Posted: September 13th, 2015

Before you start on this discussion, complete Part 1 (items 1–10) of The Social Justice Advocacy Readiness

Before you start on this discussion, complete Part 1 (items 1–10) of The Social Justice Advocacy Readiness Questionnaire in the Chen-Hayes article. Use your responses to the questionnaire and the readings of this unit to prepare a post that reflects on your own readiness to counsel sexual minorities. Specifically address your spiritual or religious beliefs and how those may present challenges or opportunities in working with clients who are sexual minorities. How will you address any challenges your beliefs may present to your preparedness to respond ethically and competently to the needs of sexual minority clients? Under what circumstances might you seek supervision to support your clinical competence in working with a sexual minority client? Discussion 2

Keeping your specialization area in mind, provide examples of how you might increase the cultural appropriateness of a counseling theory, technique, or intervention at an agency, practice, or school so that they promote the optimal health and well-being of sexual minorities.

In your analysis of the counseling role, think of the purpose and role it serves in carrying out an organization’s mission in prevention, education, conflict resolution, intervention, consultation, and advocacy. Use the story of “Jamie Hubley, Gay 15-Year-Old Ottawa, Canada Teen Commits Suicide, Cites Depression, School Troubles” in conjunction with the resources you explored to support your strategies and ideas.

Week 9

Referring to the readings, explain the terms twice-exceptional student and gifted student. Identify and discuss at least two myths about gifted students. What are the implications of the myth with respect to differentiated interventions (using a variety of strategies to support student learning and achievement) and what are some strategies a counselor could suggest to teachers? In what ways may parents and counselors act as advocates for twice-exceptional or gifted students?

Imagine you are the counselor for the family in the case described in the Sudden Underachievement media piece.

Identify the bio-psycho-social dimensions of identity of each of the family members that you would need to take into account in your work with the family based on your understanding of multicultural counseling and therapy. Consider the case from the standpoint of your specialization area and briefly identify concerns that would apply to your specialization (for example, if you are an addictions counselor, would you want to assess for substance use? If so, with which members of the family?) Explain what it means to take a systems perspective in terms of goals, and how counselors may incorporate the ideas of client/family expertise and resilience in their work. How could you incorporate client/family expertise and resilience in your work with this family to promote their optimal health and wellness? How could you incorporate advocacy in your work with this family at the school/community level?