our mission statement diversity committee fall 2015 changes22 april 2015 volume 1, issue 2 southern...
TRANSCRIPT
22 April 2015
Volume 1 Issue 2
Southern Connecticut
State
Bringing Diversity Home
Our Mission Statement
The Counseling and School Psychology Diversity Committee is committed to creating an
inclusive community grounded in respect and appreciation for all individual differences The
Committee recognizes a broad definition of diversity including racialethnic gender and
gender orientation sexual orientation disability immigrant status socio-economic status
religion and spirituality among others The Diversity Committees main function is to pro-
vide programs and resources to students that enhance knowledge and encourage under-
standing of diversity as well as multicultural competence as a counselor Additionally the
Diversity Committee can inform and assist Faculty within the department with recruitment
enrollment education and retention of a diverse student body
Diversity Committee Homepage
Diversity Committee Fall 2015 Changes
Congratulations to our fellow classmates who will be graduating this Spring 2015 Thank
you to Courtney Brown amp Natalia Arboleda who were our co-chairs for Fall 2014-Spring
2015 With our remaining classmates on their way to graduation this Fall we are looking for
new faces in the Diversity Committee
The opportunities for involvement are great for your portfolio hours as well as resume
Please consider joining the Diversity Committee by being an active and present member
Leadership Opportunities
Welcome to all new members especially Bianca Huckabey who will be our new second co-
chair amp to Heather Mills who will be one of our new newsletter editors
We are also looking for a second newsletter editor as Liz will be graduating and I will be co-
chairing I am willing to help anyone with the newsletter so that it is easy to do and am look-
ing to have at least two people to share the title
Of course we are also looking for students who are available to attend meetings and be sup-
porting members We hope to bring new opportunities this semester by having diversity
committee volunteer for outside programs )
Please contact me at jenniferljungquistgmailcom if you are interested
Upcoming goals
Movie Nights (2) Fall 2015
Beyond Tolerance Workshop (1) Fall 2015
Volunteer opportunities for diverse settings
Participation in other opportunities such as Day of Silence Proud2Bme etc
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Social Justice in Counselinghellip2-4
What We Can Dohelliphelliphelliphelliphellip4-5
Diversity Committee Dates 4
Save the Dates 5
Diversity in the News 6
Diversity Passport Links 6
Portfolio Links 6
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
Diversity Resources
Promoting Diversity
Volunteer Resources
Upcoming Workshops Trainings
amp Conferences
How you can get involved with
Diversity Committee
ldquoTo catch the readers attention place an interesting sentence or quote from the story hererdquo
For example recent news stories on entire state governments and local businesses selectively
choosing who they sell items to without any consequences from their governments have caused an
uproar among the LGBT community social media and protestors who agree that the LGBT com-
munity is being discriminated against based on their sexual orientation Social justice for this com-
munity is clearly still needed
Crethar and Ratts (2008) also mention the use of access participation and harmony in
counseling for social justice Of course it is just as equally important that our clients are able to ldquohellip
access the resources services power information and understanding crucial to realizing a standard
of living that allows for self-determination and human developmentrdquo (p 24) Participation is also
key As counselors I hope we would want our clients to be able to actively participate in their own
rights and be asked to help make decisions that will affect their communities as a whole However
the ability for members of society to participate easily in government actions for example is diffi-
cult Not everyone has the means transportation or knowledge of what is going on in their local
government towns or even schools to be able to advocate for themselves This is why it is so incred-
ibly important for counselors to stay on top of what is going on in their legislature and communi-
ties not only for their clients with the promotion of multiculturalism but also for the Department
of Mental Health and Addiction Services and LPCs in general
Crethar amp Rattsrsquo final principle is harmony (2008) According to Crethar amp Ratts ldquoThis is
a principle of social adjustment wherein the actions revolving around the self-interests of any indi-
vidual or group ultimately produces results that afford the best possible outcomes for the commu-
nity as a wholerdquo (p 25) This may be the most difficult aspect of their definition of social justice
Achieving harmony for a group of people who are oppressed without in turn oppressing the group
who is originally being discriminatory could be difficult The ability to produce an outcome that
benefits both the oppressed and dominant group equally is ideal One may be asking himherself
who do they currently advocate for who is oppressed who shouldnrsquot be and should be appeased
with equal rights and that is normal because on a personal level not everyone is going to agree
with everyone However what we need to remember as counselors is that we are advocating in that
moment for our client Whether or not we agree or disagree on a subject should not affect our abil-
ity to promote social justice for an oppressed or discriminated against group or individual I think
as a society we need to promote social justice in such a way that everyone is able to step back and
put themselves in someone elsersquos shoes Perhaps getting others to realize that what they may not
consider a privilege really is to others is key in acquiring harmony among both groups Perhaps
bringing a community together and raising awareness educating others doing experiments that
require others to live the life of someone they consider ldquolesser than themrdquo and promoting fairness
and equality may help start to increase the harmony between the oppressed and dominant groups
in our society
Social Justice in Counseling -Jennifer Ljungquist
There is no doubt that when it
comes to social justice counselors should be
just as involved as social workers and gov-
ernment officials Counselors in America
listen to countless words and visually wit-
ness behaviors of clients who identify with a
variety of different characteristics The cli-
ents that counselors see are so diverse in
their race ethnicity spirituality sexuality
gender socio-economic level and physical
and mental abilities It is no wonder that we
will hear about and have the opportunities to
advocate for clients who are oppressed
judged and stigmatized by others in the
community on a social and professional
level
Social justice is needed in a society
where not everyone is treated with equal
rights freedoms or opportunities It is a way
that we as counselors can promote fairness
for our clients as equals to the dominate
society no matter how they identify them-
selves According to Crethar H amp Ratts M
there are four principles in which social jus-
tice can be applied in counseling work equi-
ty access participation and harmony
(2008) They state in Counseling Today that
ldquoequity is the fair distribution of resources
rights and responsibilities to all members of
societyrdquo (p 24) One may think that in to-
dayrsquos society with technology and govern-
