Honoring ACSSW
Past Presidents
The Association of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness was created in 2018 by a group of clinical counselors, counselor educators, and students who recognized the importance of sexuality as a central aspect of the human experience. They believe that in order for counselors to provide holistic care it was ethically necessary for the counseling profession to provide adequate education and training for practitioners. Additionally, there was a need for greater research and scholarship focused on counseling sexology, especially as it relates to marginalized communities.
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This page is dedicated to those pioneers in ACSSW who worked tirelessly to bring ACSSW into existence and, through their efforts, built a community that provided education and training, advocacy, and increased research and scholarship on counseling sexology.
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We are all grateful for their efforts and example as leaders in this effort.
ACSSW Past Presidents
Frances McClain, PhD, LCPC, NCC
ACSSW President 2022 - 2023
Dr. Frances McClain, “Dr. Mac,” received her MA in Counseling from Governors State University and her PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision from The Chicago School. Since 2010, she has been the Director of Clinical Training in the Counseling Psychology Department at The Chicago School. She was the Clinical Director at a community mental health center for 10 years prior to joining the faculty at The Chicago School. Throughout her career she has worked in several different capacities that includes individual, family, and group clinical work, clinical and administrative supervision, grant writing, program development and implementation, case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, community liaison work with both private and state psychiatric hospitals, and consultation with mental health centers around program development and accreditation preparation. She has presented at the local, state, and national level on topics related to cultural sensitivity, professional ethics and values conflicts, and human sexuality, especially as it relates to the LGBTQ+ community. She maintains a limited private practice where she provides pro bono psychotherapy services, as well as providing training and consultation for community agencies, area hospitals, Cook County probation, and Cook County Judges office staff.
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Dr. Mac is one of the co-founders of ACSSW and the second President. As one of the co-founders, she has played a significant role establishing some of the key components which have established ACSSW in the professional counseling and wider mental health community. Since 2021, she has coordinated the annual ACSSW webinars in partnership with The Chicago School, since 2020, she has been the editor of the ACSSW Newsletter which is published quarterly and maintains the ACSSW website. She is also an inaugural board member of the Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness. Since 2018, along with both Drs. Zeglin and Schubert, the other co-founders of ACSSW, Dr. Mac has been a regular speaker at ACA, ACES, and SAIGE conferences promoting ACSSW’s mission of the importance of addressing sexuality in clinical work from a sex positive paradigm and increasing counseling sexology and scholarship. While she was president, she put together a task force to explore and identify the educational/training needs necessary to develop counselor competencies to effectively work with BIPOC communities around sexually related issues. Additionally, the task force will review current research and scholarship related to BIPOC communities and make recommendations for future areas of focus for research and scholarship. The BIPOC Task Force was comprised of BIPOC academic leaders in the counseling field known for their scholarship related to sexuality and multiculturalism. Additionally, the BIPOC Task Force included clinicians and students of Color to ensure a broad base of knowledge and input. As a result of the recommendations of the BIPOC Task Force an ongoing BIPOC Committee was formed to continue the work started by the task force. Additionally, while Dr. Mac was president, ACSSW submitted the application to ACA to become a division.
Angela Schubert, PhD, LPC, NCC, BC-TMH
ACSSW President 2018 - 2022
Dr. Angela Schubert, "Angie", is an ACSSW co-founder and first President of ACSSW. She was an integral part of the development of ACSSW from the onset. Prior to her work in ACSSW, she was the moderator for the Sexual Wellness Interest Network in ACA. If you have met Angie you know her strengths are her ability to connect and network with others. From the beginning she was ACSSW's face to the community and within ACA. Her ability to promote and engage others was critical to the early success of ACSSW. Don't be fooled by her humor or occasional colloquial verbiage, Angie is a knowledgeable academician and can spar with the best when it comes to human sexuality. While President, ACCSW became an ACA Organizational Affiliate.
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Angie is an Associate Professor and Director of Online Learning for the Clinical Counseling department at Central Methodist University. Dr. Schubert is also the lead clinician and supervisor at Brightside Counseling in Denver, Colorado. She is licensed in Colorado, Missouri, and Florida and is a state approved clinical supervisor.
Her research interests primarily explore clinical training and competencies related to sexuality and sexual health as well as the sexual rights and experiences of marginalized populations whose sexual expressions and orientations fall outside of heteronormative, repronomative lens. Dr. Schubert is in the the process of becoming an AASECT certified sex therapist and continues to advocate for comprehensive K-12 sex education and sex positive training for mental health professionals across the fields.