About
About IAC
IAC is an International Non-Governmental Organisation with United Nations consultative status (WHO, ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF and ECOSOC). Since 1966, IAC has been working to advance the development of counselling through practice, education, and advocacy initiatives. IAC advances the development of counselling in order to improve people’s lives and well-being.IAC’s vision is
Counsellors play a vital role in the mental health and wellbeing of citizens throughout the world. Counselling activity globally is under-researched and under-documented. In many of the world’s 196 countries, little is known about the quantity, standards, or practice of counselling. Our research project aims to bring about impactful development of the counselling profession globally. It will enable significantly enhanced connectivity, advocacy, and information sharing. It will also enable counselling leaders to better represent counselling as a profession at discussions of mental health and wellbeing policy at multiple levels.
A basic tenet of the establishment of any profession on a global scale requires having detailed information about its availability, how it can be accessed, its organisational structure and training standards. The availability and comprehension of this information creates a necessary foundation on which the professional existence of counselling can be solidified on a global level.
In many ways the ‘World Mapping of the Counselling Profession’ project can be viewed as a necessary precursor to the ‘Global Advocacy for the Counselling Profession’ project. Carrying out this fact-finding research about the status of the profession, in each country, will provide an evidence base (e.g. specific information on gaps and strengths), from which the continuing international advocacy and counselling development work can take place.