Integrating Liberation Psychology across the Counseling Curriculum: Fostering Advocates for Social Change
Conference Strand
Teaching, Training, and Supervision
Abstract
In this presentation, experts explore the integration of liberation psychology principles throughout counseling curricula. Emphasizing empowerment, cultural sensitivity, and social justice, the session delves into practical strategies for cultivating a curriculum that fosters inclusivity and addresses systemic issues. Attendees gain insights on preparing future counselors to navigate diverse perspectives and advocate for positive societal change.
Evidence
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Barden, S.M., Sherrell, R.S. and Matthews, J.J. (2017), A national survey on multicultural
competence for professional counselors: A replication study. Journal of Counseling & Development,
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Format
Individual Presentations
Biographical Sketch
Franchesca Brutley, M.Ed., LPCA, NCC is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Lindsey Wilson College. She completed her M.Ed. in counseling and human development in 2019 from Lindsey Wilson College. Franchesca works with adults in opioid use disorder treatment in rural Kentucky. Franchesca is also an adjunct instructor in the School of Professional Counseling program at Lindsey Wilson College in the Human Services program. Her specific research interests include diversity in counseling, focusing on anti-racism work and chronic illness.
Tiffany Brooks, PhD, LPC, NCC is an Associate Professor and Online Regional Academic Director in the School of Professional Counseling program at Lindsey Wilson College. She completed her MS in mental health counseling in 2011 from Lee University and her PhD in Counselor Education at the University of Tennessee in 2015. Tiffany worked with college students in career, counseling, and residential environments, as well as with children utilizing child-centered play therapy in school and agency settings. Currently, she teaches multiple sections of career counseling, multicultural counseling, and clinical experiences every semester, while clinically seeing adolescents and adults via secure telehealth with Resonance Counseling Center in GA. Her specific research interests include counselor identity development, play therapy, at-risk children, career counseling, and multicultural competence, particularly Black ally identity development. She is actively working as a part of a mother scholar collective who is currently researching the effects of the pandemic on academic scholars of young children. Tiffany serves as the President Elect for the Lookout Counseling Association and the President Elect Elect for the TN Counseling Association.
Quentin Hunter, PhD, LPC, NCC is an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership & Counseling at Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Hunter is president of the Kentucky Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, a past president of the Kentucky Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities, and associate editor for the Journal of Counseling and Development and the International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling. Dr. Hunter began practice as a professional counselor in 2015 and has worked in higher education since 2018. Dr. Hunter has multiple publications, including peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and edited books. His counseling experience includes work with individuals across the life span in hospital, community counseling, school, and private practice settings
Location
Room 155
Start Date
3-8-2024 12:05 PM
Recommended Citation
Brutley, Franchesca; Brooks, Tiffany P.; Hunter, Quentin; and Evans, Sabrina, "Integrating Liberation Psychology across the Counseling Curriculum: Fostering Advocates for Social Change" (2024). National Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education Conference for Research, Action, and Change. 32.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ccec/2024/2024/32
Integrating Liberation Psychology across the Counseling Curriculum: Fostering Advocates for Social Change
Room 155
In this presentation, experts explore the integration of liberation psychology principles throughout counseling curricula. Emphasizing empowerment, cultural sensitivity, and social justice, the session delves into practical strategies for cultivating a curriculum that fosters inclusivity and addresses systemic issues. Attendees gain insights on preparing future counselors to navigate diverse perspectives and advocate for positive societal change.
Description
At the heart of the conference theme, "We are Many: Building Community and Promoting Strategic Social Justice, Advocacy, and Change," the presentation on integrating liberation psychology principles across the counseling curriculum stands out as a beacon of transformative education. The overarching objective is to equip counseling programs with the tools to nurture socially conscious and justice-oriented practitioners.
The session initiates a critical dialogue on the role of liberation psychology as a pivotal theory counseling education. Presenters emphasize the need for a curriculum that not only imparts therapeutic skills but also instills a deep understanding of societal structures and the impact of power dynamics on mental health. The second learning objective includes that the attendees will be able to identify at least two aspects of societal structures and the impact of power dynamics on mental health. A third learning objective includes attendees being able to identify at least two practical solutions. We will guide attendees through practical solutions, such as infusing courses with diverse perspectives, incorporating case studies that highlight systemic inequalities, and fostering critical self-reflection among students.
Thus, our learning objectives are:
By the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to:
Identify at least two tools to nurture socially conscious and justice-oriented practitioners.
Recognize at least two aspects of societal structures and the impact of power dynamics on mental health
Describe at least two practical solutions for integrating liberation psychology principles in the counseling curriculum
A key takeaway is the emphasis on empowerment, encouraging future counselors to become advocates for marginalized communities. The integration of liberation psychology principles ensures that graduates are not just proficient in clinical techniques but are also well-versed in addressing systemic issues. By strategically weaving these principles into the curriculum, educators can actively contribute to the conference theme by preparing a new generation of counselors who understand the importance of community building, are adept at strategic social justice advocacy, and are poised to drive meaningful change in both individual lives and society at large. This holistic approach not only aligns with the conference theme but also positions counseling education as a catalyst for broader societal transformation.