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Home - Happy Counseling Awareness Month (CAM)
SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD!

Happy Counseling Awareness Month (CAM)

Ashley SunderlandBy Ashley SunderlandApril 8, 20223 Mins Read
Counceling Awareness Month
Counceling Awareness Month
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The American Counseling Association (ACA) designates April of each year as Counseling Awareness Month (CAM). The month of April is a time to honor and celebrate counselors who facilitate the growth and development of all people!

April 8th is Teal Day

“Celebrated on the second Friday of April, Teal Day encourages awareness of the importance of counseling and self-care for counselors as they enlighten their clients, colleagues, and the greater public of the same. The nature of the counselor’s work reflects the color choice perfectly, as both encourage a calm, reflective mood. Professional counselors help their clients live in a state of emotional regulation; while the psychology of teal is largely believed to embody restfulness and mental and spiritual balance.”

–The American Counseling Association

#BurnBrightNotOut

The ACA even made a playlist of inspiring songs for counselors. Get the playlist HERE


Self-Care for Counselors

  1. Don’t bring your work home. This can be a difficult boundary to set, but counselors especially know how important healthy boundaries are. Take your own good advice and leave your work, as much as possible, at work!
  2. Remember H.A.L.T. before you react. This is a common acronym that we suggest to our clients with substance use disorders. When we are feeling restless, discontent, or irritable, we should take our own good advice and ask ourselves if we are: Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired? Often, a healthy snack will
  1. Need a tissue for your issue? Go ahead and cry it out because tears can be self-soothing. Additionally, research has found that letting out those emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins and eases physical and emotional pain.
  2.  Indulge in a Spa Day. Treat yourself to a spa treatment or a stay-at-home spa night. Light some candles, play relaxing music, get into a plush robe, and pamper yourself!
  3. Journaling to get grounded and be present. Time is something most counselors don’t have a lot of, but you only need a quick 10 minutes or less to ground yourself and be present in the moment. Use a guided journal like my favorite called, A Journey Within, by Piccadilly:

“A Journey Within is a thought provoking, introspective activity journal designed to help you get to know yourself better each time you turn the page. Within each page is a question to ask yourself, matched with an inspiring quote to keep your creativity and thoughts afloat.”

Sober Curator Pro Tip: Another one of my favorite ways to journal is using one of the 10-Minute journal prompts from Christine Zimmer.

Download a variety of these inspiring and thoughtful 10-Minute journal prompts HERE


Resources for Counselors

My favorite websites for free group and individual therapy stuff. Workbooks, worksheets, assignments, and a myriad of other resources for you to choose from!

  • This link is my #1 favorite for free worksheets and workbooks!
75+ Free Mental Health Worksheets & Handouts
  • www. therapistaid.com
  • www.confidentcounselors.com
  • www. positivepsychology.com
  • www.belmontwellness.com
  • www.cci.health.wa.gov.au
  • www.recoveryanswers.org
  • www.christiezimmer.com/10-minute-journal-pages
  • www.depts.washington.edu

Speak Out Speak Loud

SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD! at The Sober Curator is a celebration of authentic voices in recovery—echoing Madonna’s call to “Express yourself!” Here, readers and contributors take the spotlight, sharing transformative sobriety journeys, creative talents, and new avenues of self-expression discovered along the way. Through videos, poems, art, essays, opinion pieces, and music, we break the silence that often surrounds addiction, replacing it with connection, hope, and inspiration.

Your story matters—and we want to hear it. Submit your work to thesobercurator@gmail.com or DM us on social media.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in the Speak Out! Speak Loud! Section are solely the opinions of the contributing author of each individual published article and do not reflect the views of The Sober Curator, their respective affiliates, or the companies with which The Sober Curator is affiliated.

The Speak Out! Speak Loud! posts are based upon information the contributing author considers reliable. Still, neither The Sober Curator nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.


Resources Are Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.

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Ashley Sunderland
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Ashley Sunderland is a Twin Cities-based Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Prevention Professional, and Peer Recovery Specialist who brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work. Through compassionate advocacy and evidence-based education, she empowers clients to achieve lasting transformation on their unique recovery journeys. Ashley is at the forefront of normalizing alcohol-free living and advancing wellness-focused lifestyles through her specialized work in the rapidly growing non-alcoholic beverage industry. As a non-alcoholic beverage consultant, she collaborates with brands and influencers to expand quality options for individuals embracing sobriety or mindful consumption, helping to reshape social drinking culture. As a contributing writer and content creator at The Sober Curator, Ashley provides valuable resources and authentic storytelling that makes zero-proof living vibrant, accessible, and celebrated. Her work demonstrates that an alcohol-free lifestyle is both fulfilling and joyful. Ashley is expanding her therapeutic practice to include holistic healing modalities and is currently pursuing certification in Equine-Assisted Therapy. In partnership with Serenity Farm & Stables in Watertown, Minnesota, she is integrating innovative recovery approaches that harness the transformative power of the human-animal bond, providing clients with unique pathways for healing and personal growth. Connect with Ashley to explore her initiatives in the recovery community, the transformative power of equine therapy, her dedication to the non-alcoholic movement, and her mission to raise the bar on what it means to celebrate, socialize, and thrive sans alcohol!

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