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April 1, 2015

Dr. Stephanie Burns, an assistant professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, had an article published in the Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy.  Her article is titled “Perspectives on Membership in a State Counseling Association.”

This Q-Methodology study offers a practical understanding of members’ perspectives when joining or renewing state counseling association membership. Counseling association memberships at the national, state and local levels are voluntary, as they are not required for licensure (Markova, Ford, Dickson, & Bohn, 2013). Professional associations offer members opportunities to receive specialized information, journals, newsletters, continuing education credits, professional development, networking, advocacy for the profession, and a venue to uphold professional codes of ethics (Hager, 2014; Markova et al., 2013; Phillips & Leahy, 2012). Markova et al. (2013) found that voluntary association members who were satisfied with membership benefits, were active in the association, and were pleased with the association’s customer service reported higher levels of membership satisfaction and intent to renew. Therefore understanding state counseling association members’ perspectives of membership could help in growing membership based on satisfying perceived needs, getting members involved in the association in ways that inspire them, and promoting professional counselor identity. Four statistically significant views of state association members were suggested by the data and include members valuing active commitment, the latest information, establishment as a professional, and building a community of professionals.