ACA News

House Pushes Passage of Mental Health Equity Bill

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.

ACA Recognizes Trauma Due to Kentucky's Grand Jury's Decision in Breonna Taylor's Case

We have a moral and professional obligation to deconstruct institutions that have historically been designed to benefit white America. These systems must be dismantled in order to level the playing field for Black communities.

The U.S. House of Representatives Passes Major Suicide Prevention Legislation

The United States House of Representatives passed several bills focused on Suicide Prevention and Awareness. The bills will create programs for self-harm and prevention, as well as establishes a new national suicide prevention hotline number.

ACA mourns the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg

Justice Ginsburg?s legacy will continue to inspire generations to come, and may her memory be an inspiration to us all.

Our Community Gathers: A Conversation with Counselors about Mental Health in 2020 | 9/17/2020 from 7-9 p.m. EDT

Practicing Self-Care | Supporting Counselors of Color

H.R. 945 ? Medicare Reimbursement for Mental Health Counselors Takes a Step in the Right Direction

Medicare Reimbursement is on the Move

Suicide Prevention Policy During COVID and Beyond

A recent study measuring the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in America found that Americans were reporting a rate of depression three times higher than what was reported in 2019. Awareness of the social determinants of suicide and suicide ...

Counselors Are Voting in 2020

Election Day 2020 will be here in the blink of an eye. Are you registered to vote? Does ACA support candidates? How will you vote during the pandemic?

Great News for Licensed Professional Counselors! HHS Extends the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar has signed a continuation of the COVID-19 public health emergency, ensuring greater access to mental health services.

Countering Health Disparities in Black & Latinx Communities: What Counselors and Other Mental Health Professionals Can Do

Cirecie A. West-Olatunji, Ph. D. serves as full professor and director of the Center for Traumatic Stress Research at Xavier University of Louisiana. She is also a past president of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Nationally, Dr. ...

The American Counseling Association and Association for Counselor Education and Supervision?s Joint Statement on ICE?s New Rules for Foreign Students

The American Counseling Association and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision stand in opposition to new regulations issued by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that will withdraw visas from foreign students whose ...

Free Access to the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development

This virtual issue of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development (JMCD) is a collection of previously published articles that aims to advance multicultural and social justice counseling efforts during the COVID-19 era. The featured ...

July is Minority Mental Health Month

July is Minority Mental Health Month, more recently known as #BIPOCMentalHealthMonth. BIPOC are often faced with years - even generations - of trauma, which translates to socioeconomic disparities and, in turn, is linked to mental health concerns today.

Sue Pressman Begins Term as 69th President of the American Counseling Association

Sue Pressman, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Certified Career Counselor (NCCC), Master Career Counselor (MCC), Board-Certified Coach (BCC) and Global Career Development Facilitator Instructor ...

LGBTQ Rights Watch: Transgender Healthcare

We’ve heard our members’ concerns about the recent anti-LGBTQ healthcare proposal set forth by the Trump Administration and remain dedicated to providing you with leadership on these critical issues. It is certainly true that we find ...

ACA Anti-Racism Statement

  After discussion and discernment, the ACA Governing Council has issued the following statement on anti-racism. The ACA leadership is listening to a cross section of members and volunteers in order to develop an action plan that will give life ...

Celebrate Juneteenth

Every year, Juneteenth takes place on June 19 and is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Black Independence Day, and Cel-Liberation Day. This holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to ...

NECA Statement Against Racism

NECA reacts with abhorrence and repugnance regarding the grip that racism has had on this nation and the world. Racism is not only a national problem, but a global issue that concerns every country, culture, and individual who lives and works on this ...

Using Social Media to Advocate

Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) provides opportunities for legislators to share information about governmental operations and public policy, which supports the fundamental democratic role while also permitting them to ...

ACA Urges Congressional Leaders to Address the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19

The Mental Health Liaison Group, of which ACA is a member, has submitted a letter to both the Energy and Commerce and the Ways and Means committees urging them to address the mental health and addictions impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In ...