Mental Health Conferences
ACA Conference & Expo
The ACA Conference & Expo is a professional development and networking event for professional counselors in Columbus, Ohio. The conference brings together counseling professionals for education sessions, learning institutes, networking events, and an expo hall.
Some quick details about this conference.
The ACA Conference & Expo brings together professional counselors from around the country for education, connection, and professional growth. Attendees can take part in education sessions, poster sessions, general sessions, keynotes, division meetings, social events, networking opportunities, and the Expo Hall. The event also includes an opening night reception and dedicated spaces for career development, wellness, and professional engagement.
The agenda covers a wide range of counseling topics across clinical practice, ethics, supervision, business ownership, cultural responsiveness, and emerging technology. Learning Institutes add deeper training in areas such as suicide assessment, play therapy, behavioral addictions, documentation ethics, private practice operations, cross-racial relations, chronic disease treatment, and generative AI. The conference schedule also includes board meetings, business events, a quiet room, a speaker ready room, and Friends of Bill.
Maybe the most important details of the conference.
This organization is hosting this conference.
American Counseling Association
The American Counseling Association is a national professional association for counselors. It hosts this conference as a large annual event focused on professional education, connection, and advancement in the counseling field.
Email: memberservices@counseling.org
Phone: 800-298-2276
| Cost |
Type |
Notes |
| $410.00 |
Member Early |
Full conference registration for ACA members if registered on or before 2026-01-20. |
| $525.00 |
Member Regular |
Full conference registration for ACA members if registered 2026-01-21 through 2026-04-08. |
| $630.00 |
Member Onsite |
Full conference registration for ACA members if registered on or after 2026-04-09. |
| $315.00 |
Student, New Professional, or Retired Member Early |
Full conference registration for student, new professional, or retired ACA members if registered on or before 2026-01-20. |
| $400.00 |
Student, New Professional, or Retired Member Regular |
Full conference registration for student, new professional, or retired ACA members if registered 2026-01-21 through 2026-04-08. |
| $475.00 |
Student, New Professional, or Retired Member Onsite |
Full conference registration for student, new professional, or retired ACA members if registered on or after 2026-04-09. |
| $675.00 |
Non-Member Early |
Full conference registration for non-members if registered on or before 2026-01-20. |
| $775.00 |
Non-Member Regular |
Full conference registration for non-members if registered 2026-01-21 through 2026-04-08. |
| $875.00 |
Non-Member Onsite |
Full conference registration for non-members if registered on or after 2026-04-09. |
| $515.00 |
Student Non-Member Early |
Full conference registration for student non-members if registered on or before 2026-01-20. Documented proof of current student program participation is required. |
| $600.00 |
Student Non-Member Regular |
Full conference registration for student non-members if registered 2026-01-21 through 2026-04-08. Documented proof of current student program participation is required. |
| $675.00 |
Student Non-Member Onsite |
Full conference registration for student non-members if registered on or after 2026-04-09. Documented proof of current student program participation is required. |
| $99.00 |
Learning Institute Member |
Learning Institute registration fee per session for ACA members. |
| $49.00 |
Learning Institute Student Member |
Learning Institute registration fee per session for student ACA members. |
| $199.00 |
Learning Institute Non-Member |
Learning Institute registration fee per session for non-members. |
See the conference's actual website for more details around these fees, as sometimes they can be more complicated.
It's important to know what is planned.
The conference runs April 9 through April 11, 2026, with some activities beginning on April 8. Registration opens on April 8 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and continues on April 9 from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Learning Institutes take place in half-day blocks on April 9, including sessions from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The broader conference schedule includes board meetings, division and business events, a quiet room, a speaker ready room, and Friends of Bill.
Expo Hall hours are Thursday, April 9 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, Friday, April 10 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday, April 11 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Full conference registration includes education sessions, poster sessions, general sessions, keynotes, the opening night reception, the Expo Hall, ACA and division meetings, social and networking events, and lunch on Friday and Saturday.
These folks will be speaking at the conference.
D.J. Vanas
President of Native Discovery Inc., former U.S. Air Force officer, and best-selling author. Speaks on courage, resilience, and applying principles from Native American culture to navigate uncertainty and serve others effectively.
Françoise Mathieu, MEd, RP
Leader at TEND Academy Ltd. Focuses on moral courage in times of crisis, offering practical approaches for professionals to act with clarity, steadiness, and integrity under pressure.
Here's information on Continuing Education Units (or CEUs).
Learning Institutes offer 3 CE credits each. A total CE amount for the full conference is not stated.
Hotel options include the Hyatt Regency Columbus and the Sonesta Columbus Downtown. Both hotels connect to the Greater Columbus Convention Center by accessible skywalk.
The Hyatt Regency Columbus at 350 North High Street offers a discounted group rate of $243 per night plus taxes and fees, and the Sonesta Columbus Downtown at 33 E. Nationwide Blvd. offers a discounted group rate of $213 per night plus taxes and fees. The reservation deadline for both hotels is March 17, 2026, unless the room block sells out earlier.
ACA directs attendees to use the official reservation links and warns against unauthorized third-party hotel booking offers. Housing questions go to events@counseling.org.
Unless you're taking public transit.
The Hyatt Regency Columbus offers self-parking starting at $25 per day and valet parking starting at $44 per day.
The Sonesta Columbus Downtown offers self-parking starting at $32 per day and valet parking starting at $42 per day.
Attendees can also use rideshare services, taxis, COTA public transit, and rental cars from John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
The above information is from the conference or event webpage. Please review the organization's website for official information, as that will be more up-to-date.
Reminder: This is an overview of this conference, and you should consult the official website for details on registration, fees, deadlines, and other details. Quill Therapy Solutions is maintaining this information to make it more accessible to the therapist and mental health professional community.
If you noticed an issue with the above information, please send us an email: conferences@quilltherapysolutions.com (Ideally, include a link to the conference and the details that need to be corrected. Thank you!)
