Media Center

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

House Passes Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Services for our Nation?s Veterans
Sep 30, 2020|3 min read

Congress passed the Commander John Scott Hannon Veteran Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, and now the bill is on the President?s desk for him to sign into law.
ACA Responds to Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping
Sep 29, 2020|4 min read

The September 22, 2020 executive order seeks to combat "division and inefficiency" in federal contracting by prohibiting contractors from providing employee training on "divisive concepts." ACA is very concerned that the Executive Order would place an ...
House Pushes Passage of Mental Health Equity Bill
Sep 29, 2020|2 min read

Introduced in the House of Representatives on December 17, 2019 by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), H.R.5469 would provide licensed professional counselors with additional resources to address racial inequities within mental health care.

VIEW ALL NEWS

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