ment funded programs distributing re-
sources rights and responsibilities to every-
one would be something we have already
done yet we are seeing more and more advo-
cacy is still needed
2
So how do we start There are just about a million and one ways we can promote social justice
and advocate for our clients It may be overwhelming for us and as your author I can tell you it
is just as overwhelming to me choosing an area to focus on or a place to start However start-
ing at all is a place to begin We need to get up and stand up As counselors we can educate
ourselves promote awareness of other cultures religions identities sexual orientations gen-
ders etchellip that exist in our own communities and on the grander scale of our country We can
speak up when we hear derogatory or negative commentary from others We can advocate for
our clients in finding resources for them identifying the ways in which they are not as privi-
leged as others and helping to raise funds for those who are unable to transport themselves or
nourish themselves with food and knowledge for that matter One of your fellow classmates
mentioned to me that even getting to know our own political system and how to navigate it is
key to beginning to promote social justice for ourselves and our clients I have to admit even I
am unaware of certain ways politics work and how intricate the political system really is I only
recently began looking into politics and counseling and helped out by ldquocrying outrdquo to my local
arearsquos Republican Whip to include LPCs on the Statute 1089 (Thank you Dr Foss-Kelly for
sparking my interest) I cannot tell you what an amazing feeling it is to help make a change and
knowing that am looking forward to making changes in the future for my clients I am hopeful
that others will get involved politically as well both for their counseling field and clients
That being said we need to network We need to develop bonds with our colleagues
and other counselors and mental health professionals in our fields We need to educate our-
selves attend conferences go to workshops and read articles to help orient ourselves to social
justice and advocacy One of your fellow classmates noted ldquowe need to use our strength in
numbers and passion to stand up for clientrsquos needs and human rightsrdquo She could not be more
correct We can even utilize social media to promote our idea attract others who have a similar
idea and lead a force in advocating for the rights for those who are not being given them
In doing all of these things we need to make sure we are representing our best possi-
ble professional selves We need to make sure we are good role models for our clients col-
leagues and for others in our community We can start with small actions such as sticking up
for someone you see being bullied or shamed to volunteering in your community to help those
in a diverse population to starting a political petition to increase the rights and resources avail-
able to those in low socio-economic status areas and promoting knowledge for free in the
public eye on multiculturalism
Social Justice in Counseling
Main Resource
Crethar H C amp Ratts M J (2008) Why social justice is a counseling concern Counseling Today 50(12) 24-25
3
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for
our newsletter leadership and
volunteer activitiesroles or being
a supportive member for the Di-
versity Committee please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
Please be on the lookout for the
next Diversity Committee Meet-
ing in Fall 2015
We will announce our meeting
dates movie night dates and
beyond tolerance workshop
dates then
Be sure to like us on Facebook
as well to get the most up to
date information
Social Justice in Counseling Continued What can we do
Since there is just so much we can do here are a few ideas
1 Become familiar with amp join the American Counseling Association chapter
Counselors for Social Justice ndash wwwcounseling-csjorg
Counselors for Social Justice Facebook page ndash httpswwwfacebookcom
pagesCounselors-for-Social-Justice125758701501
2 Attending TrainingsWorkshopsConferences
A httpswwwnccjorgprograms-LGBTQ-training
B httpswwwnccjorgprograms-interfaith
C httpwwwctchineseorgprograms
D httpwwwsjtiorghome_professionalhtml
E httpinteractioninstituteorgtrainings
F httpwwwnameorgorg2015_name_conference_name2015php
3 CSJ hosts an annual brunch during the ACA conference
Next one is March 21-April 3 in Montreal Canada
4 Educate yourselves on topics involving social justice
A httpwwwcounselingorgknowledge-centerbrowse-by-topicmulticulturalism-diversity
B httpsnccjorg
C httpcounseling-csjorgresources
D httpwwwprolibrariescomcounseling
E httpwwwpsysrorgjsacplewis-v3n1-11_5-16pdf
5 Connect with other individualsprofessionalsresources who may be advo-cates for your clients (ie friends and family faith-based communities homeless shel-ters social workerspsychiatristsschool counselorsLPCs LGBTIQA communities NAACP partners etchellip)
A httpwwwctgovdmhascwpviewaspa=2900ampq=334780
B httpwwwctgovdmhascwpviewaspa=2902ampQ=335176ampdmhasNav=|
4
Social Justice does not have to be something we leave to social workers We too are responsible for advocating for our clients and communities and promoting equality throughout all diverse areas in our country
6 Get out there and speak up
A Present posters at conferences schools in the community
B Help raise funds for those who are in need
C httpnamiwalksorg or httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedDonate-to-NAMI
Ways-of-GivingDIY
D Support petitions that advocate for those in need
E VOLUNTEER
httpwwwmuusctorgactivitiesupcoming-activities
httptristatediversitycouncilorgget-involvedvolunteer-opportunities
httpwwwactspoonerorgcontacthtml
httpwwwvolunteermatchorg
httpconnecticutnetworkofcareorgmhservicessubcategoryaspxtax=PX-1800
httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedVolunteer-at-NAMI
CSCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held May 21st at Mitchell College in New
London CT
httpwwwctschoolcounselororgarticle2015-conference-registration-open ACA conference
The 2016 ACA conference will
be held March 31-April 3 in Montreal
Canada
httpswwwcounselingorgconference
register-for-conference
AMHCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held July 9-July 11 in Philadelphia Penn-
sylvania
httpwwwamhcaorgpageamhcaconference
CCA conference
The 2015 conference was April 24th next yearrsquos conference is TBD
httpccacounselingcom
NASP convention
The 2016 convention will be
held in New Orleans LA at the New Orle-
ans Marriot amp Sheraton Feb 10-13 Regis-
tration will open October 1 2015
httpwwwnasponlineorgconventions
future-conventionsaspx
NAMI convention
The 2015 convention will be
held in San Francisco CA on July 6th ndash 9th
httpswwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedNAMI-
National-Convention
What can we do continued
Save the Date
5
Southern Connecticut State
University
CSP Diversity Passport and
Portfolio Links
Clinical Mental Health
Counseling
School Counseling
School Psychology
Diversity in the News -Liz OrsquoKeefe
In recent national news Indiana passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would allow private businesses to discriminate against employees based on sexual orienta-tion According to The Atlantic News ldquoIndiana law explicitly allows any for-profit busi-ness to assert a right to ldquothe free exercise of religionrdquordquo This allows for businesses to dis-criminate utilizing their religious freedoms As a nation we have come to slowly tolerate diversity not necessarily embrace it or fully accept it Unfortunately our society has found ways to discriminate with regards to age sex gender ability and sexual orienta-tion Though many laws and regulations have been passed to support and keep those of a minority status ldquosaferdquo
