Association for Death Education and Counseling. The Association for Death Education and Counseling®. The Thanatology Association® is one of the oldest interdisciplinary organizations in the field of dying, death and bereavement. Its nearly 2,000 members include a wide array of mental and medical health personnel, educators, clergy, funeral directors and volunteers. ADEC offers numerous educational opportunities through its annual conference, courses and workshops, its certification program, and resources.