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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

Call Your Representatives for More Funding for School Counselors
Sep 29, 2016|1 min read

According to the CDC, up to one in five kids living in the U.S. shows signs or symptoms of a mental health disorder in a given year. However, nearly 80 percent of kids who need mental health services won't get them. This leads to higher absences, ...
ACA Media Spotlight: Helping Child Refugees Cope With Trauma
Sep 29, 2016|1 min read

ACA member, Dr. Cheryl Sawyer, recently spoke to Fusion about a Harry Potter-inspired project she developed to help refugee children unpack their trauma and give it a safe space to live.
ACA Media Spotlight: Talking to Kids About Death After Jose Fernandez's Tragic Boating Accident
Sep 27, 2016|1 min read

ACA Chief Professional Officer, David Kaplan, spoke to the SunSentinel about shielding children from constant media coverage of the event and more.

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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