Press Release

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.

Latest News


  • ACA Issues Statement on Supreme Court Case
    Nov 3, 2016|1 min read

    The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving whether a transgender boy will be allowed to use the men?s restroom at his high school.

  • ACA Sponsors Final White House Convening on College and Career Readiness
    Oct 25, 2016|2 min read

    2016 marks the fifth and final White House convening of the Obama administration to examine and explore the intersections of ?cultural competence,? counseling, and college and career readiness of under-served youth. ACA members Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, ...

  • Senate Majority Up For Grabs
    Oct 24, 2016|3 min read

    While most of the attention is focused on the Presidential race, control of the Senate is also up for grabs in November and may have a significant impact on the way Washington works for the next two years. The result of these Senate races would ...

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