Consultation and Advocacy
Social Justice Advocacy and Consultation
Christopher Cuscia
COUN 5004
Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors
69 South Bradford Street
North Andover, MA 01845
Telephone: (978) 944-4212
Email: Cmcuscia@gmail.com
Instructor: Dr. Rita Smith
Abstract
This paper explains the concepts and relationship between social justice advocacy and consultation, two necessary skills that an effective counselor develops and practices to achieve their professional goals, to recognize, understand, and assist the demands of the client or consumer. According to research conducted by Moe, Perera-Diltz, Sepulveda 's, (2010), there is a positive correlation between the two concepts. However, the research did reveal that “Participants differed in their perceived similarity between consultation and advocacy based on the interaction of their practice setting and ethnic or racial identification (Moe, et al. 2010).” It is evident that social justice advocacy requires efficient skills that needs to be continuously practiced within the counseling profession. The professional advocate and consultant do illustrate opposing roles where an advocates’ approach is to cease the oppression within a client’s life and the consultants’ primary concern relates towards the discovery and therapy of the psychological consequences (Benjamin, & Baker, 2004; Speight, & Vera, 2004.). The paper will also examine and address the benefits experienced from the counselor’s participation and utilization of advocacy, in relation to the care of children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. The presence of institutional and social barriers such as certain influences, and resistance will also be examined.
The concept of social justice advocacy can be explained by first defining advocacy. Advocacy can be classified as a mental health counselor’s action to assist in their clients’ therapy and achieve the overall goals of the therapy by considering the
Christopher Cuscia
COUN 5004
Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors
69 South Bradford Street
North Andover, MA 01845
Telephone: (978) 944-4212
Email: Cmcuscia@gmail.com
Instructor: Dr. Rita Smith
Abstract
This paper explains the concepts and relationship between social justice advocacy and consultation, two necessary skills that an effective counselor develops and practices to achieve their professional goals, to recognize, understand, and assist the demands of the client or consumer. According to research conducted by Moe, Perera-Diltz, Sepulveda 's, (2010), there is a positive correlation between the two concepts. However, the research did reveal that “Participants differed in their perceived similarity between consultation and advocacy based on the interaction of their practice setting and ethnic or racial identification (Moe, et al. 2010).” It is evident that social justice advocacy requires efficient skills that needs to be continuously practiced within the counseling profession. The professional advocate and consultant do illustrate opposing roles where an advocates’ approach is to cease the oppression within a client’s life and the consultants’ primary concern relates towards the discovery and therapy of the psychological consequences (Benjamin, & Baker, 2004; Speight, & Vera, 2004.). The paper will also examine and address the benefits experienced from the counselor’s participation and utilization of advocacy, in relation to the care of children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. The presence of institutional and social barriers such as certain influences, and resistance will also be examined.
The concept of social justice advocacy can be explained by first defining advocacy. Advocacy can be classified as a mental health counselor’s action to assist in their clients’ therapy and achieve the overall goals of the therapy by considering the
References: Arredondo, P., Toporek, R., Brown, S., Jones, J., Locke, D. C., Sanchez, J., & Stadler, H. (1996). Constantine, M., Hage, S., Kindaichi, M., & Bryant, R. (2007). Social justice and multicultural issues: Implications for the practice and training of counselors and counseling psychologists Benjamin, L.T., Jr., & Baker, D.B. (2004). From séance o science: A history of the profession of psychology in America. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Moe, Jeffry L Ratts, M., & Hutchins, A. (2009). ACA advocacy competencies: Social justice advocacy at the client/student level. Journal of Counseling & Development, vol. 87, p. 269-275 Speight, S West-Olatunji, Cerecie. (2010). If Not Now, When? : Advocacy, social justice, and counselor education.