Organizations
Chi Sigma Iota - Upsilon Chi Chapter
What is CSI?
Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) is an international honor society that values academic and professional excellence in counseling. We promote a strong professional identity through members (professional counselors, counselor educators, and students) who contribute to the realization of a healthy society by fostering wellness and human dignity.
Our Mission
The mission of CSI is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership, advocacy, and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the profession of counseling.
Activities
CSI activities occur primarily through its university-based chapters. The Upsilon Chi chapter at the University of Central Florida is very active, meeting monthly in the UCF College of Community Innovation and Education. Activities include community outreach, social gatherings, mentoring programs, initiations and awards, and sponsoring seminars for members and the community.
Membership
For those interested in joining CSI, please complete the Local Chapter Membership Application, which will be the first step toward becoming a member of the Upsilon Chi Chapter of CSI. As a part of the application, you will need to have:
- completed a minimum of 9 credit hours (3 Counseling courses, which are those with an MHS, SDS, or SPS prefix)
- received a Faculty Member's Endorsement (send this form to a Core Faculty Member, requesting that they endorse you for CSI membership) and attached the completed form to the application
- paid $15 for local dues (paid through CashApp: search for “$CSIUpsilonChiUCF”): in the “For” field, write “CSI Local Dues” and take a “screen shot” of the paid dues
- earned a GPA of 3.5 or above: you will need to attach a PDF version of your MyUCF Graduate Plan of Study to the application
Accepted chapter members will be contacted to apply for national membership. Visit the CSI International website for more information about Chi Sigma Iota International.
Counselor Education Doctoral Student Organization (CEDSO)
The Counselor Education Doctoral Student Organization (CEDSO) is the student association specifically for doctoral students in counselor education at UCF. Formed in 2008, the mission of the CEDSO is to promote the development of counselor education doctoral students in the areas of scholarship, teaching, and service through mentoring and collaboration opportunities. The mentoring initiative began in 2011, with second and third year students volunteering as mentors for incoming first years. CEDSO also applies to the SGA for funding to assist members in attending the ACES or SACES conference every fall. Member collaboration is facilitated through semester meetings and social functions. Additionally, CEDSO has recently launched a new Facebook page that can assist in answering questions for new and current students, including conference deadlines and member contact information.
Special Interest Groups
Christians as Helpers
Christians as Helpers (CAH) provides a forum for students and faculty from the areas of Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, and Nursing to share their common desire to integrate their faith with their clinical practice. CAH meets bi-weekly for discussion and books studies on such topics as spiritual formation, honoring and navigating differences, and exploring ways to restore and sustain wholeness and balance. CAH does not promote one Christian denomination/tradition over another: each member is encouraged to express their faith in his/her own way.
For more information about CAH, please contact Dr. W. Bryce Hagedorn.
Counseling Skills Club
The focus of the Counseling Skills Club is to provide a friendly, non-evaluative, and supportive environment for students who are interested in developing and/or enhancing their core counseling techniques. Typical attendees include students currently enrolled in Techniques, Practicum, and Internship, but all students are welcome. The club meets twice a semester, is facilitated by a faculty member and several doctoral students, and typically begins with a faculty member conducting a mock session followed by an extensive process time. Additionally, students have the opportunity to practice their skills with one another and receive direct feedback from a doctoral student. Ultimately, the aim of the Counseling Skills Club is to help students to feel more comfortable wearing their “counselor hat.”
For more information about the Counseling Skills Club, keep your eyes open for emailed announcements.
Counselors Advocating for Military Personnel (CAMP)
Counselors Advocating for Military Personnel (CAMP) is for students who are (a) looking to improve their cultural competence with military members and their families, (b) investigating sound research for the best practices in counseling this population, and (c) building connections with community agencies who serve military members and their families. CAMP meets monthly and engages in trainings (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, TF-CBT, and Understanding Military Culture) and explores service opportunities.
For more information about CAMP, please contact Dr. W. Bryce Hagedorn.
Cultural Encounters
Cultural Encounters is a platform created to promote culturally sensitive conversations and community, with an emphasis on building respect and trust among all students, staff, and faculty at the University of Central Florida. Encounter conversations promote participants’ self-exploration as cultural beings, including an examination of oneself based on personal experiences with bias, privilege, and discrimination. Encounters are held monthly and covers an array of topics including race relations, sexual minority concerns, culture and education, and many others.
For more information about Cultural Encounters, please contact Dr. Ann Shillingford.
G.U.R.U. Talks (Guide-Unite-Relate-Uncover)
The UCF G.U.R.U. Talks mentoring program was established in spring, 2018 as a way to connect UCF School Counseling Track students early in their graduate program with practicing school counselors in our Central Florida community. G.U.R.U. Talks is a casual forum where professionals in the field and students meet throughout the year to freely discuss and examine topics that impact the school counseling profession. The mission of G.U.R.U. Talks is to: (G) GUIDE the next generation of school counselors by, (U) UNITING practicing school counselors with counselors in training to, (R) RELATE to the challenges and rewards of the profession, and (U) UNCOVER ways to advocate on behalf of school counselors and the students and families they serve. G.U.R.U. Talks are scheduled once each fall, spring and summer semesters.
For more information about G.U.R.U. Talks, please contact Dr. Stacy M. Van Horn.
H.E.A.R.T. (HIV Education, Awareness, and Research Team)
The HIV Education, Awareness, and Research Team (HEART) is a collaboration of faculty and students at the University of Central Florida who are dedicated to addressing the multiple and complex effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, both locally and nationally. HEART exists to serve the community by (a) partnering with community organizations and stakeholders to address HIV/AIDS locally; (b) providing educational opportunities focused on HIV and AIDS and their medical, mental health, and social effects on individuals and families; (c) raising awareness about HIV prevention and treatment within the UCF community and in Central Florida; and (c) seeking and acquiring external funding and conducting high-quality research that informs prevention methods and mental health interventions for individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS.
For more information about H.E.A.R.T, please contact Dr. Richelle Joe.