Description
616: Counselors’ Practice and Advocacy: Is There a Link?
Christopher Wheelus, Ph.D.
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Erik Schmitt, Ph.D.
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Summary
Social justice advocacy has been gaining increasing importance in the work of professional counselors and counselor educators. Research has demonstrated that certain variables may be significant factors in counselors’ social justice advocacy engagement. Additionally, research has shown that many counselors choose a career out of a sense of career calling and interest in social justice advocacy. The presenters will explore social justice advocacy from the perspectives of history, theology, and clinical mental health. Research findings regarding counseling, social justice advocacy, and the potential link between the two constructs will also be described. Finally, the presenters advocate that current mental health providers hone their counseling strategies to include social justice advocacy.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
• Describe the Christian historical foundations of social advocacy and the recent rise in empirical research among the five lines of scholarly thought
• Discuss social justice advocacy from biblical and contemporary perspectives and its potential link to counseling clients, per the researchers’ findings
• Identify strategies for exploring ways to increase social advocacy in counseling and counselor education for licensed mental health professionals
