News

Hello colleagues,

The SACES Executive Committee is pleased to invite you to submit a presentation proposal for the 2026 Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) Conference, to be held November 5–7, 2026, at the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Call for Proposals is now open, and we encourage faculty, clinicians, supervisors, and students to share their scholarship, research, innovative practices, and professional experiences.

Call for Proposals & Reviewers Website (https://saces.wildapricot.org/SACES26CFP/)

Off to the Races: Important Dates

• Proposal submission deadline: March 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time)

• Notification of acceptance: May 4, 2026

• Presenter Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

• Conference dates: November 5–7, 2026

• Location: Louisville Marriott Downtown, Louisville, KY

Electronic Call for Proposal Criteria    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ft_w_U577wD0TjdH_Bxa9MVj9yEdiGqA/view?usp=drive_link 

Step Into the Ring: Session Formats

Proposals may be submitted for the following session formats (as available in the submission portal):

• 50 Minute Content Session

• 50 Minute Panel Session

• 50 Minute Roundtable Discussion (3 presenters max)

• 25 Minute Poster Sessions

Know the Lineup: Presenter Participation Limit

To allow broad participation across the conference program:

• An individual may appear on no more than two (2) accepted presentations, regardless of role (e.g., first author, co-presenter, or contributing presenter), except by formal invitation from SACES. Invited sessions will be noted as such in the program. Therefore, please confirm with intended co-presenters prior to submission.

At the Starting Gate: ACES Membership Requirement

• The Lead Presenter must be a current ACES member.

• During proposal submission, lead presenters will be asked to enter their 8-digit ACES Member Number.

To locate your ACES Member Number:

1. Visit https://membership.acesonline.net/

2. Log in to your account.

3. Under “My Profile,” your User ID appears under your renewal information.

Forgot your password?
Reset it here: https://membership.acesonline.net/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest

Recently joined ACES?
Please allow time for your membership to be updated in the system before submitting.

Not yet a member?
Learn about the benefits of ACES membership and how to join here:
https://membership.acesonline.net/join-us

Take Your Best Shot: How to Submit a Proposal

1. Access the online submission portal using the link below:
   https://southern-association-for-counselor-education-and-supervision-s.ce-go.com/call-for-presentation/form/YToxOntzOjIwOiJwcmVzZW50YXRpb25fZm9ybV9pZCI7aToyODA7fQ==

2. Log in using your ACES credentials.

3. Complete all required sections of the proposal form, including:

   • Presentation title

   • Content Category

   • Abstract and session description

   • Learning objectives

   • Content References

   • Time Organization

   • Presenter Expertise

   • Presenter information

4. Review your submission carefully and submit no later than March 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM (Eastern).

Tip: Draft your abstract and learning objectives in advance and paste them into the form to avoid timing out.

Join the Corner Team: Call for Proposal Reviewers

We also invite qualified individuals to serve as proposal reviewers for the 2026 SACES Conference.

• Review period: March 9, 2026 – April 6, 2026
  (You must be available to review during this time frame.)

• Reviewer workload: Reviewers will evaluate no more than 20 proposals.

• Eligibility:

• • Must be a current ACES member in good standing

  • You will be asked to provide your ACES membership number during the reviewer application process

  • Must hold at least a master’s degree

• Preferred applicants:

• • Professional members (any membership type) are especially encouraged to apply

  • Advanced doctoral students with proposal review experience are also encouraged to apply

How to Apply as a Reviewer:

• Indicate your interest in serving as a reviewer while submitting a presentation proposal, or

• Complete the Reviewer Google Form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-Fv2RrfsTzLQVQQ2Q8V8egYauvO87SH3SbrKwyocIy9q-pQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor).

Serving as a reviewer is an excellent way to contribute to the profession, support conference quality, and engage in professional service.

Scouting the Lineup: Review Process

All proposals will undergo a double-blind review and will be evaluated based on the following criteria. 

• Clearly stated and appropriate learning objectives

• Appropriate content and format

• Overall organization and clarity

• Relevance of topic to SACES membership

• Appropriate fit with program tracks

• Attention to cultural and ethical considerations

• Relevant presenter credentials

• Clear rationale for the program

 

Ask the Coach: Contact Info –If you have any questions, please contact the Conference Program Chair, Dr. Joe Campbell, at conference.programs@saces.org 

We look forward to your submissions and to an engaging 2026 SACES Conference in Louisville!

Warm regards,

Dr. Joe Campbell, Conference Program Chair

Dr. Kori Babel, SACES Conference Coordinator

Hello SACES Members,

It has come to my attention that some SACES members have received emails asking for money.  The emails are written in a way that they appear to be from me and may include the names and positions of other members of the SACES EC and the SACES logo.  These are phishing emails and should be reported to your email provider.  SACES will never ask members directly for payment or money.  Any issues related to membership will specifically indicate if your membership has expired, but you should never click a link in an email to submit payment.  Always go directly to the ACES website or ACA website to renew your SACES membership directly.

