Emily Goodman-Scott, PhD, LPC, NCC, NCSC, ACS

Candidate Statement:

Recently I trained local mental health providers, discussing the youth mental health crisis: the complex struggles and barriers facing our youth, their families, and communities, especially those historically marginalized and underserved. I quoted longstanding counseling leaders and advocates, saying: “This current time is not unique. We have seen these challenges before and we will see them again. What matters now- is how we choose to act.” I ended the training with a hopeful message from the poet Amanda Gorman: “Let us not return to what was normal, But reach toward what is next.” We are in difficult times: growing inequities, tensions, mental health challenges, isolation, fear, and uncertainty. Additionally, the American Counseling Association is experiencing change: a new board structure and a new CEO, while also operating in a constantly changing landscape. As I shared with that group of counselors (noted above): this present moment is ripe with challenge and change-- requiring action grounded in our professional values. And requiring we maintain hope. And this is why I am running for the ACA Board and the perspective I bring. If elected, my overarching aims include: (1) Making decisions based on our profession’s values and guiding documents (i.e., Multicultural Social Justice Counseling Competencies; ACA Advocacy Competencies; Code of Ethics; etc). (2) Listen to members: What do they want? What is happening in the world that is impacting them, their clients/students, and our profession?  (3) Collaborate with our divisions. ACA divisions possess deep expertise and efforts already in progress. How can we work together to strengthen ACA overall? (4) Work with ACA staff for organizational sustainability. Given our new board structure and incoming CEO, what policies, procedures, and systems need to be modified accordingly? (5) Join with allied organizations. We are stronger together. What other organizations share our priorities and goals?

Candidate Biography:

Emily Goodman-Scott, PhD, LPC, NCC, NCSC, ACS: for over two decades she’s worked toward more equitable and just schools and communities- a theme woven throughout her career. Emily’s efforts center counseling youth in and out of schools, disabilities, equity, access, and systemic change- including school-based MTSS prevention and intervention. She began working in both school counseling and clinical mental health counseling including: K-12 schools, residential addiction treatment, women’s crisis response, nonprofit community counseling, and in-home intensive counseling. Recently she’s expanded her counseling efforts to the national-level, working as a professor (training the next generation of school counselors, mental health counselors, and doctoral students) as well as extensive national leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and research. Her robust counseling leadership has equipped her well for the next ACA Governing Council board. Specifically: (1) Emily is currently on the ACA Governing Council Board, having co-chaired the presidential DEIJ task-force; if elected, she offers the next board continuity and historical knowledge during this transitional phase. (2) Over the last 15 years Emily has held leadership roles in multiple ACA divisions: (a)board member, (b)President, (c)Secretary, (d)Treasurer, (e)Governing Council Representative. She’s also chaired and been a committee member for a range of ACA/division committees (e.g., antiracism, publications, research grants, by-laws, membership, conference committee, etc). If elected, she would bring her breadth and depth of counseling leadership to the board. (3) Emily has demonstrated leadership in times of crisis and change- such as president of ACAC in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as expanding ACAC (e.g., changes to by-laws; creating new committees and organizational processes). For her efforts, she has been recognized as an ACA Fellow and received national awards from several ACA divisions. Most recently she received the 2026 ACA Research Award for her study examining the impact of anti-DEI policies on school counseling.