The 2026 Embedded Counselor conference brings together higher education professionals from across the nation for an in-depth review of research and practices to strengthen the embedded model and increase mental health and wellness among students.
Addressing students' unique needs
Embedded Counselors play a crucial role on college campuses, as they understand the specific challenges and needs of their students through their school's culture, and provide the appropriate care. This year's Embedded Counselor conference will take place on May 27th, 2026, with an interactive one-day virtual event packed with information and connections.
Conference Theme
Everywhere at Once. Boundless Reach. One Mission. Throughout universities, big and small, embedded counselors are placed in different schools and colleges to support students in multiple ways. Embedded counselors build a bridge between meeting students where they're at, while addressing the expressed needs of faculty, deans, and administrators for local, accessible resources. The 2026 conference will explore the multifaceted role that embedded counselors encounter in their mission to empower students.
Time & Location
This conference will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST via Zoom and include a lunch break. The Zoom link and conference program will be sent to registrants before the conference.
Registration & CEs
We are happy to share that the 2026 Embedded Counselor conference is free to attend! Please fill out this registration form so we know you are planning to join us. Additionally, we are excited to announce that CEs will be available for social workers (LMSW), psychologists (LP), and licensed professional counselors (LPC) who attend the conference. More information below!
Proposals
Are you interested in submitting your proposal idea for the conference? We want to hear from you! We are currently accepting proposals until Friday, April 17th, 2026. Participants will be notified of approval on Friday, April 24th, 2026.
Questions
We're here to help! If you have questions about the upcoming Embedded Counselors conference, feel free to email our team at 2026embeddedconference@umich.edu. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.
FAQs
Who is the intended audience for the Embedded Conference?
The Embedded Conference started in 2023 as a source of connection, resource sharing, and learning for this new role within college counseling centers. The majority of attendees are counseling center professionals currently working in embedded roles. Administrators in college counseling centers have also attended in the past, some to gather information to continue to inform existing embedded counseling models and others attended to gather information about how they could develop a new embedded model for the first time.
Anyone connected to an embedded counseling model is invited to attend. We primarily have attendees from colleges and universities in the United States, but anyone working in an embedded model in a college or university counseling center anywhere in the world is strongly encouraged to attend!
Which types of licensure can receive continuing education credit?
U-M CAPS is able to provide CEs for social workers (LMSW), psychologists (LP) and licensed professional counselors (LPC). All attendees must complete the evaluation survey at the end of the conference in order to receive credit.
University of Michigan: Counseling and Psychological Services is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. University of Michigan: Counseling and Psychological Services maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
University of Michigan: Counseling and Psychological Services is an Unlimited Provider through the NASW-Michigan Chapter.
University of Michigan: Counseling and Psychological Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7729. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. University of Michigan: Counseling and Psychological Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Checking with your state licensing board is the only way to guarantee that continuing education (CE) credits will fulfill the specific requirements for your professional license. Requirements can vary significantly by state, profession, and specialty.
What is the cost to register for the conference?
Our virtual conference is free to attend!
What are some themes or presentation topics attendees have requested in the past?
Based on the feedback from the 2024 Embedded Conference, here is a list of topics the attendees indicated they would like to see:
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Resources, logistics, and example Memorandums of Understanding for starting a new embedded position or program.
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Innovative outreach ideas
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Implementing Let’s Talk program model in embedded locations
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Marketing strategies
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Unique ethical considerations and risk management for embedded counselors
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Working with student advisory boards and programs
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Boundary and expectation setting considerations
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How to establish, engage and grow working relationships with embedded partners
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How to onboard and successfully acclimate new embedded counselors to the role
How many people have attended the conference in previous years?
For the 2024 conference, we had over 250 participants attending from 56 different colleges and universities from a total of 27 different states. Our conference also welcomes international participants; we had several participants in 2024 from Canadian universities.
Will there be any breaks during the conference?
Yes! There will be a scheduled lunch break where you can eat, stretch your legs, and take a break from staring at your screen!