Please always check the email of the sender (not just the name) to verify that it is from a SACES EC member.  Official SACES emails are on the SACES website:  https://saces.wildapricot.org/Leadership

If you have any question about the validity of any email from SACES, please email the EC directly.

Thank you,

Noelle St. Germain-Sehr, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACMHP

SACES President

Hello SACES Members! 

The Fall 2025 Issue of the SACES Newsletter is now available!

Thank you to all those who expressed interest in this edition, and special thanks to our contributors who made this issue on Education a success. 

 

• Submission for the Spring 2026 issue is now open and will close on February 27, 2026. 

 

This Spring issue focuses on Supervision: advance the theory and practice of counselor supervision. You can anticipate the Spring 2026 issue to be published before the end of March 2026. 

 

Thank you,

John Harrichand, Katherine McVay, & Rebecca Gill

SACES Newsletter Team

Dear SACES Members,

We’re excited to invite you to the first session of our new Town Hall Series, a collaborative initiative hosted by the SACES Gender and Equity Committee and the SACES Diversity and Equity Committee. 

NOTE:  The previously published time of this meeting was incorrect.  The corrected time appears below.

Purpose
In light of the evolving challenges facing the counseling profession—particularly those related to equity and diversity—this series offers a dedicated space to explore emerging issues and foster meaningful dialogue. Our goal is to empower and support counselors in their roles as clinicians, educators, supervisors, and researchers.

First Town Hall: Focused on Counselor Educators
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time (PLEASE NOTE CORRECT TIMES BELOW):
11:00 AM–12:30 PM CST
12:00 PM–1:30 PM EST

Location: Zoom (link below)

Join the Town Hall Meeting

This is an open invitation to all SACES members—whether you’re looking to listen, share, or collaborate. We welcome your voice and your vision as we build a more inclusive and responsive professional community.

Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and peers. We look forward to seeing you there!

Dear SACES Members,

The Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) is seeking dedicated professional and student members to serve as reviewers on the Research and Practice Grant Committee for the 2025-2026 funding cycle. Your expertise is vital to supporting high-quality research and professional development in our field.

The review period typically spans a four-week time frame. Each reviewer will be assigned a specific number of applications (each application is a maximum of five pages). You will use a standardized scoring rubric to ensure consistency, minimize bias, and provide constructive feedback to applicants.

Committee appointments are made annually for each grant call. If selected, you will receive an official invitation detailing the assigned proposal titles, the scoring rubric, and submission deadlines.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be an active SACES member and remain active throughout the review process.
• You cannot have submitted a grant proposal (individually or as part of a team) for the current funding cycle.
• Experience Requirements:
• Student Applicants: Must have completed at least two semesters of a doctoral program.
• Professional Applicants: Must have graduated from a doctoral program OR have completed two years of clinical experience as a counselor or supervisor.

If you are interested and meet the eligibility criteria, please complete the following survey application form by the deadline by November 15, 2025, by 6:00 PM EST/5:00 PM CT.

Thank you for your commitment to advancing research in Counselor Education and Supervision.

Questions? Please contact Dr. Isabel C. Farrell at past-president@saces.org.

Sincerely,

The SACES Grant Committee

Dear SACES Members,

The Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) is excited to announce a Call for Proposals for research grants aimed at fostering professional development in Counselor Education and Supervision. If you're conducting impactful research in this field, we encourage you to apply for funding of up to $1,000

We seek proposals focusing on the following core areas within Counselor Education and Supervision: Research, Teaching, Supervision, Professional Identity, or Leadership Development in Counselor Education. Proposals related to evidence-based practices and outcome research are especially encouraged. Please note: Proposals on other topics will not be considered.

Grants of up to $1,000 are available. The final award amount will depend on the number and quality of applications, SACES budgetary allowances, and the proposed research budget.

Grant awards are open to all SACES members at the time of submission.

• The Principal Investigator (PI) must reside, work, or attend school within the SACES region.

• Student researchers and early-stage faculty (three years or less) studying a listed topic are highly encouraged to apply. Up to two-thirds of the annual awards will be reserved for students and new faculty.

• Individuals may submit (or be part of a team for) only one proposal. Multiple submissions will result in disqualification.

• Researchers with an active SACES award must close out their current project before applying.

Proposal Submission Deadline: November 15th by 6:00 PM EST/5:00 PM CT

Award Notification: on or before December 21st

Proposals must be submitted online via the application form and uploaded as a single PDF document containing the Proposal Outline. Maximum of five pages for the main proposal document (excluding references) and typed in 12-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. Applications exceeding five pages this limit will not be reviewed. 

Required Uploads:

• One "blind" copy of the proposal.

• One copy of the proposal with author identification.