Within our field of mental health counseling it is imperative that we meet our clients where they are at as well as greet them with a non-judgmental viewpoint Could this Religious Freedom Restoration Act potentially affect the ways in which we counsel clients one day Does this not resonate with the Ward vs Wilbanks legal case Ms Ward re-ferred rather than counseled a client who identified as homosexual After due process the student was dismissed from the counseling program According to (Ginicola 2011) Ms Ward sued the university counseling faculty and officials alleging violation of her 1st amp 14th amendment rights The American Counseling Association identified that referrals are only acceptable in limited circumstances Also that if counselors do refer a client they are mandated to continue their development and education in order to expand their competency
As a diverse mental health counseling community I asked students their viewpoints on
diversity the counseling field and political standpoints on Religious Freedom Acts like
the one recently passed in Indiana One graduate student remarked ldquoWe must absolutely
promote diversity awareness To disregard or downplay diversity in the society we live in
would be careless As counselors in training we have a responsibility to learn as much as
we can about different cultures and how they impact the students we will counsel Ameri-
cans need to embrace and respect one another We are a ldquomelting potrdquo that is adding
ingredients by the day It is a wonderful thing that our country represents so many cul-
tures as we can all learn from each otherrdquo Responsibility is a key term to use when re-
garding diversity and inclusion of all races ethnicities genders and sexual orienta-
tions We owe it to ourselves and our clients to be open non-judgmental and to continue
assessing our biases and prejudices as those affect our abilities in the counseling field As
students we need to start practicing the art now It will only improve our abilities as
counselors in the field Regardless of the political issues at hand it is our job our respon-
sibility to ourselves and our clients to remain open-minded and non-judgmental
Resources
Ginicola M M Smith C (2011)The Church the Closet and the Couch The Counse-lors Role in Assisting Clients to Integrate Their Sexual Orientation and Reli-gious Identity Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 53-4 (2011) 304-326
Epps G (2015 March 30) What Makes Indianarsquos Religious-Freedom Law Different
Retrieved from httpwwwtheatlanticcompoliticsarchive201503what-
makes-indianas-religious-freedom-law-different388997
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for our
newsletter leadership and volunteer
activitiesroles or being a supportive
member for the Diversity Committee
please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
ldquoTo catch the readers attention place an interesting sentence or quote from the story hererdquo
For example recent news stories on entire state governments and local businesses selectively
choosing who they sell items to without any consequences from their governments have caused an
uproar among the LGBT community social media and protestors who agree that the LGBT com-
munity is being discriminated against based on their sexual orientation Social justice for this com-
munity is clearly still needed
Crethar and Ratts (2008) also mention the use of access participation and harmony in
counseling for social justice Of course it is just as equally important that our clients are able to ldquohellip
access the resources services power information and understanding crucial to realizing a standard
of living that allows for self-determination and human developmentrdquo (p 24) Participation is also
key As counselors I hope we would want our clients to be able to actively participate in their own
rights and be asked to help make decisions that will affect their communities as a whole However
the ability for members of society to participate easily in government actions for example is diffi-
cult Not everyone has the means transportation or knowledge of what is going on in their local
government towns or even schools to be able to advocate for themselves This is why it is so incred-
ibly important for counselors to stay on top of what is going on in their legislature and communi-
ties not only for their clients with the promotion of multiculturalism but also for the Department
of Mental Health and Addiction Services and LPCs in general
Crethar amp Rattsrsquo final principle is harmony (2008) According to Crethar amp Ratts ldquoThis is
a principle of social adjustment wherein the actions revolving around the self-interests of any indi-
vidual or group ultimately produces results that afford the best possible outcomes for the commu-
nity as a wholerdquo (p 25) This may be the most difficult aspect of their definition of social justice
Achieving harmony for a group of people who are oppressed without in turn oppressing the group
who is originally being discriminatory could be difficult The ability to produce an outcome that
benefits both the oppressed and dominant group equally is ideal One may be asking himherself
who do they currently advocate for who is oppressed who shouldnrsquot be and should be appeased
with equal rights and that is normal because on a personal level not everyone is going to agree
with everyone However what we need to remember as counselors is that we are advocating in that
moment for our client Whether or not we agree or disagree on a subject should not affect our abil-
ity to promote social justice for an oppressed or discriminated against group or individual I think
as a society we need to promote social justice in such a way that everyone is able to step back and
put themselves in someone elsersquos shoes Perhaps getting others to realize that what they may not
consider a privilege really is to others is key in acquiring harmony among both groups Perhaps
bringing a community together and raising awareness educating others doing experiments that
require others to live the life of someone they consider ldquolesser than themrdquo and promoting fairness
and equality may help start to increase the harmony between the oppressed and dominant groups
in our society
Social Justice in Counseling -Jennifer Ljungquist
There is no doubt that when it
comes to social justice counselors should be
just as involved as social workers and gov-
ernment officials Counselors in America
listen to countless words and visually wit-
ness behaviors of clients who identify with a
variety of different characteristics The cli-
ents that counselors see are so diverse in
their race ethnicity spirituality sexuality
gender socio-economic level and physical
and mental abilities It is no wonder that we
will hear about and have the opportunities to
advocate for clients who are oppressed
judged and stigmatized by others in the
community on a social and professional
level
Social justice is needed in a society
where not everyone is treated with equal
rights freedoms or opportunities It is a way
that we as counselors can promote fairness
for our clients as equals to the dominate
society no matter how they identify them-
selves According to Crethar H amp Ratts M
there are four principles in which social jus-
tice can be applied in counseling work equi-
ty access participation and harmony
(2008) They state in Counseling Today that
