ÀÖ²©´«Ã½

Press Release

Press Release

M. Elsa Soto Leggett Begins Term as ÀÖ²©´«Ã½ 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 ÀÖ²©´«Ã½2025–2026 president on July 1.

Latest News


  • Vermont and Iowa Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law
    Jun 5, 2023|2 min read

    The dream of many licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines continued to move forward as forward as Vermont Governor Phil Scott and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law their states’ Counseling Compact ...

  • U.S. Surgeon General Releases Report: 2023 SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
    May 24, 2023|4 min read

    On Tuesday, May 23, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. “The most common question parents ask me is, ‘Is social media safe for my kids?’ The answer is that we don't ...

  • National Maternal Mental Health Hotline First Anniversary
    May 18, 2023|1 min read

    Last year, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) rolled out a National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (NMMHH). This Hotline connects pregnant and postpartum mothers and family members ...

Media Mentions


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. ÀÖ²©´«Ã½Past President Christine Suniti Bhat explains the importance of providing mental health services to students in rural Appalachian Ohio.

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. ÀÖ²©´«Ã½Past 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.

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.

Published August 19, 2025 on Associated Press

Transitioning to a new home or school environment can be an anxious time for kids, with worries about making new friends and adapting to new routines. ACA’s President Elect Victoria Kress provides insight on how these changes can affect kids.