Your  PDF submission must follow this outline:

1. Literature Review (10 points): Include a problem statement, purpose of the study, and rationale, relevant to counselor education and supervision.

2. Methods (15 points): Concise description of participants, measures, data collection, and data analysis, reflecting rigorous, evidence-based processes.

3. Timeline (5 points): Detailed timeline for project activities (e.g., IRB submission, recruitment, data analysis, dissemination).

4. Budget (5 points): Well-articulated and tied specifically to conducting the study.

5. Plan for Distribution or Publication (5 points): Include steps and dates.

6. Ethical Considerations (5 points): Indicate the study has gone through the university review board.

7. References (5 points): At least ten credible sources in APA 7th ed. format.

Additional Requirements and Benefits

• Grant recipients must submit a mid-year progress and expense report by February 15th and an end-of-year report by June 15th.

• Awardees are encouraged to present their findings at a SACES conference and submit a manuscript to the SACES journal, Teaching, and Supervision in Counseling.

• Recipients will be notified in December and celebrated during the Fall SACES business meeting at the SACES conference. They will also be invited to present a poster session at a future SACES conference.

• Tax Responsibility: Awards are paid via a personal check, and recipients are required to complete a W-9 form. Awardees are personally responsible for any federal taxes on the amount received.

Questions? Please direct all inquiries to Dr. Isabel C. Farrell at past-president@saces.org.

Sincerely,

The SACES Research Committee

Dear SACES Members,

We’re excited to invite you to the first session of our new Town Hall Series, a collaborative initiative hosted by the SACES Gender and Equity Committee and the SACES Diversity and Equity Committee.

Purpose
In light of the evolving challenges facing the counseling profession—particularly those related to equity and diversity—this series offers a dedicated space to explore emerging issues and foster meaningful dialogue. Our goal is to empower and support counselors in their roles as clinicians, educators, supervisors, and researchers.

First Town Hall: Focused on Counselor Educators
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time:
10:00–11:30 AM CST
11:00 AM–12:30 PM EST
Location: Zoom (link below)

Join the Town Hall Meeting

This is an open invitation to all SACES members—whether you’re looking to listen, share, or collaborate. We welcome your voice and your vision as we build a more inclusive and responsive professional community.

Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and peers. We look forward to seeing you there!

Dear SACES Members,

The time has come to cast your vote in the 2025-2026 SACES Elections! Your participation is crucial in shaping the future leadership of our organization.

We are holding elections for the following positions:

• President-Elect

• Secretary-Elect

Voting Period:

• Starts: September 11th

• Closes: October 10th at 11:59 p.m.

How to Vote: Vote using the following link: https://wakeforest.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e4m99OanQNkVw0K

Or via this QR Code: 

Please remember that only active and current members of SACES are eligible to vote, and each member is allowed one vote.

Thank you for your dedication to SACES and for helping us elect our next leaders.

Sincerely,

The SACES Elections Committee

The SACES Webinar Committee is now accepting submissions for our 2025 Fall Webinar Series! We are seeking dynamic and engaging presentations from SACES members for our three upcoming monthly webinars:

·       Thursday, October 16, 2025

·       Thursday, November 13, 2025

·       Thursday, December 4, 2025

 

All webinars will be held from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST via Zoom.

 

We welcome proposals from presenters with demonstrated expertise in their topic areas. Topics must fall within at least one of the NBCC-approved content areas and should emphasize practical applications of strategies, interventions, or techniques relevant to counseling, counselor education, supervision, and/or research.

 

Priority consideration will be given to proposals that address:

·       The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Counselor Education

·       Legislative issues impacting Counselor Education

 

Submission deadline: Midnight on September 16, 2025.

 

Selected presenters will be notified during the first week of October 2024 to confirm participation.

 

Submit your proposal here: SACES Webinar Proposal Submission

 

As part of the submission, applicants will be asked to upload: 

·       A current CV

·       A brief biography

·       A professional headshot

·       Responses to questions regarding the proposed webinar content

 

If you have any questions, please contact the SACES Webinar Committee at webinars@saces.org

We look forward to the 2025 Fall SACES Webinar Series!

Warmly,

Jamie Ho and Claudia Calder - Webinar Committee Co-Chairs

Hello SACES Members!

The Summer 2025 Issue of the SACES Newsletter is now available!

Thank you to all those who expressed interest in this edition, and special thanks to our contributors who made this issue on Community a success.

Please consider contributing to our Fall 2025 SACES Newsletter, which will focus on the topic of Education: foster best practices in teaching and professional development.

Email your submissions to the editorial team at newsletter@saces.org.

Newsletter submission guidelines are on page 4 of the Summer 2025 Newsletter.

Submissions for the Fall 2025 Issues are due by October 30, 2025.

Thank you,

John Harrichand, Katherine McVay, & Rebecca Gill

SACES Newsletter Team