One of CAP’s very own, Chris Griffith, accepted an award from the Kentucky Counseling Association (CKA) on October 25, 2013, at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. Chis, our counseling manager, started his career with CAP in 1996 and has been a dedicated employee over the last 17 years. Chris, who was named Mental Health Counselor of the Year by KCA, was very humbled by the honor of receiving this award and stated, “CAP has empowered me to be the best mental health counselor I can be.  I have been given this award because CAP has allowed me to build a future, to shine and to step forward and take a leadership role.  Without CAP, no one would know me; therefore, I am eternally grateful.”

The Kentucky Counseling Association is a state branch of the American Counseling Association. KCA is an organization of counseling professionals who work in educational, health care, residential, private practice, community agency, government, business and industry settings. Their mission is very much in line with that of CAP: to enhance human development. People rise to the level of the expectations set before them and we are called to set those not only for ourselves, but for others as well. Helping others, especially children, learn the value of having dreams and setting goals for themselves is a huge step in building confidence for a better tomorrow. Accordingly, the guest speaker, Gary Geisser, sang a few inspirational songs about hope during the event, one of which included the lyrics, “the closest thing to Heaven is a child.” We at CAP are proud and honored to work alongside Chris who has dedicated his career to counseling children and families, making a difference in the lives of Appalachian families.