Zhai receives award from American Counseling Association

University of Alabama at BirminghamYusen Zhai, Ph.D., UAB Community Counseling Clinic Director Assistant Professor Yusen Zhai, Ph.D., has received the 2024 ACA Research Award from the American Counseling Association as recognition for high-quality, original research contributing to the counseling profession.

"Receiving this award is a recognition of my endeavors to use innovative and rigorous research methods to bring about transformative change in the counseling profession," Zhai said. "Seeing the impact that research can have on counseling practices and the lives of those we serve fuels my continuing passion and dedication to the counseling profession. This award aligns with my long-term aspiration to advance counseling research and bridge mental health care gaps to drive better health outcomes among diverse populations."

Zhai, who serves as director of the UAB School of Education's Community Counseling Clinic, says his research on the policy effects of telehealth expansion bridged a critical research gap in mental health research, employing an advanced statistical approach to analyze real-world policy effects. His research findings provided strong real-world empirical evidence supporting the utility of telehealth counseling as a viable service delivery option. The seminal findings and contributions of this research inform both clinical practice and health policy, rendering his work unparalleled in the counseling profession and across social science. His research findings also provided a longitudinal perspective on salient issues over racial and ethnic disparities in mental health.

Each year, one researcher is awarded by ACA with the ACA Research Award to recognize high-quality, original research conducted in areas of interest to the entire counseling profession and more than 80 divisions or organizational affiliates of ACA.