Salt and Light in Public Education:
Ethical Integration of Faith in Practice for School Counselors
Summer Kuba, Ph.D., Ed.S., MSW
Kerry Bowles, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Tuesday, August 18th
6:00 – 8:30 PM ET
Level: Intermediate
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Continuing Education
Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop:
Live: Approved for ASWB, NBCC, IBCC, and the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling.
On Demand: Approved for 2 NBCC and IBCC Credits*
CE Statement
Summary
When Christian mental health professionals work in or partner with the public school system, values conflicts are inevitable. Although these professionals may hold personal religious beliefs, counselor ethical codes and standards require them to honor students’ autonomy and avoid imposing spiritual beliefs (ACA, 2014; CACREP, 2024; ASCA, 2022). However, there is a delicate balance between honoring biblical truth and adhering to professional standards and the American Association of Christian Counselors Code of Ethics (2023) requires that counselors exercise great care in working with clients regardless of their status, affiliations, or beliefs while still providing services that are based in Biblical truths. In this workshop, licensed mental health professionals will recognize how to honor one’s beliefs while serving students in public schools. Participants will discuss the historical and Biblical scope of “Separation of Church and State” to explain how faith-based mental health professionals adhere to state regulations while comparing counseling standards to Biblical principles and societal trends to implement effective services in schools. Additionally, participants will create a personal and professional integration plan to be the salt and light in public education.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Discuss how to navigate the balance between honoring one’s personal Christian beliefs and adhering to counselor ethical codes, ensuring respect for students’ autonomy while serving in public schools.
- Examine the historical and biblical context of the “Separation of Church and State,” and how faith-based mental health professionals can comply with state regulations while respecting their beliefs.
- Create a personal and professional integration plan to effectively implement mental health services in public schools while being the Salt and Light, integrating biblical principles with counseling standards.
Continuing Education Statement
Live: Approved for ASWB, NBCC, IBCC, and the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling
The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due to good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements. Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required Continuing Education hours. *For Professionals needing Live CE Credits, Webinars Must be watched live. Webinars will remain Live until 12 am ET.
Psychologists
- The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AACC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Licensed Mental Health Professionals
- The AACC is approved in multiple states to give Continuing Education to licensed mental health professionals. When requesting CEs, please indicate in which state you are licensed in on the Continuing Education Form. If this is not indicated, you may receive the wrong CE certificate for your state.
- The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), #1400, is approved as a provider for social work Continuing Education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. ASWB Approval Period: (09/06/2023 to 09/06/2026). Licensed social workers should contact their individual regulatory boards to review current Continuing Education requirements for licensure renewal. Any presentation that is less than 50 minutes in duration is not approved by the ASWB for Continuing Education credits.
American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
On-Demand: NBCC & IBCC
Effective immediately, participants can now earn 2 NBCC and IBCC credits for CounselTalk webinars that are not attended live. To receive this credit, participants must complete a 10-question quiz and an evaluation following the On-demand (recorded) CounselTalk webinar.
The CounselTalk webinar will switch to “On-Demand” credit after 11:59 pm on the day of the webinar.
American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
IBCC: The training offered through AACC-sponsored conferences and training programs also meets the ongoing CE requirements for counselors, life coaches, and crisis responders who are credentialed through the International Board of Christian Care (IBCC) or one of its affiliate boards: the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counseling (BCPPC), the Board of Christian Life Coaching (BCLC), the Board of Mental Health Coaching (BMHC), and the Board of Christian Crisis and Trauma Response (BCCTR).
Learn more about our Continuing Education Policies
Presenters
Summer Kuba, Ph.D., Ed.S., MSW, is the School Counseling Program Director and an associate professor at Liberty University. With a strong background as both a school counselor and private practice clinician, she has worked extensively with children, adolescents, women, and families in a variety of settings, including residential treatment centers and advocacy roles with the Florida State Attorney’s Office. Her areas of expertise include grief and loss, crisis intervention, the MTSS process, and Biblical integration in counseling. Dr. Kuba is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences and is passionate about leadership and advocacy within the counseling profession.
Kerry Bowles, Ph.D., M.Ed., is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Director in the M.Ed. in School Counseling Program at Liberty University. With over 14 years of experience as a school counselor in Central Virginia and more than 15 years supervising master’s-level counseling students, she brings a wealth of practical and academic expertise to her role. A dedicated educator and advocate for the profession, she is actively involved in numerous professional organizations, including AACC, ACA, ASCA, and VASC. Kerry is also a frequent presenter at state and regional conferences, sharing her insights on school counseling and counselor education.
