Press Release

Press Release

Brian D. Banks Joins the American Counseling Association as Its Next CEO

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian D. Banks as its new chief executive officer. Banks is a nationally recognized leader in government affairs, public policy and strategic advocacy.

Latest News


  • ACA Media Spotlight: Vicarious Trauma
    Jun 14, 2016|1 min read

    ACA?s chief professional officer, Dr. David Kaplan, recently discussed the impact of terrorism on society's collective mental health in an interview with the Huffington Post.

  • ACA Offers Condolences to Those Affected by Orlando Tragedy
    Jun 14, 2016|1 min read

    The American Counseling Association (ACA) wishes to convey our deepest sympathies to those who have been harmed in the Orlando shooting this weekend, friends and family who have lost someone, and the community affected by this tragedy.

  • ACA 2017 Conference & Expo Will Be Held in San Francisco
    Jun 13, 2016|1 min read

    After withdrawing from Nashville due to the passage of Tennessee HB1840/SB1556, which is a discriminatory law that clearly targets the LGBTQ community, the American Counseling Association (ACA) has decided to relocate its 2017 Conference & Expo to San ...

Media Mentions


When It Feels Like Your Family Is Making Your Depression Worse

Published April, 2026 on WebMD

Criticism from family members on the care of loved ones with depression can worsen a care giver’s own depression. ACA President Elect Victoria Kress and Shari Moody, discuss how care givers can manage their depression and how they can deal with family members. Read the Full Article

AI & U: Taking Your Chatbot on a Dinner Date

Published February 16, 2026 on NBC News New York

AI developers are creating opportunities to explore relationships with chatbots and to use AI technology to search for human companionship. However, results from a new survey of over 700 ACA counselors show concern about developing unhealthy dependencies on chatbots. Watch the Video

AI & U: How Artificial Intelligence is Leading to Anxiety in the Workforce

Published February 13, 2026 on NBC News New York

There’s growing concern about the ability of AI to displace humans in the workforce. ACA’s AI Work Group co-chair, Russell Fulmer, talks with NBC News about what counselors are hearing from their clients. Watch the Video

AI & U: Could ‘Grief Bots’ Be a Source of Comfort, or a Mental Health Risk?

Published February 11, 2026 on NBC News New York

Emerging AI technology is making it possible to create AI versions of deceased loved ones. But in a new survey of ACA counselors, 89% says that these new grief bots interrupt the grieving process. Watch the Video