Julia Whisenhunt, PhD, LPC, NCC, CPCS

Candidate Statement:

I am honored to be a candidate for the American Counseling Association Board of Directors because I believe deeply in the power of our profession to transform lives and communities. At this pivotal time, Professional Counselors are navigating increasing demands, evolving client needs, changing therapeutic landscapes, and complex systemic challenges that call for steady, thoughtful leadership. I am committed to serving ACA and its members by helping to elevate our collective voice and advance the counseling profession. If elected, my focus will be on promoting counselor well-being, strengthening professional identity, and expanding access to high-quality mental health care. I am especially passionate about advocacy efforts related to accreditation, licensure, equitable access to services, and building a sustainable workforce. My professional experiences have shaped my collaborative, service-oriented leadership style. Through my work in counselor education, clinical practice, and professional service, I have learned the importance of listening carefully, engaging different perspectives, and making thoughtful decisions that reflect the realities Professional Counselors face every day. My leadership roles at the state and international levels, along with my work in crisis intervention and ethics, continue to inform how I approach complex challenges in a grounded and practical manner. I will bring a servant leadership perspective to this role by listening first, advocating for members, and keeping the needs of the profession at the center of my work. I strive to lead with humility, accountability, and a strong sense of responsibility to those I serve. I am dedicated to being an accessible, responsive, and accountable representative for ACA members. Through collaboration and thoughtful leadership, we can expand the reach and impact of our profession. I would be honored to contribute to this important work and to serve alongside colleagues across the profession in advancing ACA’s mission.

Candidate Biography:

Julia Whisenhunt is a Professor of Counselor Education and Assistant Department Chair at the University of West Georgia (UWG). She is also the Director of the Ed.D. program in Professional Counseling and Supervision at UWG. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Practice from Georgia State University (CACREP accredited). She holds licensure as a Professional Counselor (Georgia), and she is also a National Certified Counselor and a Certified Professional Counseling Supervisor (Georgia). Dr. Whisenhunt has instructed undergraduate and graduate courses since 2004, and she has counseling experience in various settings, such as college counseling, school-based mental health, and partial hospitalization. Dr. Whisenhunt is trained as an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training facilitator and is a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer. She specializes in the areas of suicide, self-injury, and crisis intervention. Dr. Whisenhunt coauthored the Crisis Intervention Ethics Casebook, which was published by the American Counseling Association, and the 9th edition of Crisis Intervention Strategies, which was published by Cengage. She remains active in her professional field through membership in and service to various professional organizations such as the American Counseling Association, Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International, the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the Association for Humanistic Counseling, the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia, and the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Dr. Whisenhunt served as the elected Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia Ethics Chair (2021-2023) and the Chi Sigma Iota International President (2024-2025).