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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

ACA Attends Congressional Briefing on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
Nov 7, 2023|1 min read

Recently ACA attended the Congressional Briefing “Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act: What Has Changed (and Hasn’t) 15 Years Since Passage,” sponsored by REDC. Since the passage of the Mental Health Parity and ...
Workplace Wellness Policies Could Soften the Effects of Workaholism
Nov 7, 2023|2 min read

Employers should consider more ways to facilitate time off for the employees who are least likely to take it — workaholics. That’s the conclusion of counseling experts who conducted a workaholism study published in Career Development Quarterly
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Release Final Rule for Medicare Reimbursement
Nov 3, 2023|2 min read

November 3, 2023 (Alexandria, VA) — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Rule. Many of the policies within the rule relate to mental health counselors (MHC) and marriage and ...

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Media Mentions

Tech developers say AI chatbots can battle loneliness and depression. Experts are skeptical.

Published February 9, 2026 on NBC News

More the 700 ACA counselors participated in an NBC News survey about the use and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on mental health. Olivia Uwamahoro, co-chair of ACA’s AI Work Group, explained why counselors are skeptical of the future of AI on mental health and wellness. Read Full Article

AI & U: Developing romantic relationships with chatbots

Published February 9, 2026 on NBC News

In response to an NBC News survey, 86% of ACA counselors believe that developing romantic relationships with AI chatbots leads to increased social withdrawal and unhealthy dependencies. ACA’s AI Work Group co-chair, Olivia Uwamahoro, questions the impact of AI chatbots on the public’s overall wellness. Watch the Video

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