ldquoequity is the fair distribution of resources
rights and responsibilities to all members of
societyrdquo (p 24) One may think that in to-
dayrsquos society with technology and govern-
ment funded programs distributing re-
sources rights and responsibilities to every-
one would be something we have already
done yet we are seeing more and more advo-
cacy is still needed
2
So how do we start There are just about a million and one ways we can promote social justice
and advocate for our clients It may be overwhelming for us and as your author I can tell you it
is just as overwhelming to me choosing an area to focus on or a place to start However start-
ing at all is a place to begin We need to get up and stand up As counselors we can educate
ourselves promote awareness of other cultures religions identities sexual orientations gen-
ders etchellip that exist in our own communities and on the grander scale of our country We can
speak up when we hear derogatory or negative commentary from others We can advocate for
our clients in finding resources for them identifying the ways in which they are not as privi-
leged as others and helping to raise funds for those who are unable to transport themselves or
nourish themselves with food and knowledge for that matter One of your fellow classmates
mentioned to me that even getting to know our own political system and how to navigate it is
key to beginning to promote social justice for ourselves and our clients I have to admit even I
am unaware of certain ways politics work and how intricate the political system really is I only
recently began looking into politics and counseling and helped out by ldquocrying outrdquo to my local
arearsquos Republican Whip to include LPCs on the Statute 1089 (Thank you Dr Foss-Kelly for
sparking my interest) I cannot tell you what an amazing feeling it is to help make a change and
knowing that am looking forward to making changes in the future for my clients I am hopeful
that others will get involved politically as well both for their counseling field and clients
That being said we need to network We need to develop bonds with our colleagues
and other counselors and mental health professionals in our fields We need to educate our-
selves attend conferences go to workshops and read articles to help orient ourselves to social
justice and advocacy One of your fellow classmates noted ldquowe need to use our strength in
numbers and passion to stand up for clientrsquos needs and human rightsrdquo She could not be more
correct We can even utilize social media to promote our idea attract others who have a similar
idea and lead a force in advocating for the rights for those who are not being given them
In doing all of these things we need to make sure we are representing our best possi-
ble professional selves We need to make sure we are good role models for our clients col-
leagues and for others in our community We can start with small actions such as sticking up
for someone you see being bullied or shamed to volunteering in your community to help those
in a diverse population to starting a political petition to increase the rights and resources avail-
able to those in low socio-economic status areas and promoting knowledge for free in the
public eye on multiculturalism
Social Justice in Counseling
Main Resource
Crethar H C amp Ratts M J (2008) Why social justice is a counseling concern Counseling Today 50(12) 24-25
3
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for
our newsletter leadership and
volunteer activitiesroles or being
a supportive member for the Di-
versity Committee please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
Please be on the lookout for the
next Diversity Committee Meet-
ing in Fall 2015
We will announce our meeting
dates movie night dates and
beyond tolerance workshop
dates then
Be sure to like us on Facebook
as well to get the most up to
date information
Social Justice in Counseling Continued What can we do
Since there is just so much we can do here are a few ideas
1 Become familiar with amp join the American Counseling Association chapter
Counselors for Social Justice ndash wwwcounseling-csjorg
Counselors for Social Justice Facebook page ndash httpswwwfacebookcom
pagesCounselors-for-Social-Justice125758701501
2 Attending TrainingsWorkshopsConferences
A httpswwwnccjorgprograms-LGBTQ-training
B httpswwwnccjorgprograms-interfaith
C httpwwwctchineseorgprograms
D httpwwwsjtiorghome_professionalhtml
E httpinteractioninstituteorgtrainings
F httpwwwnameorgorg2015_name_conference_name2015php
3 CSJ hosts an annual brunch during the ACA conference
Next one is March 21-April 3 in Montreal Canada
4 Educate yourselves on topics involving social justice
A httpwwwcounselingorgknowledge-centerbrowse-by-topicmulticulturalism-diversity
B httpsnccjorg
C httpcounseling-csjorgresources
D httpwwwprolibrariescomcounseling
E httpwwwpsysrorgjsacplewis-v3n1-11_5-16pdf
5 Connect with other individualsprofessionalsresources who may be advo-cates for your clients (ie friends and family faith-based communities homeless shel-ters social workerspsychiatristsschool counselorsLPCs LGBTIQA communities NAACP partners etchellip)
A httpwwwctgovdmhascwpviewaspa=2900ampq=334780
B httpwwwctgovdmhascwpviewaspa=2902ampQ=335176ampdmhasNav=|
4
Social Justice does not have to be something we leave to social workers We too are responsible for advocating for our clients and communities and promoting equality throughout all diverse areas in our country
6 Get out there and speak up
A Present posters at conferences schools in the community
B Help raise funds for those who are in need
C httpnamiwalksorg or httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedDonate-to-NAMI
Ways-of-GivingDIY
D Support petitions that advocate for those in need
E VOLUNTEER
httpwwwmuusctorgactivitiesupcoming-activities
httptristatediversitycouncilorgget-involvedvolunteer-opportunities
httpwwwactspoonerorgcontacthtml
httpwwwvolunteermatchorg
httpconnecticutnetworkofcareorgmhservicessubcategoryaspxtax=PX-1800
httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedVolunteer-at-NAMI
CSCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held May 21st at Mitchell College in New
London CT
httpwwwctschoolcounselororgarticle2015-conference-registration-open ACA conference
The 2016 ACA conference will
be held March 31-April 3 in Montreal
Canada
httpswwwcounselingorgconference
register-for-conference
AMHCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held July 9-July 11 in Philadelphia Penn-
sylvania
httpwwwamhcaorgpageamhcaconference
CCA conference
The 2015 conference was April 24th next yearrsquos conference is TBD
httpccacounselingcom
NASP convention
The 2016 convention will be
held in New Orleans LA at the New Orle-
ans Marriot amp Sheraton Feb 10-13 Regis-
tration will open October 1 2015
httpwwwnasponlineorgconventions
future-conventionsaspx
NAMI convention
The 2015 convention will be
held in San Francisco CA on July 6th ndash 9th
httpswwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedNAMI-
National-Convention
What can we do continued
Save the Date
5
Southern Connecticut State
University
CSP Diversity Passport and
Portfolio Links
Clinical Mental Health
Counseling
School Counseling
School Psychology
Diversity in the News -Liz OrsquoKeefe
