Supporting Group Work in Various Capacities

The Association for Specialists in Group Work was founded in 1973 as a division of the American Counseling Association. We empower our members and helping professionals with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to practice effective, socially just, and ethical group work in a diverse and global society.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

Our Mission

The purpose of the Association shall be to establish standards for professional and ethical practice; to support research and the dissemination of knowledge; and to provide professional leadership in the field of group work. In addition, the Association shall seek to extend counseling through the use of group processes; to provide a forum for examining innovative and developing concepts in group work; to foster diversity and dignity in our groups; and to be models of effective group practice.

Our Vision

To be an organization that...

  • Advances ethical group work practice and implementsits national standards for group work
  • Is recognized nationally as the preeminent group work
    training organization
  • Reflects multicultural diversity in leadership positions
  • Is regularly developing and disseminating outstanding group work training materials
  • Sponsors and trains group worker leaders at a variety of levels for a variety of settings through seminars, workshops, and conferences
  • Encourages an active and involved membership
  • Is inclusive, creative, and resourceful
  • Uses the group process observer as an essential ingredient of organizational dynamics and advocates its use elsewhere
  • Fulfills our mission and lives our values
  • Monitors and appropriately interacts with its parent organization, the American Counseling Association

Values

Members experience a vibrant, caring, and diverse community.
Research relevant to group work is systematically supported and disseminated.
ASGW professional standards exist, continue to evolve, and guide group work.
Helping professionals practice evidence-based and innovative group work models.
Group work professionals benefit from opportunities and resources for training, practice, and professional growth.
The principles of multiculturalism, social justice, and global perspectives permeate all group work.

Service

We value service to our members, their clients, and the profession.

Leadership

We value leadership as a process to facilitate the growth and development of individuals and groups.

Community

We value the creation of community.

ASGW Leadership

Governing Process
Committee (GPC) 2026-27

Yanhong Liu
Ph.D., NCC
(she/her/hers)
President
Yiying Xiong
Ph.D., NCC
(she/her/hers)
President-Elect / Treasurer
Priscilla Prasath
Ph.D., LPC, GCSC
(she/her/hers)
Past President
Maddie Stevens
Ph.D., LPCC-S (OH), LPC (PA), NCC
(she/her/hers)
Secretary
Kendra L. Jackson
PhD., LPC, LSC, ACS, CFLE, NCC
(she/her/hers)
ACA Governing Council Rep.
Melissa Luke
PhD, NCC, ACS, LMHC
(she/her/hers)
Process Observer

Discover ASGW's Exciting Initiatives

Learn more about ASGW's impactful work and how you can get involved.

Join a committee

Committee Chairs & Journal 2026-27

Ahram Lee
Ph. D., NCC
(she/her/hers)
Conference Committee Co-Chair
Hsin-Ya Tang (唐訢雅)
Ph.D., NCC
()
Conference Committee Co-Chair
Deborah Rubel
Ph.D.
()
JSGW Associate Editor
Peitao Zhu
Ph.D., LCPC(IL), NCC
()
JSGW Associate Editor
Jane Okech
Ph.D.
(she/her/hers)
JSGW Editor
Emma Quadlander-Goff
Ph.D., LPC (AL), NCC
(she/her/hers)
Membership Committee Co-Chair
Krissy Treviranus
PhD., LMHC (FL), LPC (CO), NCC, ACS
(they/them/theirs)
Membership Committee Co-Chair
Christina Daou
M.S., NCC, LPC-Associate
(she/her/hers)
Product Management Committee Co-Chair
Lorelei Voronin
LPC-S, ATR-BC
(she/her/hers)
Product Management Committee Co-Chair
Derron Hilts
PhD, NCC, NCSC
(he/him/his)
Research Committee Co-Chair
Xihe Tian
MS, NCC
()
Research Committee Co-Chair
Qu Chen
Ph.D.
()
Special Initiatives Committee Co-Chair
Sam Steen
Ph.D.
(he/him/his)
Special Initiatives Committee Co-Chair
Morgan E. Bloomfield
MS, LMFT-S, LPC-S (TX)
(she/her/hers)
Strategic Communications Committee Co-Chair
Yuhsun Peng
PhD., NCC
(she/her/hers)
Strategic Communications Committee Co-Chair