Teaching career counseling as a pathway for justice and advocacy work

Abstract

The authors conducted a thematic analysis of interviews with nine faculty who teach career counseling with an emphasis on advocacy and social justice. Participants spoke of their motivations for teaching the course, their strategies to engender excitement about this specialty, and barriers in framing the course through an advocacy lens.

Career development in individuals living with epilepsy: A reflective lifeworld phenomenological study

“…Although some PWE do receive vocational rehabilitation to aid in gaining employment, the majority do not need these services, leaving a significant need for career support to attend to the employment and relational experiences negatively impacting quality of life (Asadi‐Pooya et al., 2020; Lalatović et al., 2022; Sherman, 2009; Steiger & Jokeit, 2017; Walther et al., 2023). Fortunately, career counselors are in the unique position to engage in work that attends to both the relational and structural injustices to (a) recognize how epilepsy impacts career development; (b) challenge policies to redistribute resources to provide individuals with the accommodations necessary for their well‐being; and (c) increase representation by challenging policies that dehumanize epilepsy and limit career opportunities/choices (Brown & Baraka, 2022; Cheuk, 2012; Hill et al., 2021; Hutchison, 2015). The structural essence of epilepsy within career identity development can be used by practitioners as a counternarrative to aid in the client's own progression toward acceptance and improving their quality of life.…”

Self-protective strategies used by Asian and Black psychology and counselor education faculty who teach multicultural competence courses.

“…More recently scholars have argued that training and education should emphasize the importance of cultural humility, recognition of privilege, power, and marginalization, and an orientation toward social justice advocacy (Abbot et al, 2019; Davis et al, 2018; DeBlaere et al, 2019; Ratts et al, 2016). Psychology and counseling scholars and educators are underscoring the importance of training students to understand concepts such as intersectionality, and ways in which power and privilege are systemic realities and remain ubiquitous for marginalized persons (Brown & Baraka, 2022; Davis et al, 2018; DeBlaere et al, 2019; McConnell et al, 2021; Ratts et al, 2016). Furthermore, a greater emphasis on cultural humility has entailed an understanding that one never becomes sufficiently competent but one engages in a process of growing and learning how to be with clients in ways that are affirming and therapeutic (Davis et al, 2018; Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998).…”