Grounded Growth

By M. Elsa Soto Leggett, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, CSC

January 2026

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! With the start of a new year, there are so many things to drink in, so many new ideas to ponder and so many actions to step into. There is a bombardment of insights and challenges. As a counselor, supervisor and counselor educator, I am curious about how 2026 will unfold and what influences will impact our counseling profession.

This motivates me to focus more intently on our counseling profession with a stronger commitment to its important work. This means recommitting to practices that deepen connection to clients, students and communities and to my professional values and ethics. This also means renewing my commitment to a humble approach to working with all populations, all peoples.

Humility reminds us we are always learning. Each client, student and community carries unique life stories, values and experiences. Rather than knowing enough, humility invites us to be open, curious and willing to learn from all people. Starting this year with this posture helps us in various ways. We honor the dignity and identity of those we serve. We challenge our own biases and preconceptions. And we stay responsive to evolving social and governmental circumstances.

Some may consider humility as a lesser virtue compared to others such as honor. However, it is one of the more powerful qualities a counselor can embody. In practice, it does not diminish one’s expertise or authority. At its core, the word originates from Latin words for “ground” and “low,” reminding us of humanity, limits and connection — as well as an authentic sense of proportion. Within my culture, humility interweaves with values of community, respect and relational harmony. It is observed through the deference to the collective well-being over individual gains and acknowledges the interdependence of us all. It can also be recognized as an act of resilience and resistance. The choice of humility as a stance of strength when dominance is imposed by outside forces or oppressive systems is an example of strengthening bonds and demonstrating dignity.

When we practice humility, we help clients, students, communities and ourselves tap into resiliency. When we affirm cultural and personal strengths of all people, we remind all people of the traditions, values and community practices that sustain them. Humility is not a one-time resolution for 2026. It is a lifetime commitment to “How do I remain humble, curious and responsive across difference?”

Humility will prepare us to meet these moments as the professional counselors we are trained to be and to uphold the ethics we are bound to. Living out the ACA Code of Ethics is not about memorizing rules — it is about embodying them in every session, decision and interaction. We show our commitment not just when things go smoothly but especially when we navigate complex, ambiguous situations with integrity, compassion and client-centered care. That is care for all clients, all people. ¡Adelante!