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Press Release

M. Elsa Soto Leggett Begins Term as American Counseling Association President

Elsa Soto Leggett, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, professor and practicum/internship coordinator at Truman State University and sole proprietor of Shelter Counseling and Supervision, began her term as ACA 2025–2026 president on July 1.

Advocacy

Indiana Counselors: Take Action to Stave Off Reimbursement Rate Cuts

Counseling Compact

Nevada Becomes 38th State to Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law

Latest News

The Costs of Mental Illness In Treating Physical Illness
Dec 12, 2018|2 min read

The effects of mental health on physical health are well known. An Oxford University review of the literature shows that the average reduction in life expectancy is between seven to eleven years for someone with recurrent depression, nine to twenty ...
Should We Have a Three Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline? Have Your Say.
Dec 6, 2018|1 min read

The National Hotline Improvement Act was signed into law August 2018. The law requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Federal Communications ...
No Threat of Government Shutdown for Agencies that Oversee Counseling Initiatives
Dec 4, 2018|3 min read

Many agencies in the federal government will run out of money on Dec. 21 if Congress and the president can’t agree on a new budget—but the agencies that fund and oversee counseling initiatives are not among them. Earlier, in the fall, ...

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Media Mentions

Burrow Blueprint Tackles Mental Health in Appalachian Schools

Published November 18, 2025 on The Post

Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Joe Burrow Foundation have partnered on a new program, the Burrow Blueprint, to provide and support mental health treatment in Appalachian Ohio schools. ACA Past President Christine Suniti Bhat explains the importance of providing mental health services to students in rural Appalachian Ohio. Read Full Article

Protecting Kids and Teens on TikTok

Aired September 25, 2025 on Spectrum News Columbus

More should be done to combat the dark side of social media that can endanger kids and teenagers. ACA Past President Christine Suniti Bhat discusses the dangers of social media, its influence on societal pressures on young people and the role of parental supervision in protecting them. Watch the News Segment

AI Therapist Might Be Illegal Soon. Here’s Why

Published August 27, 2025 in CNN

As AI chatbots become a popular way to access cost-free counseling and companionship, a patchwork of state regulation is emerging, restricting how the technology can be used in therapy practice. ACA’s AI work group member Russell Fulmer provides insight on using AI in counseling in this article. Read Full Article

As AI Therapy Grows, Clinicians Try to Chart a Path Forward

Published August 5, 2025 in Healthcare Brew

Bots have the potential to both help and hurt the mental health crisis, and clinicians hold varied perspectives about AI for therapy. ACA’s AI work group members Russell Fulmer and Olivia Uwamahoro Williams discuss the pros and cons and are cited in this article. Read Full Article