Who we are

About the SCA

Seattle Counselors Association (SCA) is a vibrant community of mental health professionals serving the entire Puget Sound region. SCA provides a unique opportunity to network with other mental health professionals, promote your practice, announce your upcoming workshop or event, and learn from clinically relevant presentations. The SCA is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization.

SCA Board Officers

Liziah Richards,  President
Shannon Shively,  Past President
Ben Trelease,  Vice President
Sarah Delinger,  Secretary
Joel Freedman,  Treasurer

Committee Volunteers

Mollie Wirtz, Marketing
Annie Flansburg-Spiess,  Hospitality
 Jenny Wilson, Hospitality
 Wendy Olsen,  Programming
 Michaela Kohmetscher, Programming
 Jennifer Jacyszyn, Programming
Joanna Darsey-Moss,  Welcoming
 Thea Shire, Welcoming

Benefits


WEBSITE LISTING
Highlight your practice on our website with your own profile. Member listings include a description of your practice and a personal picture, and allow potential clients to find therapists based on name, zip code, name of practice, website, license, or insurance eligibility. 

EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
Through our dynamic presentations, you can earn 1.5 CEUs for most meetings and 3 CEUs for our popular ethics workshop in June. SCA meets on the third Friday of each month, except for July, August and December.

NETWORK
Enjoy getting to know other professionals by attending monthly meetings. Begin or join an ongoing peer consultation group based on geographic location, area of interest, or length of time in practice. 

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Develop your leadership skills by becoming involved in the running of our organization. This is a great way to gain self-confidence and promote your practice as well. 

RECEIVE SCA NEWSLETTER
Receive our online SCA newsletter Connections, which includes current information about our organization, upcoming guest speakers, and a message from the SCA President.

In April 1983, Georgie Kunkel invited Sara Gortler and James May to meet and begin the process of forming a professional counseling association in the Seattle area.

At a September 1983 meeting, those present adopted bylaws to run the new organization and elected the following charter officers: John Clark, president; Susan Dearborn and Bob Hawkins, co-vice president; and Sara Gortler, secretary-treasurer.

In October 1983, the Washington Counseling Association (then called the Washington Association for Counseling and Development) accepted the Seattle Counselors Association as chartered member.

The SCA’s first few meetings where held at the University of Washington and at members’ homes. However, membership grew to over 150 and larger quarters were required. Over the next few years, SCA met at Seattle University, the University of Puget Sound and the University Unitarian Church before establishing our current meeting site at Swedish Cultural Center.

SCA developed an organizational structure including committees, monthly meetings, and a bi-monthly newsletter sent by mail. Dues were originally $5.00. A brochure was published and a directory of members was created.

The SCA formally incorporated as a separate, self-governing organization in Washington State in 1992. The following year, the SCA was granted 501(3)(c) nonprofit status.

As the profession and technology has changed, the SCA has adapted to meet the needs of licensed counselors and other mental health professionals in the metro Seattle area.

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