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What is Person-Centered Counseling?

Person-centered counseling (PCC) allows individuals to be engaged in the decision making process about their options, preferences, values, and financial resources. Individuals in need of services or who are planning for the future have access to one-on-one counseling in a variety of settings, including within the home, community residence, acute care hospital, school settings, or several other settings based on the individual's needs.

PCC is a valuable tool for the aging and disability networks that can improve access to care through streamlined partnerships, technology, and resources that put the focus on the needs of people and their caregivers.

A person-centered system recognizes that every individual is unique and the system must be able to respond flexibly to each individual's situation, strengths, needs and preferences. Person-Centered Counseling is centered on the individual and their personal goals and desires, and is much broader in scope than any formal assessment or eligibility determination process tied to a public or private program.

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ACL is pleased to offer free access to Course 1 of the Person-Centered Counseling Training Program. Access the free course using this link. The link takes you to a registration page where you must first create a log-in to the Elsevier platform. Once registered, you will automatically be assigned to course 1. Contact us at NoWrongDoor@acl.hhs.gov with any questions.

Spotlights: Read about PCC success stories here

Person-Centered Counseling Infographic. Download the accessible pdf below

Course Content for Person-Centered Counseling Training Program

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The first course introduces the vision, values, and key structures of the NWD System and introduces the Person-Centered Counseling (PCC) professional role. This course is designed for professionals and community members who have an interest in understanding or implementing aspects of the NWD System.

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A pre-requisite to the in-person course, Person-Centered Planning and Implementation, this course introduces key terms and approaches of Person Centered Thinking taught by The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices (TLCPCP).

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This course is designed to help the learner understand their role in person-centered planning. This course focuses on developing a formal person-centered plan and outlines a process that NWD counselors can use.

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This course orients learners to the different groups of people who may seek NWD services, how to be more culturally-sensitive to the variety of cultures they may represent, the different types of disabilities, and the varied and unique life experiences they have had. To help Person-Centered Counselors provide effective and appropriate PCC, this course introduces services a person might be seeking through the NWD System.

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This course defines LTSS and describes considerations in supporting access to LTSS, including a wide range of public and private programs, services, and supports. This course discusses ways to help people combine available resources to meet their individual preferences.

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This course describes the Protection and Advocacy (P & A) System and orients learners to the P & A role of PCC professionals working in the NWD System. This course provides information on defining and identifying various types of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as well as the responsibilities of mandated reporters.