Self-Advocacy

INTRODUCTION

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.

– Maya Angelou

Being a self-advocate at times runs counterintuitive to what we are taught as counselors and what we know about being a servant leader. However, it is paramount that leaders and advocates engage in personal advocacy. These leadership and advocacy strategies focus on identifying barriers, setting professional boundaries, and seeking mentorship. The unit readings are related to personal advocacy and leadership within academia and professional organizations. Remember to give yourself credit for all of your leadership roles, by denoting these on your professional CV now and throughout your career.

Reference

BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Maya Angelou quotes. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/maya_angelou_101310

Self Advocacy TRANSCRIPT

Josh Stanley
I’m wondering, as you think about our doctoral learners in the counselor education and supervision program, what do you want them to know about leadership and advocacy? And why don’t we go around with this one and start with Dr. Kascsak.

Dr. Kascsak
Oh goodness. Thank you Dr. Stanley for catching me off guard there. So I think that there’s been such a great discussion that we’ve had to today about leadership and advocacy. And so I think that for me, the big picture view of this would be that there’s a few pieces. One is that it’s something that is inherent in our identity as counselors, you’re just not going to get away from it. And the other thing is that it’s about progress and it’s not about perfection, and you are going to learn and grow about leadership and advocacy, as you learn and grow your craft, as you move along. And I think, just as CES learners, also remembering that those masters learners, those graduate students, that you will also be coming into contact with, they are learning and growing too. And so it really becomes this kind of multilayered process or this parallel process that we’re all just kind of existing with.

So the things that I try to remember about my role, whether it’s us as a faculty chair, or as a newsletter editor, or as the president of an association, or just as a committee member, is that I just am trying to do my best. My intentions are well meaning, I’m trying to do my best work, I’m trying to stay focused. And for me, I’m a big lover of the principles in the ACA Code. Kind of that part before the code starts, I just really am reflective of those concepts of autonomy and veracity and equity and those types of things that really should guide us.

And then I think tied to this, and the last thing to say is, this idea of self-compassion and self-care that we’re all learning and we’re all doing our best. And so to remember that as you go along. That no one expects perfection, we just expect, I guess, your willingness and your openness to embrace these principles, to embrace these values, to embrace the identity of our profession, because the work that we get to do is valuable and honorable, and you’re among the fortunate.

Josh Stanley
Thank you.

Dale Wayman
I always like hearing Dr. Kascsak talk because I am so in line with what she says, it’s just really, really good stuff. On a practical level, and I’m not saying she wasn’t practical, but I’m saying on a practical level, there are action steps you can take. And as a PhD with a CES degree, you are held a little bit to a higher standard than a master’s level counselor, in my opinion. And so if there are openings on your state association, you need to be volunteering for those positions, okay? To me, that should be a given. The second one, you need to volunteer and you have to do this usually through the Governor, but you need to volunteer to serve on the counseling board. Say, “I want to serve on the counseling board.” Keep your name in front of the Governor. The governor can appoint you that.

Those to me are the two most important things. But the third thing is, it’s easy when you can become a doctor, you get full of yourself and think that, “Hey, I know everything.” And then we become threatened by people who know as much as we do or sometimes know more than we do, and then we recoil from that. And what we need to do is collaborate. The more you collaborate with others, the more you’re going to succeed in the field, and the more you’re also going to push the field forward. Those are my three things.

Josh Stanley
Thank you. Dr. De Le Paz, what about you?

Michelle De La Paz
I want to add to what they’ve said so far. We have the knowledge, whether we’re masters level or beyond, we have the knowledge and skills to be able to advocate because we have that ability to connect. We have the ability to… all of what we do as counselors, you can transfer those skills into advocacy. So from masters on, so for doctoral learners, that’s even more so what can happen. And another thing that we do, as the professors and the chairs, we model that for them. Or a supervisor, we model that for them. And modeling for everyone, the literature supports the fact that if it’s modeled by a supervisor or a counselor educator, then we’re apt to do it more. Even if there are barriers in place, you’re apt to do it more.

So my thought is, starting at that level, even, I know Dr. Lambert teaches intro to mental health, that’s where it all starts. Let’s put this information in. Let’s help them understand that this is how you can become or help the profession become better and more apt to be able to help those who need us. And so when you get to that doctoral level, I’m in agreement with what Dr. Wayman says, getting involved. If you’re not involved in associations or with your learners, at maybe even a grass roots effort, it’s difficult to make change. And if you have a passion, you can take it from point A to point B, going with that momentum, starting at little seeds, the small egg winds up becoming a big egg. Being able to do both of those is important.

