Ali Cunningham Abbott, PhD, LMHC, QS is the Program Director & an Associate Professor in the CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Prior to academia, she worked at Florida Atlantic University as Assistant Director for the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) working with the autism community. She also provides individual counseling for adolescents and adults at the Center for the Treatment of Anxiety & Mood Disorder. Cunningham has presented on and published a book, book chapters and academic articles related to various topics including autism, mental health first aid, improved training for future counselors, and on advocacy for the BIPOC, queer & trans communities.