School Counseling Multicultural Questions
Using Supervision to Prepare Social Justice Counseling Advocates
Why should a supervisor assess a supervisee’s cognitive complexity?
It is because it helps them to evaluate how effectively the supervisee (counselor) absorbs, integrates, and uses abstract data concurrently with multiple perspectives. Higher levels of cognitive complexity are linked to advanced counseling skills and better client satisfaction.
How can the supervisors help the supervisee to develop their skills?
The supervisors can engage in discussions and interviews with the counselors regarding issues of self-awareness and critical consciousness. In turn, this helps the counselors to evaluate the influence of their culture, values, and sociopolitical systems on their work.
What us the benefit of reflective questioning?
It helps the counselors to recognize power dynamics that are influencing the lives of their clients. It then results in the adoption of better counseling strategies.
Advocacy Competencies
What is Client/Student Advocacy in counseling?
It is where a counselor becomes aware of external factors that are barriers to the client/student’s development and alerts organizations that may have an interest in the issue.
Why should a counselor engage in systems advocacy?
It provides them with an opportunity to address systemic factors affecting their client’s/student’s development. The identification and resolution of external barriers to counseling benefits both the counselor and the student/client.
What steps should an advocacy counselor follow to provide public information about barriers to development?
They should begin by analyzing the impact of the barriers. Identify factors associated with the barriers, prepare multi-media materials concerning the barriers and factors, and disseminate the information through various outlets.
Social Justice in Education and Counseling
How should a counselor employ social justice education?
There are three main steps; acknowledging the student’s voices (perspectives and experiences), developing a social justice curriculum, encouraging students to apply their voice towards change within society. These steps aid in proving students with and strong sense of belonging within school and the community.
What is the benefit of applying social justice in counseling?
It allows the counselor to advocate for the students through the social systems, teaching them their rights and how to access services, and empowering them to speak out against any oppression (to them or others).
What elements of social justice should a counselor implement?
The first is a critical analysis of existing social and institutional inequities, a commitment to take action on behalf of oneself and others, and a willingness to question one’s understanding of social justice. These help to raise the counselor’s competence and social justice advocacy.