And one other thing I would say that I think that some doctoral learners struggle with, because you don’t have to go to the capital to advocate. You can do it in other ways. And so looking at what makes sense to you while you have all these courses you’re taking, or you’re trying to work on your dissertation, find out what fits in, what you’re doing at this time. That’s why leaders in the field, once they’re established, they wind up doing some of that work that maybe someone who is at the doctoral level doesn’t have time for it this time. So my thought is you have to look at the whole picture and find a way that makes sense from the self care perspective, because if you’re not taking care of yourself, you cannot even do that work as well, so anyway.

Josh Stanley
Thank you.

Michelle De La Paz
I’m going to drop the mic.

Josh Stanley
Dr. Lange, what thoughts do you have for CES learners?

Amber Lange
The one thing that I would add is simply the statement, join us. And so I look across the names of who’s on this phone call and we all work here and we all are trying to be advocates for you as learners. And we all present at conferences with learners. And but we can put calls out to ask you to join us, but be an advocate for yourself and ask us. And we’re six faculty that work here, but there are a few hundred faculty that work here. And so if somebody says, no, don’t take it personally. They might not have time, they might not be going somewhere, but you will get a yes. And there’s many of us here that are advocates for the profession, for the master students, for clients. And so you’ll find a fit, but ask because we’re busy, you’re busy. But we want to mentor you, the people here believe that it’s important. The faculty here believe that it’s important. And so if you too believe that it’s important, step forward and ask, and join us.

Josh Stanley
Dr. Lambert, we’ll close with your thoughts on this.

I want to just highlight what my colleagues have said. What amazing words of wisdom they have shared today. So thank you all for doing that. To highlight that Dr. Wayman said, there are always leadership positions available at the state association, or you can apply to a national committee, or you can apply to a Chi Sigma Iota chapter leadership position. There is more work than any of us can do. So just roll up their sleeves and, as Dr. Lange said, just go for it, just get involved and join us. Dr. Wayman also mentioned something really important, which is the LPC state board. And those are appointments that are done by the Governor and something that we… it’s so incredibly important for us to have our voice at the table where decisions are being made about our practice laws and how we regulate and monitor our own professionals.

So thank you very much for mentioning that piece. And then the conversation about self-care. We want to see folks engage in leadership for the rest of their career, at whatever capacity they can, at whatever time in their life they’re in, with all of the other responsibilities that they have. And in order to run that marathon and not a sprint, mentorship, which is something we’ve talked about self-care, but also setting boundaries and understanding, there might be times when you’re in an association where it’s just not a healthy environment and bringing in outside consultants or people who can help change the culture of that association to make sure that the mission and values of the association are being upheld. And that’s something that, as a leader, you’re able to speak up and say, “This isn’t working for us. How could we change this so that we can be more effective.” So being able to have conversations with your mentors about how to navigate some of those challenges is really important.

And what I’d like to end on today is understanding why you’re getting into leadership is critical. So if you’re doing it for a line on your CV, well lines in your CPR are very important as doctoral learners, as you’re looking for your first job, as you want to be hired, that’s incredibly important. But the ultimate goal for being a leader is to be a servant leader and to be able to contribute to the wellbeing of others. And so if you can use that as your guiding post, that will help you to stay focused on not doing something for your own benefit, but for the benefit of all. And I hope that that helps.

Dr. Stanley
Yeah, I just want to say thank you to each of the panelists for being willing to come today and have a conversation about leadership and advocacy. I’m so grateful to you for each of your time. I’m also grateful to you as the learners who have already taken a major step into becoming future leaders and advocates for the profession by pursuing doctoral studies in counselor education and supervision. Each of you has a unique perspective that you bring to the table and the world, the counseling profession. And your communities need that perspective, especially now, so thank you to you too.

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Identifying Barriers and Assistance to Leadership and Advocacy

Read the attached articles and discussion above.

In 750 – 800 words, address the following:

• What are the benefits for you to participate in leadership as a doctoral learner and new counselor educator?
• What are barriers for you to engage in leadership while in the doctoral program and as a new counselor educator?
• How would you mitigate barriers to finding leadership opportunities and sustaining leadership during the doctoral program and as a new counselor educator? Describe.