In recent national news Indiana passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would allow private businesses to discriminate against employees based on sexual orienta-tion According to The Atlantic News ldquoIndiana law explicitly allows any for-profit busi-ness to assert a right to ldquothe free exercise of religionrdquordquo This allows for businesses to dis-criminate utilizing their religious freedoms As a nation we have come to slowly tolerate diversity not necessarily embrace it or fully accept it Unfortunately our society has found ways to discriminate with regards to age sex gender ability and sexual orienta-tion Though many laws and regulations have been passed to support and keep those of a minority status ldquosaferdquo
Within our field of mental health counseling it is imperative that we meet our clients where they are at as well as greet them with a non-judgmental viewpoint Could this Religious Freedom Restoration Act potentially affect the ways in which we counsel clients one day Does this not resonate with the Ward vs Wilbanks legal case Ms Ward re-ferred rather than counseled a client who identified as homosexual After due process the student was dismissed from the counseling program According to (Ginicola 2011) Ms Ward sued the university counseling faculty and officials alleging violation of her 1st amp 14th amendment rights The American Counseling Association identified that referrals are only acceptable in limited circumstances Also that if counselors do refer a client they are mandated to continue their development and education in order to expand their competency
As a diverse mental health counseling community I asked students their viewpoints on
diversity the counseling field and political standpoints on Religious Freedom Acts like
the one recently passed in Indiana One graduate student remarked ldquoWe must absolutely
promote diversity awareness To disregard or downplay diversity in the society we live in
would be careless As counselors in training we have a responsibility to learn as much as
we can about different cultures and how they impact the students we will counsel Ameri-
cans need to embrace and respect one another We are a ldquomelting potrdquo that is adding
ingredients by the day It is a wonderful thing that our country represents so many cul-
tures as we can all learn from each otherrdquo Responsibility is a key term to use when re-
garding diversity and inclusion of all races ethnicities genders and sexual orienta-
tions We owe it to ourselves and our clients to be open non-judgmental and to continue
assessing our biases and prejudices as those affect our abilities in the counseling field As
students we need to start practicing the art now It will only improve our abilities as
counselors in the field Regardless of the political issues at hand it is our job our respon-
sibility to ourselves and our clients to remain open-minded and non-judgmental
Resources
Ginicola M M Smith C (2011)The Church the Closet and the Couch The Counse-lors Role in Assisting Clients to Integrate Their Sexual Orientation and Reli-gious Identity Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 53-4 (2011) 304-326
Epps G (2015 March 30) What Makes Indianarsquos Religious-Freedom Law Different
Retrieved from httpwwwtheatlanticcompoliticsarchive201503what-
makes-indianas-religious-freedom-law-different388997
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for our
newsletter leadership and volunteer
activitiesroles or being a supportive
member for the Diversity Committee
please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
So how do we start There are just about a million and one ways we can promote social justice
and advocate for our clients It may be overwhelming for us and as your author I can tell you it
is just as overwhelming to me choosing an area to focus on or a place to start However start-
ing at all is a place to begin We need to get up and stand up As counselors we can educate
ourselves promote awareness of other cultures religions identities sexual orientations gen-
ders etchellip that exist in our own communities and on the grander scale of our country We can
speak up when we hear derogatory or negative commentary from others We can advocate for
our clients in finding resources for them identifying the ways in which they are not as privi-
leged as others and helping to raise funds for those who are unable to transport themselves or
nourish themselves with food and knowledge for that matter One of your fellow classmates
mentioned to me that even getting to know our own political system and how to navigate it is
key to beginning to promote social justice for ourselves and our clients I have to admit even I
am unaware of certain ways politics work and how intricate the political system really is I only
recently began looking into politics and counseling and helped out by ldquocrying outrdquo to my local
arearsquos Republican Whip to include LPCs on the Statute 1089 (Thank you Dr Foss-Kelly for
sparking my interest) I cannot tell you what an amazing feeling it is to help make a change and
knowing that am looking forward to making changes in the future for my clients I am hopeful
that others will get involved politically as well both for their counseling field and clients
That being said we need to network We need to develop bonds with our colleagues
and other counselors and mental health professionals in our fields We need to educate our-
selves attend conferences go to workshops and read articles to help orient ourselves to social
justice and advocacy One of your fellow classmates noted ldquowe need to use our strength in
numbers and passion to stand up for clientrsquos needs and human rightsrdquo She could not be more
correct We can even utilize social media to promote our idea attract others who have a similar
idea and lead a force in advocating for the rights for those who are not being given them
In doing all of these things we need to make sure we are representing our best possi-
ble professional selves We need to make sure we are good role models for our clients col-
leagues and for others in our community We can start with small actions such as sticking up
for someone you see being bullied or shamed to volunteering in your community to help those
in a diverse population to starting a political petition to increase the rights and resources avail-
able to those in low socio-economic status areas and promoting knowledge for free in the
public eye on multiculturalism
Social Justice in Counseling
Main Resource
Crethar H C amp Ratts M J (2008) Why social justice is a counseling concern Counseling Today 50(12) 24-25
3
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for
our newsletter leadership and
volunteer activitiesroles or being
a supportive member for the Di-
versity Committee please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
Please be on the lookout for the
next Diversity Committee Meet-
ing in Fall 2015
We will announce our meeting
dates movie night dates and
beyond tolerance workshop
dates then
Be sure to like us on Facebook
as well to get the most up to
date information
Social Justice in Counseling Continued What can we do
Since there is just so much we can do here are a few ideas
1 Become familiar with amp join the American Counseling Association chapter
Counselors for Social Justice ndash wwwcounseling-csjorg
Counselors for Social Justice Facebook page ndash httpswwwfacebookcom
pagesCounselors-for-Social-Justice125758701501
2 Attending TrainingsWorkshopsConferences
A httpswwwnccjorgprograms-LGBTQ-training
B httpswwwnccjorgprograms-interfaith
C httpwwwctchineseorgprograms
D httpwwwsjtiorghome_professionalhtml
E httpinteractioninstituteorgtrainings
F httpwwwnameorgorg2015_name_conference_name2015php
3 CSJ hosts an annual brunch during the ACA conference
Next one is March 21-April 3 in Montreal Canada
4 Educate yourselves on topics involving social justice
A httpwwwcounselingorgknowledge-centerbrowse-by-topicmulticulturalism-diversity
