About CDCA

The Capital District Counseling Association (CDCA) works to advance the discipline of counseling, guidance, and personnel work through educational and professional development. CDCA has a rich history beginning in 1938. George Hutcherson, chief of the bureau of guidance for the NYS Education Department, hosted informal gatherings called, "Counselors' Forum." 

In 1960, we formally became the Capital District Personnel and Guidance Association (CDPGA).

In 1983, we changed our name to Capital District Counseling Association. We changed it again in 1989 to Capital District Association for Counseling and Development (CDACD) to align with our parent organization, New York State Association for Counseling and Development (NYSACD).

In 1994, we changed it back to Capital District Counseling Association, aligning it with our parent organization, New York Counseling Association. NYCA dissolved in 2009, but we maintained our name as CDCA. We are now a local affiliate for New York State School Counselor Association.