisions to create a stronger voice and to pull resources. One of our first initiative was to create a survey to hear from you and how your counseling work has been impacted or any related questions or worries.
Please use this link to provide your information. This will only take 5 minutes or less to complete.
ACA Conference Gatherings
For all our members who are attending ACA we have two events I hope you will join us at: 1) IARTC Membership get together March, 27th 1pm-2pm in Bayhill 33; and 2) AMCD/IARTC joint meeting to have informal discussion on impact of current executive orders March 28, 4pm-5pm in Bayhill 19, located on the lobby level of the hotel.
Thank You and Call for More Membership Involvement. I also want to share with our membership that we are making great strides as an organization to lay the foundation to be the go-to resource.
and support systems for all trauma counselors and related fields. We have a talented and dedicated board, committee chairs and members, but we need more of our talented membership to fill in strategic positions and committee work. Please scroll down to the committee recruitment page.
TCR Journal
In addition to our board members and committee members, we have an exemplary editorial board led by our Editor-in-Chief Tara S. Jungersen, for our peer-reviewed Trauma Counseling and Resilience Journal (TCR). Volume 2, Issue 1 was just released, view it here.
New Newsletter
This is also our first edition of our new Newsletter. When we first started our newsletter, it housed research articles from our membership before we started our peer reviewed journal. We had a few accepted articles that we wanted to honor. Please take some time to view them in this edition of the newsletter. This will be the last issues of the newsletter that will include research articles. Thank to Lynn Pierce and Meagan Shipes for creating the new layout, editing, and publishing the Newsletter.
Stay tuned for more critical updates and I look forward to hearing from many of you who want to be more involved. Now more than ever we need the talents and passions of our membership to be advocates for compassionate care and healing for all.
In solidarity and gratitude,
Matthew J. Walsh
Join IARTC at the American Counseling Association Conference in Orlando
March 27th, 2025
9am ET: IARTC Board Meeting 9:00am-12:00pm (Bayhill 33)
1pm ET: IARTC Membership Meeting 1:00pm-2:00pm (Bayhill 33)
March 28th, 2025
7:30am-8:30am ET: Eco Anxiety and Climate Trauma: Navigating the Psychosocial Impact of Climate Change on Communities
4:00pm-5:00pm ET: AMCD-IARTC Meeting (Bayhill 19)
News & Updates
IARTC Journal
Tara S. Jungersen Ph.D., LMHC, CCMHC, NCC, Editor in Chief
Trauma Counseling and Resilience, the official journal of IARTC, continues to thrive and grow as a platform for rigorous academic inquiry and dissemination of innovative research. In our first year, the journal has published cutting-edge studies that span diverse areas of trauma and resilience, drawing contributions from scholars across disciplines. The journal remains committed to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and has seen significant growth in both readership and citations. These accomplishments underscore the journal’s mission to serve as a leading repository of knowledge and a catalyst for impactful scholarship in counseling.
We are proud to share with you all Volume 2, Issue 1 of TCR!
Call for Manuscripts
A Call for Manuscripts, including a Call for a Special Section on Disaster Mental Health, was issued last month, with an April 15, 2025, deadline. We encourage prospective authors to prepare submissions that align with the journal’s emphasis on culturally inclusive, trauma-informed best practices. With these initiatives, Trauma Counseling and Resilience aims to further its reputation as a trusted source for academic excellence.
Committee Openings and Ways to Get Involved
The following committees are seeking membership:
- Communications, Media, and Public Relations
- Bylaws
- Graduate/undergraduate Student
- Advocacy and Social Justice
- Awards
- Membership
- Professional Development
If you are interested in joining a committee, reach out to Debbie Ainbinder at presidentelect@iartc.org
Newsletter:
We are currently looking for members for the newsletter team to fill the roles of editor and assistant editor. Reach out to pierce_k03@mercer.edu with subject line “IARTC Newsletter” if you are interested.
We are also in the process of surveying our member’s needs. Please consider filling out this form so that we can continue to gear our programming and initiatives to best serve our members.
IARTC Lunch and Learn, April 11th
Friday April 11, 2025 12-1 EDST
Cultivating Calm in an Age of Distraction and Uncertainty Jane M. Webber, PHD, LPC & Roman Petrocelli, PHD, LPC
How can counselors insulate themselves from the emotional toll of increasing exposure to disasters, traumatic events, and political crises while maintaining genuine therapeutic presence? Sustained exposure to distress can lead to empathy fatigue, vicarious trauma, and feelings of anxiety and distress.
This webinar is an opportunity to step away from digital and emotional distractions, reflect on how we hold safe space for others, and engage in exercises for staying calm and feeling secure in uncertain times. Whether we work with survivors of large-scale disasters or simply bear the weight of today’s world in our lives, this webinar helps develop a personalized Calm Plan that incorporates mindfulness, cultural responsiveness, and self regulation strategies to restore balance and certainty in our lives.
1 CEU
Articles
How Can I Heal if I’m Not Aware: Advocating for Mental Health Literacy
By Nancy Thomas, Colorado Christian University
Minority communities face significant barriers to mental health care, including stigma, limited access, and cultural misunderstandings. This article explores how culturally competent counseling, advocacy, and education can bridge those gaps—empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and promoting equitable mental health support for all.
Piece of the Puzzle: Connecting Neuroscience and Trauma with Mindfulness and Movement
By Eva Melendez
This article explores how trauma—particularly racial trauma—affects the developing brain and nervous system. By connecting neuroscience with mindfulness and movement practices, it highlights culturally responsive approaches that help students of Color process trauma, regulate emotions, and restore balance through embodied healing and awareness.