B httpsnccjorg
C httpcounseling-csjorgresources
D httpwwwprolibrariescomcounseling
E httpwwwpsysrorgjsacplewis-v3n1-11_5-16pdf
5 Connect with other individualsprofessionalsresources who may be advo-cates for your clients (ie friends and family faith-based communities homeless shel-ters social workerspsychiatristsschool counselorsLPCs LGBTIQA communities NAACP partners etchellip)
A httpwwwctgovdmhascwpviewaspa=2900ampq=334780
B httpwwwctgovdmhascwpviewaspa=2902ampQ=335176ampdmhasNav=|
4
Social Justice does not have to be something we leave to social workers We too are responsible for advocating for our clients and communities and promoting equality throughout all diverse areas in our country
6 Get out there and speak up
A Present posters at conferences schools in the community
B Help raise funds for those who are in need
C httpnamiwalksorg or httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedDonate-to-NAMI
Ways-of-GivingDIY
D Support petitions that advocate for those in need
E VOLUNTEER
httpwwwmuusctorgactivitiesupcoming-activities
httptristatediversitycouncilorgget-involvedvolunteer-opportunities
httpwwwactspoonerorgcontacthtml
httpwwwvolunteermatchorg
httpconnecticutnetworkofcareorgmhservicessubcategoryaspxtax=PX-1800
httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedVolunteer-at-NAMI
CSCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held May 21st at Mitchell College in New
London CT
httpwwwctschoolcounselororgarticle2015-conference-registration-open ACA conference
The 2016 ACA conference will
be held March 31-April 3 in Montreal
Canada
httpswwwcounselingorgconference
register-for-conference
AMHCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held July 9-July 11 in Philadelphia Penn-
sylvania
httpwwwamhcaorgpageamhcaconference
CCA conference
The 2015 conference was April 24th next yearrsquos conference is TBD
httpccacounselingcom
NASP convention
The 2016 convention will be
held in New Orleans LA at the New Orle-
ans Marriot amp Sheraton Feb 10-13 Regis-
tration will open October 1 2015
httpwwwnasponlineorgconventions
future-conventionsaspx
NAMI convention
The 2015 convention will be
held in San Francisco CA on July 6th ndash 9th
httpswwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedNAMI-
National-Convention
What can we do continued
Save the Date
5
Southern Connecticut State
University
CSP Diversity Passport and
Portfolio Links
Clinical Mental Health
Counseling
School Counseling
School Psychology
Diversity in the News -Liz OrsquoKeefe
In recent national news Indiana passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would allow private businesses to discriminate against employees based on sexual orienta-tion According to The Atlantic News ldquoIndiana law explicitly allows any for-profit busi-ness to assert a right to ldquothe free exercise of religionrdquordquo This allows for businesses to dis-criminate utilizing their religious freedoms As a nation we have come to slowly tolerate diversity not necessarily embrace it or fully accept it Unfortunately our society has found ways to discriminate with regards to age sex gender ability and sexual orienta-tion Though many laws and regulations have been passed to support and keep those of a minority status ldquosaferdquo
Within our field of mental health counseling it is imperative that we meet our clients where they are at as well as greet them with a non-judgmental viewpoint Could this Religious Freedom Restoration Act potentially affect the ways in which we counsel clients one day Does this not resonate with the Ward vs Wilbanks legal case Ms Ward re-ferred rather than counseled a client who identified as homosexual After due process the student was dismissed from the counseling program According to (Ginicola 2011) Ms Ward sued the university counseling faculty and officials alleging violation of her 1st amp 14th amendment rights The American Counseling Association identified that referrals are only acceptable in limited circumstances Also that if counselors do refer a client they are mandated to continue their development and education in order to expand their competency
As a diverse mental health counseling community I asked students their viewpoints on
diversity the counseling field and political standpoints on Religious Freedom Acts like
the one recently passed in Indiana One graduate student remarked ldquoWe must absolutely
promote diversity awareness To disregard or downplay diversity in the society we live in
would be careless As counselors in training we have a responsibility to learn as much as
we can about different cultures and how they impact the students we will counsel Ameri-
cans need to embrace and respect one another We are a ldquomelting potrdquo that is adding
ingredients by the day It is a wonderful thing that our country represents so many cul-
tures as we can all learn from each otherrdquo Responsibility is a key term to use when re-
garding diversity and inclusion of all races ethnicities genders and sexual orienta-
tions We owe it to ourselves and our clients to be open non-judgmental and to continue
assessing our biases and prejudices as those affect our abilities in the counseling field As
students we need to start practicing the art now It will only improve our abilities as
counselors in the field Regardless of the political issues at hand it is our job our respon-
sibility to ourselves and our clients to remain open-minded and non-judgmental
Resources
Ginicola M M Smith C (2011)The Church the Closet and the Couch The Counse-lors Role in Assisting Clients to Integrate Their Sexual Orientation and Reli-gious Identity Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 53-4 (2011) 304-326
Epps G (2015 March 30) What Makes Indianarsquos Religious-Freedom Law Different
Retrieved from httpwwwtheatlanticcompoliticsarchive201503what-
makes-indianas-religious-freedom-law-different388997
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for our
newsletter leadership and volunteer
activitiesroles or being a supportive
member for the Diversity Committee
please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for
our newsletter leadership and
volunteer activitiesroles or being
a supportive member for the Di-
versity Committee please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
Please be on the lookout for the
next Diversity Committee Meet-
ing in Fall 2015
We will announce our meeting
dates movie night dates and
beyond tolerance workshop
dates then
Be sure to like us on Facebook
as well to get the most up to
date information
Social Justice in Counseling Continued What can we do
Since there is just so much we can do here are a few ideas
1 Become familiar with amp join the American Counseling Association chapter
Counselors for Social Justice ndash wwwcounseling-csjorg
Counselors for Social Justice Facebook page ndash httpswwwfacebookcom
pagesCounselors-for-Social-Justice125758701501
2 Attending TrainingsWorkshopsConferences
A httpswwwnccjorgprograms-LGBTQ-training
B httpswwwnccjorgprograms-interfaith
C httpwwwctchineseorgprograms
D httpwwwsjtiorghome_professionalhtml
E httpinteractioninstituteorgtrainings
F httpwwwnameorgorg2015_name_conference_name2015php
3 CSJ hosts an annual brunch during the ACA conference
Next one is March 21-April 3 in Montreal Canada
4 Educate yourselves on topics involving social justice
A httpwwwcounselingorgknowledge-centerbrowse-by-topicmulticulturalism-diversity
B httpsnccjorg
C httpcounseling-csjorgresources
D httpwwwprolibrariescomcounseling
E httpwwwpsysrorgjsacplewis-v3n1-11_5-16pdf
