ACCT Mentorship Program

The Mentorship Program is a key support service, offered free to ACCT members, designed to empower newer counsellors as they build and grow their private practices.

The program connects experienced counsellors with those who are just starting out. At the heart of this initiative is the Mentorship Committee, a group of dedicated volunteers who share their time, experience, and encouragement to help others learn and grow.

Mentors provide support by:

• Offering practical guidance in areas such as client referrals, business management, community engagement, and developing an online presence
• Listening with care, offering reassurance, and sharing personal stories of both successes and challenges
• Meeting regularly with mentees to set goals and provide consistent encouragement
• Upholding confidentiality and professional boundaries, ensuring a safe and respectful environment

The benefits of the program include:

• For mentees: Confidence, clarity, and direction as they establish their practice
• For mentors: Professional development hours, leadership growth, and fresh insights through reflection and collaboration
• For the community: A stronger, more connected counselling network that thrives on cooperation and mutual support

The spirit of mentorship at ACCT means:

• Supporting colleagues who are new to counselling practice
• Answering questions and sharing strategies that have helped your own practice thrive
• Offering social media tips, web development ideas, and local approaches to community engagement
• Giving back to the profession, building stronger connections within ACCT, and contributing to the growth of the cooperative

Becoming a mentor with ACCT’s Mentorship Program is an opportunity to give back, share your expertise, and support the future of the counselling profession. Counsellors with 5+ years of experience, who have navigated the challenges of private practice can offer guidance that helps newer practitioners build confidence and thrive.

• Mentorship is not about having every answer, but about listening, encouraging, and offering perspective. Your insights, experiences, and even your challenges become valuable learning tools. A few hours of your time over several months can make a significant difference in the development of a new counsellor.
• The program provides a structured yet flexible framework, with regular meetings, clear goals, and a supportive committee that emphasizes professionalism, generosity, and community.
• Mentors often find the experience personally enriching. It offers professional development hours, fosters reflection, and provides fresh perspectives. Most importantly, it strengthens the counselling community as a whole.
• We invite you to contribute your leadership and experience as a mentor. Your participation can have a lasting impact on both individual counsellors and the profession at large.

Notes about ACCT Mentorship:

• The hours you spend in Mentorship can be used towards your Professional Development (PD) hours. 
• They should be included on your Continuous Competency Development CCD Form at your annual membership renewal. 
• Please track all of your hours and session notes in case of audit
• Mentorship is all about supporting colleagues who may be new to a counselling practice, answering questions and sharing tips and tricks for marketing and social media, as well as Mentor insights on what makes a counselling practice thrive. 
• The Mentorship program is not meant to be Supervision, so if you have questions relating to your clients and/or other ethics or private practice questions, please work directly with your Supervisor
• Please ensure you are up to date with all of the following:
  • ACCT Rules 
  • ACCT Standards of Practice 
  • ACCT Code of Ethics 
  • ACCT Philosophy   
  • ACCT Counsellor Scope of Practice 

If you have any questions please contact our ACCT Mentorship Coordinator at [email protected]