Overview

An ACA Counseling Digest is a succinct and cogent presentation and analysis of facts and experience related to a counseling-relevant topic or issue. It is intended to be an authoritative information synthesis driven by an intensive and extensive review of the relevant experiential and research literature.

Writing a good Digest can be a very compelling and rewarding experience. It challenges you to be objective, probing, analytical, and informative — all using fewer words than you are usually allowed! The result may well be the most frequently cited and helpful piece of writing you have ever done. It can enhance your professional identity, foster a network of professional colleagues, and just possibly be one of your most satisfying pieces of writing.

Types of Digests

ACA Counseling Digests will be used for a variety of purposes and will address the needs and interests of various audiences.  Following are the major types Digests that ACA will produce:

• Overview – An overview Digest serves as an introduction to a topic. It is often useful to the general public as well as to students and professionals in the field.
• Fact Sheet – A fact sheet Digest provides current information of a factual nature relevant to a counseling topic.  As appropriate, it also interprets and discusses the facts presented.  Its primary audience is policymakers, administrators, and other decision makers.
• Issue – An issue Digest defines and describes a controversial topic.  It does not resolve controversies in the literature or in practice; but it delineates the various perspectives related to the topic.  This type of Digest is particularly useful to policymakers, practitioners, and parents who wish to become informed about alternative perspectives on counseling issues.
• Practice Application – A practice application Digest provides specific, concrete examples of how practitioners can apply research results in practical settings.  Its primary audience is counseling practitioners.
• Research Findings – A research findings Digest reports on the current status of research in an area.  It summarizes and synthesizes recent findings from relevant research.  Audiences for this type of Digest include researchers, graduate students, policymakers, administrators, and educational or counseling practitioners.

It is important to note that the above types of Digests are not necessarily mutually exclusive.  For example, an overview or issue Digest may contain elements of a fact sheet or research findings.  It should also be noted that, whatever the type, the content of a Digest must be based on valid, scientifically-based research, with conclusions reflecting a knowledgeable analysis of the research literature.

Digest Format

• Length - five to six typewritten, double-spaced pages (maximum of 1,500 words)
• Style – a) question and answer or b) text divided by 3-6 major headings or subheadings
• Organization:
  1. Introduction – one or two paragraphs that develop the topic or issue
  2. Discussion or presentation of facts or findings - an analysis of the major findings and/or views regarding the topic, the largest part of the Digest consuming four to five pages
  3. Consensual Point of View or a Recommended Course of Action (not applicable to issue Digests)
  4. Summary and Conclusion—two or three paragraphs maximum, with the     summary to contain only that which has been previously discussed and     the conclusion to express the author's concluding judgments (issue Digests include a summary only)
  5. Bibliography—six to ten references in APA format with all references having been referred to in the body of the Digest  
  6. A short statement giving the author's full name, professional title, and place of employment

Submission

Proposals for Digests should include the proposed title, an outline of contents, an initial list of references, and a projected timeline for completion.  Feedback on the proposed Digest will include possible areas to add or delete as well as additional references to consider.

Upon completion, please email your manuscript as a Word attachment to Garry Walz and Jeanne Bleuer at j.bleuer@comcast.net.

Common Problems

Following are five of the problems Digest authors most frequently encounter:

1. Too many words/too long.  You need to actually count the words to make sure you don’t exceed the 1500 word maximum. If your Digest is over the limit, it poses a real problem for the editors and may result in a shortened version that doesn’t adequately reflect your intent.
2. Lack of thorough proofing.  It is your responsibility to catch errors before your Digest is forwarded in its final version. Help us make yours an optimum Digest.
3. Difficult or confusing sections.  Ask others (preferably non-experts) to read your Digest to see if they understand all of it. Even a difficult sentence or two can lose a reader quickly.
4. Suggested outline not followed. 
5. Vagueness as to how the information is useful or can be applied.

For further information, please feel free to contact us at grwalz@aol.com or jcbleuer@aol.com.

HOW TO CONTACT US:

Contact us via e-mail at: counselingoutfitters@comcast.net