Problem
Greetings Everyone, Recently the GCU Global Justice Counseling Committee (GJCC), which includes 8 GCU Faculty members, including myself as Chair, created this Social Justice Advocacy Statement for you. How would you answer the questions embedded in the statement? Also, feel free to share your reflections and questions about our statement.
SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY STUDENT STATEMENT
Counseling professional ethical standards identify the value in promoting social justice as one of the core professional expectations within the counseling profession. As a counselor in training (CIT), professional counselor or aspiring counselor educator, being a part of the counseling community requires us to be diligent in how we provide support and care to our communities. Due to the various challenges in society, being an empowering advocate for individuals that are marginalized, oppressed and experience barriers, is essential to our profession and professional roles.
As we are encouraged to interconnect and build healthy relationships, advocating for social justice is an important part of our professional identity. Social justice advocacy has an impact on community, state, national and diverse cultures globally. Moreover, CIT, professional counselors and aspiring counselor educators help shape legal, political, economic, moral and ethical values by enacting justice enhancing endeavors, which produces positive change.
Considering this statement, how can you contribute to your professional identity as a CIT, professional counselor or aspiring counselor educator? How can we as graduate and doctoral programs become more involved in the area of social justice and advocacy? Asking these questions and becoming intentional about taking action in our communities (locally and afar) is central to our profession. It is here that we stand as catalysts for change, ultimately paving the way to making a lasting impact for justice in the lives of all we serve.