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 in the News: Fighting for Students With Disabilities in New Mexico
    Jun 5, 2015|1 min read

    ACA?s Director of Government Affairs, Art Terrazas, spoke with the Associated Press about a report stating that New Mexico ranks well below the national average in graduating students with disabilities with a regular high school diploma. Over the last ...

  • ACA in the News: Unrealistic Expectations
    Jun 4, 2015|1 min read

    ACA member Dr. Shannon Karl shared insights on the roots of unhappiness with Care.com. Many people find they are unhappy at some point in their lives. Dr. Karl explains that Hollywood?s depictions of life can be deceiving.

  • 2015 Counseling Awareness Month Public Outreach Contest Winner Announced
    May 28, 2015|1 min read

    We are proud to announce Janet de Vries as the winner of our 2015 Counseling Awareness Month Public Outreach Contest! She will receive a complimentary registration to the ACA 2016 Conference & Expo in Montreal.

Media Mentions


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

What Does Disorganized Attachment Style look Like in Adults?

Published July 28, 2025 in WebMD

A person with disorganized attachment often wants conflicting things, so they have contradictory behavior. ACA’s President-Elect, Victoria Kress explains this attachment style and is quoted in this article. Read Full Article