Thousands of the nation's counseling professionals are headed to Charlotte this week for an annual conference that will focus on the economy and the stress it has been causing.

This week, the American Counseling Association announced that its conference will feature more than 500 educational sessions featuring the many different topics that those with careers in counseling must deal with - especially during a recession. Some of these topics include workplace depression, stress management, addictions and suicide prevention.

"Counseling support is exactly what the world needs right now given the enormous stress facing individuals and families across the entire spectrum of demographics," said ACA President Dr. Colleen Logan in a statement.

Even before the recession got underway, a sizeable increase in demand was expected for counselors of all kinds.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most categories of counselors will see more than a double digit increase in demand between now and 2016. Those specializing in substance abuse, mental health issues and marriage and family problems will be most in demand, with a growth rate estimated at around 30 percent.