5 Connect with other individualsprofessionalsresources who may be advo-cates for your clients (ie friends and family faith-based communities homeless shel-ters social workerspsychiatristsschool counselorsLPCs LGBTIQA communities NAACP partners etchellip)
A httpwwwctgovdmhascwpviewaspa=2900ampq=334780
B httpwwwctgovdmhascwpviewaspa=2902ampQ=335176ampdmhasNav=|
4
Social Justice does not have to be something we leave to social workers We too are responsible for advocating for our clients and communities and promoting equality throughout all diverse areas in our country
6 Get out there and speak up
A Present posters at conferences schools in the community
B Help raise funds for those who are in need
C httpnamiwalksorg or httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedDonate-to-NAMI
Ways-of-GivingDIY
D Support petitions that advocate for those in need
E VOLUNTEER
httpwwwmuusctorgactivitiesupcoming-activities
httptristatediversitycouncilorgget-involvedvolunteer-opportunities
httpwwwactspoonerorgcontacthtml
httpwwwvolunteermatchorg
httpconnecticutnetworkofcareorgmhservicessubcategoryaspxtax=PX-1800
httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedVolunteer-at-NAMI
CSCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held May 21st at Mitchell College in New
London CT
httpwwwctschoolcounselororgarticle2015-conference-registration-open ACA conference
The 2016 ACA conference will
be held March 31-April 3 in Montreal
Canada
httpswwwcounselingorgconference
register-for-conference
AMHCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held July 9-July 11 in Philadelphia Penn-
sylvania
httpwwwamhcaorgpageamhcaconference
CCA conference
The 2015 conference was April 24th next yearrsquos conference is TBD
httpccacounselingcom
NASP convention
The 2016 convention will be
held in New Orleans LA at the New Orle-
ans Marriot amp Sheraton Feb 10-13 Regis-
tration will open October 1 2015
httpwwwnasponlineorgconventions
future-conventionsaspx
NAMI convention
The 2015 convention will be
held in San Francisco CA on July 6th ndash 9th
httpswwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedNAMI-
National-Convention
What can we do continued
Save the Date
5
Southern Connecticut State
University
CSP Diversity Passport and
Portfolio Links
Clinical Mental Health
Counseling
School Counseling
School Psychology
Diversity in the News -Liz OrsquoKeefe
In recent national news Indiana passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would allow private businesses to discriminate against employees based on sexual orienta-tion According to The Atlantic News ldquoIndiana law explicitly allows any for-profit busi-ness to assert a right to ldquothe free exercise of religionrdquordquo This allows for businesses to dis-criminate utilizing their religious freedoms As a nation we have come to slowly tolerate diversity not necessarily embrace it or fully accept it Unfortunately our society has found ways to discriminate with regards to age sex gender ability and sexual orienta-tion Though many laws and regulations have been passed to support and keep those of a minority status ldquosaferdquo
Within our field of mental health counseling it is imperative that we meet our clients where they are at as well as greet them with a non-judgmental viewpoint Could this Religious Freedom Restoration Act potentially affect the ways in which we counsel clients one day Does this not resonate with the Ward vs Wilbanks legal case Ms Ward re-ferred rather than counseled a client who identified as homosexual After due process the student was dismissed from the counseling program According to (Ginicola 2011) Ms Ward sued the university counseling faculty and officials alleging violation of her 1st amp 14th amendment rights The American Counseling Association identified that referrals are only acceptable in limited circumstances Also that if counselors do refer a client they are mandated to continue their development and education in order to expand their competency
As a diverse mental health counseling community I asked students their viewpoints on
diversity the counseling field and political standpoints on Religious Freedom Acts like
the one recently passed in Indiana One graduate student remarked ldquoWe must absolutely
promote diversity awareness To disregard or downplay diversity in the society we live in
would be careless As counselors in training we have a responsibility to learn as much as
we can about different cultures and how they impact the students we will counsel Ameri-
cans need to embrace and respect one another We are a ldquomelting potrdquo that is adding
ingredients by the day It is a wonderful thing that our country represents so many cul-
tures as we can all learn from each otherrdquo Responsibility is a key term to use when re-
garding diversity and inclusion of all races ethnicities genders and sexual orienta-
tions We owe it to ourselves and our clients to be open non-judgmental and to continue
assessing our biases and prejudices as those affect our abilities in the counseling field As
students we need to start practicing the art now It will only improve our abilities as
counselors in the field Regardless of the political issues at hand it is our job our respon-
sibility to ourselves and our clients to remain open-minded and non-judgmental
Resources
Ginicola M M Smith C (2011)The Church the Closet and the Couch The Counse-lors Role in Assisting Clients to Integrate Their Sexual Orientation and Reli-gious Identity Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 53-4 (2011) 304-326
Epps G (2015 March 30) What Makes Indianarsquos Religious-Freedom Law Different
Retrieved from httpwwwtheatlanticcompoliticsarchive201503what-
makes-indianas-religious-freedom-law-different388997
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for our
newsletter leadership and volunteer
activitiesroles or being a supportive
member for the Diversity Committee
please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
Social Justice does not have to be something we leave to social workers We too are responsible for advocating for our clients and communities and promoting equality throughout all diverse areas in our country
6 Get out there and speak up
A Present posters at conferences schools in the community
B Help raise funds for those who are in need
C httpnamiwalksorg or httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedDonate-to-NAMI
Ways-of-GivingDIY
D Support petitions that advocate for those in need
E VOLUNTEER
httpwwwmuusctorgactivitiesupcoming-activities
httptristatediversitycouncilorgget-involvedvolunteer-opportunities
httpwwwactspoonerorgcontacthtml
httpwwwvolunteermatchorg
httpconnecticutnetworkofcareorgmhservicessubcategoryaspxtax=PX-1800
httpwwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedVolunteer-at-NAMI
CSCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held May 21st at Mitchell College in New
London CT
httpwwwctschoolcounselororgarticle2015-conference-registration-open ACA conference
The 2016 ACA conference will
be held March 31-April 3 in Montreal
Canada
httpswwwcounselingorgconference
register-for-conference
AMHCA conference
The 2015 conference will be
held July 9-July 11 in Philadelphia Penn-
sylvania
httpwwwamhcaorgpageamhcaconference
CCA conference
The 2015 conference was April 24th next yearrsquos conference is TBD
httpccacounselingcom
NASP convention
The 2016 convention will be
held in New Orleans LA at the New Orle-
ans Marriot amp Sheraton Feb 10-13 Regis-
tration will open October 1 2015
httpwwwnasponlineorgconventions
future-conventionsaspx
NAMI convention
The 2015 convention will be
held in San Francisco CA on July 6th ndash 9th
httpswwwnamiorgGet-InvolvedNAMI-
National-Convention
