Career Counseling

ACC Career Counselors are licensed professionals with expertise and training in career development who hold graduate degrees in various counseling disciplines such as social work, vocational rehabilitation counseling, or counseling psychology.  

While the majority of students’ needs are effectively served by ACC Career & Transfer Specialists, ACC Career Counselors are available to serve individuals who need further exploration and guidance navigating life’s journey and its associated challenges.

Appointment Request

ACC Career Counseling may benefit individuals experiencing any of the following:

  1. Reconstructing their professional identity
    Individuals who are entering/re-entering the job market after an extended absence (such as following divorce/death of a family member) or whose existing career is no longer viable due to labor market changes, serious injury, or disability may benefit from career counseling. In these situations, career counselors support an in-depth examination of one’s past and present personal and professional identities to help gain insight in discovering viable future possibilities.
  2. Considering a significant career change
    Career counselors help individuals reassess their needs and values while exploring career possibilities and developing a plan of action.
  3. Needing something beyond help choosing a major or finding employment
    Career counseling is an introspective approach that helps identify underlying reasons an individual may experience difficulty deciding on a major and why he/she may be experiencing barriers to developing a career plan.
  4. Repeatedly changing their college major
    Career counselors help students explore the many factors influencing career choice and identify career goals.
  5. Needing something more than the FOCUS2
    Career counselors have access to in-depth assessments and methods which expand an individual’s awareness and assist in making informed career decisions that encompass abilities, interests, values, and labor market information. The result is often identification of career opportunities that otherwise may have remained undiscovered.  (Note: FOCUS2 is a career exploration tool available for all ACC students through ACC Career Services.)

To request ACC Career Counseling services insert career counseling in the ASSISTANCE REQUESTED box next to OTHER when submitting the Career & Transfer Services Appointment Request form.

Limitation of Services

If unaddressed mental health challenges are impacting career development, ACC Career Counselors will refer individuals to community mental health services or to ACC Mental Health Counseling Services. ACC Career Counselors do not provide clinical mental health counseling services as a component of career counseling. However, ACC Career Counselors may work in cooperation with ACC Mental Health Counselors for students desiring the partnership of a licensed counseling support team.

Confidentiality

Career counseling is confidential except for the following circumstances:

(a) when an individual is in danger or at risk of harming self or others, and

(b) when required under Texas SB212 to inform a designated ACC official of an occurrence of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking committed by/against a student enrolled at ACC, or an employee of ACC, at the time of the incident.

Meet the Counselors

Dawn Allison - MSSW, LCSW, BC-TMH, GCDF

Shun-Heng (Henry) Tsai, M.Ed., LPC, GCDF, BC-TMH

Melissa Victor Totah, MA, LPC-S, CIMHP

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