2026 NBCC Awards
Expanding Equity Through Inspiration
The NBCC Awards honor outstanding individuals who are shaping the future of counseling!
The NBCC awards were created for counselors, by counselors to recognize individuals who exemplify professional excellence in counseling and whose contributions have significantly helped to expand access to mental health services, strengthen the profession, support counselor education, and advance counseling and counselors domestically and globally.
Winners will receive an honorarium and will be featured in the NBCC Visions newsletter.
NBCC is Pleased to Announce the 2026 Awards Winners
Research Innovations in Counselor Practice and Counselor Education
Darius Green, PhD, NCC, LPCC
Bowie State University
Innovation in Counselor Education Program Community Engagement
Clemson University
Department of Education &
Human Development, Counselor Education Program
Innovation in Counseling Practice and Clinical Service
Monica Band, EdD, NCC, ACS, LPC, CCC, CRC
Mindful Healing Counseling Services
Carlos Castañeda, PhD, NCC, LPC
ThinkAITA
Global Advancement of Counseling: Counselor Education
Silvia Reyes, PhD, NCC, LMHC, QS
IRCEP
Global Advancement of Counseling: Community Capacity
Catherine Mueller-Bell, PhD, LPC
Grand Canyon University
Propelling Mental Health, Powering the Future: School Counseling Award
Marcia James, LCPC
Thornton Fractional South High School,
Doctoral Student – Governor’s State University
NBCC Servant Leadership Award
Christopher Townsend, PhD, NCC, LCMHC, LCAS, LCPS, AADC, CCS
University of the Cumberlands
Leadership Excellence for Counselors by Counselors Award
Mark Schwarze, PhD, NCC, LCMHCS, CCS, LCAS
Appalachian State University,
NC Board for Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors
Advancing Equitable Access to Counseling Award
Ted Remley, PhD, JD, NCC, LPC
University of Holy Cross
Prakash Pradhan, ICAP-I
Medical & Health Professionals Council,
Bhutan Qualifications & Professionals Certification Authority
Edil Torres Rivera, PhD, NCC, ACS, LPC
Wichita State University
Join us in celebrating these exceptional individuals and their achievements!
Learn more about our 2026 award recipients in our upcoming monthly Visions newsletter and on our social media platforms and YouTube channel.