What can we do continued
Save the Date
5
Southern Connecticut State
University
CSP Diversity Passport and
Portfolio Links
Clinical Mental Health
Counseling
School Counseling
School Psychology
Diversity in the News -Liz OrsquoKeefe
In recent national news Indiana passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would allow private businesses to discriminate against employees based on sexual orienta-tion According to The Atlantic News ldquoIndiana law explicitly allows any for-profit busi-ness to assert a right to ldquothe free exercise of religionrdquordquo This allows for businesses to dis-criminate utilizing their religious freedoms As a nation we have come to slowly tolerate diversity not necessarily embrace it or fully accept it Unfortunately our society has found ways to discriminate with regards to age sex gender ability and sexual orienta-tion Though many laws and regulations have been passed to support and keep those of a minority status ldquosaferdquo
Within our field of mental health counseling it is imperative that we meet our clients where they are at as well as greet them with a non-judgmental viewpoint Could this Religious Freedom Restoration Act potentially affect the ways in which we counsel clients one day Does this not resonate with the Ward vs Wilbanks legal case Ms Ward re-ferred rather than counseled a client who identified as homosexual After due process the student was dismissed from the counseling program According to (Ginicola 2011) Ms Ward sued the university counseling faculty and officials alleging violation of her 1st amp 14th amendment rights The American Counseling Association identified that referrals are only acceptable in limited circumstances Also that if counselors do refer a client they are mandated to continue their development and education in order to expand their competency
As a diverse mental health counseling community I asked students their viewpoints on
diversity the counseling field and political standpoints on Religious Freedom Acts like
the one recently passed in Indiana One graduate student remarked ldquoWe must absolutely
promote diversity awareness To disregard or downplay diversity in the society we live in
would be careless As counselors in training we have a responsibility to learn as much as
we can about different cultures and how they impact the students we will counsel Ameri-
cans need to embrace and respect one another We are a ldquomelting potrdquo that is adding
ingredients by the day It is a wonderful thing that our country represents so many cul-
tures as we can all learn from each otherrdquo Responsibility is a key term to use when re-
garding diversity and inclusion of all races ethnicities genders and sexual orienta-
tions We owe it to ourselves and our clients to be open non-judgmental and to continue
assessing our biases and prejudices as those affect our abilities in the counseling field As
students we need to start practicing the art now It will only improve our abilities as
counselors in the field Regardless of the political issues at hand it is our job our respon-
sibility to ourselves and our clients to remain open-minded and non-judgmental
Resources
Ginicola M M Smith C (2011)The Church the Closet and the Couch The Counse-lors Role in Assisting Clients to Integrate Their Sexual Orientation and Reli-gious Identity Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 53-4 (2011) 304-326
Epps G (2015 March 30) What Makes Indianarsquos Religious-Freedom Law Different
Retrieved from httpwwwtheatlanticcompoliticsarchive201503what-
makes-indianas-religious-freedom-law-different388997
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for our
newsletter leadership and volunteer
activitiesroles or being a supportive
member for the Diversity Committee
please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom
Southern Connecticut State
University
CSP Diversity Passport and
Portfolio Links
Clinical Mental Health
Counseling
School Counseling
School Psychology
Diversity in the News -Liz OrsquoKeefe
In recent national news Indiana passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would allow private businesses to discriminate against employees based on sexual orienta-tion According to The Atlantic News ldquoIndiana law explicitly allows any for-profit busi-ness to assert a right to ldquothe free exercise of religionrdquordquo This allows for businesses to dis-criminate utilizing their religious freedoms As a nation we have come to slowly tolerate diversity not necessarily embrace it or fully accept it Unfortunately our society has found ways to discriminate with regards to age sex gender ability and sexual orienta-tion Though many laws and regulations have been passed to support and keep those of a minority status ldquosaferdquo
Within our field of mental health counseling it is imperative that we meet our clients where they are at as well as greet them with a non-judgmental viewpoint Could this Religious Freedom Restoration Act potentially affect the ways in which we counsel clients one day Does this not resonate with the Ward vs Wilbanks legal case Ms Ward re-ferred rather than counseled a client who identified as homosexual After due process the student was dismissed from the counseling program According to (Ginicola 2011) Ms Ward sued the university counseling faculty and officials alleging violation of her 1st amp 14th amendment rights The American Counseling Association identified that referrals are only acceptable in limited circumstances Also that if counselors do refer a client they are mandated to continue their development and education in order to expand their competency
As a diverse mental health counseling community I asked students their viewpoints on
diversity the counseling field and political standpoints on Religious Freedom Acts like
the one recently passed in Indiana One graduate student remarked ldquoWe must absolutely
promote diversity awareness To disregard or downplay diversity in the society we live in
would be careless As counselors in training we have a responsibility to learn as much as
we can about different cultures and how they impact the students we will counsel Ameri-
cans need to embrace and respect one another We are a ldquomelting potrdquo that is adding
ingredients by the day It is a wonderful thing that our country represents so many cul-
tures as we can all learn from each otherrdquo Responsibility is a key term to use when re-
garding diversity and inclusion of all races ethnicities genders and sexual orienta-
tions We owe it to ourselves and our clients to be open non-judgmental and to continue
assessing our biases and prejudices as those affect our abilities in the counseling field As
students we need to start practicing the art now It will only improve our abilities as
counselors in the field Regardless of the political issues at hand it is our job our respon-
sibility to ourselves and our clients to remain open-minded and non-judgmental
Resources
Ginicola M M Smith C (2011)The Church the Closet and the Couch The Counse-lors Role in Assisting Clients to Integrate Their Sexual Orientation and Reli-gious Identity Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 53-4 (2011) 304-326
Epps G (2015 March 30) What Makes Indianarsquos Religious-Freedom Law Different
Retrieved from httpwwwtheatlanticcompoliticsarchive201503what-
makes-indianas-religious-freedom-law-different388997
Southern Connecticut
State University
CSP Diversity Committee
If you are interested in writing for our
newsletter leadership and volunteer
activitiesroles or being a supportive
member for the Diversity Committee
please contact
jenniferljungquistgmailcom