Intro To Counseling

Front 1

Define advocacy:

Back 1

Actively working for, supporting, or espousing a cause. Counselors advocate for the welfare of their clients and the profession for counseling.

Front 2

Why advocate?

Back 2

Advocacy efforts are critical to the future of the counseling profession. Only through persistent advocacy have counselors become respected professionals, able to practice without too many constraints what they are trained to do.

Front 3

What is required to become an effective advocate?

Back 3

Specific skills are required, and advocacy skills aren’t that different from counseling skills. Basic counseling skills and data-gathering skills are crucial. Listening and questioning, and clarifying and summarizing are important. Oral and written communication skills are needed.

Front 4

What is the process of advocacy?

Back 4

1. Identify problem
2. Assess the availability of resources
3. Engage in strategic-planning activities
4. Train professional counselors to advocate
5. Implement a plan of action
6. Celebrate accomplishments

Front 5

Identify a population or cause and apply the process.

Back 5

1). Cause: A dental assistant gets a needle stick from a patient
2). Report to the Infection Control Officer as well as the supervisor who will then escort the assistant to Occupational Medicine along with the patient to a medical provider who is well informed on prevention methods.
3). Medical Provider will initiate a phlebotomy on patient and assistant to make sure no diseases are occurring. Proper early planning to detect any blood borne pathogens is the quick way to save a life.
4). Back in the dental clinic, make sure to educate providers as well as assistants in the proper care of needle sticks. Every sailor is an advocate with safety. Also create a role-play exercise and monitor the training.
5). Choose a day to educate the entire Hospital (Clinic) on proper handling of needle sticks.
6). Create an award of a monthly luncheon that at the end of the month; the dental clinic will go out for lunch to celebrate the safety of patients and staff members for no needle sticks

Front 6

Find ways to advocate.

Back 6

1. Identify yourself as a Professional Counselor
2. Serve in your local community
3. Use the media (i.e.: Facebook, Instagram)